Gymnastics

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Welcome to class! 

In today’s class, we will be talking about gymnastics. Enjoy the class!

Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a competitive sport in which individuals perform optional and prescribed acrobatic feats mostly on special apparatus to demonstrate strength, balance, and body control. To be a good gymnast, one must master basic skills and techniques which are achieved through regular practice.

Skills and techniques in gymnastics

Gymnastics is mainly about stunts and tumbling. Basic tumbling is used across a range of sports and skills learned in tumbling can assist athletes in diving, trampolining and dancing. Tumbling combines strength, power, agility and coordination that, when performed properly, results in an exciting and dynamic sport. The basic skills and techniques used in tumbling include:

1. Forward roll: This is also known as somersault. It involves going straight over one’s head and spine. It is advisable to do this on a mat, carpet, grass, or somewhere else where it is comfortable to roll. Steps involved in doing the forward roll are:

• Squat down on the ground.
• Place your hands with the elbows bent about shoulder-width on the floor.
• Dip forward as you tuck your head.
• Touch the top or back of your to head to the ground as you start to over.
• Round your neck and back, completely so that each part it turn touches the ground without anything hitting flat.
• Use the forward momentum to come to your feet.

2. Backward roll: This is called backwards somersault and it is a reverse of the forward roll. Steps involved in doing the backward roll are:

• Squat down on the ground.
• Rollover your rounded back.
• As your neck touches the ground, place your hands on the ground about shoulder-width apart.
• Use your momentum as well as assistance from the hands to roll over the top of your head to your feet.

3. Handstand: This is arguably the single most important skill and position in gymnastics. It is the building block for other essential skills. Being able to do a Perfect handstand is one skill you should learn to master. The handstand is used in most tumbling skills-walkovers and handspring. Beginners practice handstand by using a wall to stabilize themselves. A coach could also assist by helping to hold the leg while the novice gymnast attempts to master balance.
   

4. Cartwheel: This requires one to travel completely vertical through a handstand position. Steps involved in doing a cartwheel include:

• Face forward but turn your left foot and head towards your left side.
• Lunge forward and place your left hand down pointing out.
• Kick up with the right leg hard to carry you through a handstand position.
• As you are travelling place your right hand down about shoulder-width apart from your left hand facing in the same direction.
• Land with your right foot pointing back towards the direction you came.
• Land your left leg down and come to a standing position facing towards the direction you came.

Floor activities

Floor activities are also known as floor exercise is a gymnastics event in which movements are performed on the floor in an area 12 meters (40 feet) square. This area is covered by some type of cloth or mat, usually with some cushioning. The type of exercise required is a series of movements combining elements of flexibility, strength, jumps, holding of poses, and balance, as well as other manoeuvres. The whole routine must be performed with rhythm and harmony, and the gymnast must move in different directions, using a major portion of the allotted area. The exercise usually starts and finishes with a series of tumbling movements, such as a handspring or a cartwheel with a half-turn (round off), continuing with handspring and somersaults (in the air), either backward roll or forward roll.

In a floor routine, a gymnast must use the entire floor mat during their routine, but cannot step off the floor mat at any time deduction is taken.

 

In our next class, we will be talking more about Gymnastics.  We hope you enjoyed the class.

Should you have any further question, feel free to ask in the comment section below and trust us to respond as soon as possible.

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