Among the main types of gymnastics include the artistic, the rhythmic, the trampoline, the acrobatics and aerobics. This sport is a complex combination that involves physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, grace, balance and control.
Primarily there are three types of gymnastics competitions: artistic, rhythmic and acrobatic; each one is a separate sport. Generally, artistic gymnastics is simply referred to as gymnastics.
Gym events tend to vary for men and for women. In artistic gymnastics each has its distinctive apparatus; On the other hand, rhythmic gymnastics is only performed by women.
The formal definition of gymnastics states that they are exercises that develop or demonstrate physical agility and coordination. This sport usually includes exercises in parallel bars, in the floor, in asymmetric bars, in the balance beam and in the horse with bows, among others.
The 6 main types of gymnastics
1- Artistic female gymnastics
Female artistic gymnastics is often referred to simply as female gymnastics. It usually attracts the most participants and is the best known gymnastics. It consists of the use of various gym equipment or the floor for different exercises.
This type of gymnastics is a creative mix of control and audacity; is powerful and elegant, but at the same time refined and strong. It improves coordination, balance and agility, which generates a better body awareness. It also improves flexibility and body strength.
In female artistic gymnastics athletes compete in four devices: horse jumping, balance beam, floor exercises and asymmetric bars. To be successful in the devices you need balance, swing, flip and impulse skills.
- Horse jump
In this mode the gymnast runs along a footbridge, jumps on a trampoline and is propelled towards a jump table placed about 4 feet off the ground.
- Balancing beam
The gymnast completes a choreographic routine with jumps, somersaults and twists in a beam 10 centimeters wide.
- Soil exercises
The gymnast performs a choreographed routine of jumps, turns and dance moves to the rhythm of music on a padded rug.
- Uneven bars
The gymnast performs rocking, pirouettes and takeoff movements in two horizontal bars at different heights.
2- Men's Artistic Gymnastics
It implies the same skills as female artistic gymnastics: you have an emphasis on muscle strength and control. Male gymnastics is the oldest type of gymnastics.
Unlike women, men compete in six sets: ground exercises, foal jumping, parallel bars, horizontal bar, horse with bows and rings.
The characteristics of the last two modes, which are the most popular, are explained below:
- Horse with bows
This device measures about 13.8 inches wide; has two arches in which men hold hands. Gymnasts can not stop during a routine, so they must continue to move once they are mounted.
The hips should be in constant motion and considered as one of the most difficult devices because all the weight falls on the arms and hands.
- Rings
This apparatus consists of two rings in the air in which the gymnast must swing with his arms. The idea is that the rings stay as still as possible during the routine.
The rings should be suspended 5.75 meters above the ground and should be located at a distance of 50 centimeters from each other.
3- Rhythmic gymnastics
In this type of gymnastics are made jumps, throws, steps and other movements with different apparatuses. In the Olympics, this sport is exclusively female.
Rhythmic gymnastics combines ballet, dance and gymnastics into fluid compositions performed on a mat. These gymnasts must be very flexible, have great coordination and a lot of precision. In this sport, beauty, originality, elegance and personal style are very important.
It competes mainly with the rope, the hoop, the ball and the decks.
- Rope
The rope is made of a synthetic material and proportional to the size of the gymnast. The gymnast makes moves in eight figure, throws and catches the rope, and jumps through the folded rope.
- Aro
The gymnast rolls, spears and catches a ring 31 inches in diameter.
- Ball
Athletes perform pirouettes, throw and trap, and balance an 8-inch diameter rubber ball in their body.
- Mallets
They are two decks about 16 inches long. The movements performed by the gymnast include circles with the mallets, balance them from one side to another, throw them and catch them with different parts of their body, among others.
4- Gymnastics trampoline
In this discipline gymnasts perform acrobatics by bouncing on a trampoline. The range of movements can range from simple jumps to deadly somersaults. The idea is that the gymnasts make high turns and turns while they are in the air after bouncing.
An Olympic routine consists of 10 skills performed on the same trampoline. The Olympics includes an individual event for women and one for men.
5- Acrobatic gymnastics
It is a group modality in which gymnasts act in pairs (men and women), trios (women) and quartets (men). It has elements of tumbling and acrobatic jumps seen in artistic gymnastics and is performed on the floor to the rhythm of music
Emphasis is placed on poses of group balance; the"human architectures"are distinctive of this sport. They are also often thrown to gymnasts for their companions to catch them. Beauty and choreography are of great value in this discipline.
6- Aerobic gymnastics
It is characterized by movements of high intensity that do not stop; is a mixture of dance, gymnastics and acrobatics. It is performed to the rhythm of music, which is almost always energetic.
This discipline is realized in many events: individual masculine and feminine, mixed pairs, trios, groups and aerobic balls of eight gymnasts.
Groups tend to place an emphasis on precision and synchrony rather than on the complexity of choreography. Generally the choreography is quite robotic and much easier to follow than those that exist in rhythmic gymnastics.
References
- Gymnastics rings. Retrieved from athletics.wikia.com
- What apparatus is used in rhythm gymnastics? (2017). Retrieved from thoughtco.com
- List of gymnastic events (2017). Retrieved from livestrong.com
- What is women's artistic gymnastics? Recovered from gymnastics.org.au
- Pommel horse (2017). Retrieved from thoughtco.com
- Introduction to gymnastics: types of gymnastics. Retrieved from myactivesg.com
- Learn about the seven types of gymnastics (2017). Retrieved from thoughtco.com
- What are the different types of gymnastics? (2017). Recovered from quora.com
- Olympic gymnastics: the basics of women's artistic gymnastics (2017). Retrieved from thoughtco.com