Module 1

Brief History

The history of gymnastics dates all the way back to Ancient Greece 2500 years
ago. The term gymnastics is derived from Greek word “gymnos” meaning naked. In those days
male athletes trained and competed in the nude. Women were excluded from the games as
competitors and spectators. A variety of activities were classified as gymnastics: including
running, jumping, weightlifting, swimming and vaulting over live bulls.

The Roman Empire did not completely abandon gymnastics, by they transformed it
from more of sport for children and Olympic athletes to a training method for soldiers. Because
of their love of war, they devised wooden horses to train soldiers to mount and dismount
quickly. This equipment, now known as the vault is used in class activities and in competitive
gymnastics.

The Germans were the greatest contributors to our present gymnastics program. By the
th
19 century, gymnastics had spread from Germany into the U.S. and other countries.

It became an Olympic sport during the 1st modern games held in 1896 in Greece. At
that time, it was a male Olympic sport. It became an Olympic sport for women in 1928.

By 1954, during the Modern Olympics, the men’s competition included the high bar,
rings, floor exercise, pommel horse and vault. Women competed in the vault, floor exercise,
balance beam and uneven bars.

Olympic gymnastics have produced the following famous gymnasts: Olga Korbut, Mary
Lour Retton and Nadia Comaneci. Among the countries that have thrived in this sport are
China, Russia and the U.S.

Definition of Gymnastics

An activity and a sport involving the performance of sequence of movements requiring

physical strength, flexibility and kinaesthetic awareness. A self motivating activity where one
can identify parts of the body.

Discipline of Gymnastics
 The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) also known as the Federation
Internationale de Gymnastique, is the official governing body of competitive gymnastics in the
world. It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Each country has its own national body affiliated to
FIG.
The federation draws up the rules, known as the Code of Points, which regulate how a
gymnast’s performance is evaluated.

Modern gymnastics has 6 disciplines:

1. Artistic Gymnastics - a discipline where a gymnast performs on an apparatus. It usually

divided into two categories:
a. Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG)
b. Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG)

2. Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG) - A discipline performed only by women, where a gymnast

performs with the apparatus.

3. Sports Aerobics (Aerobic Gymnastics ) (AER) – newest of the gymnastics disciplines. It

is the most dynamic and energetic of all the disciplines. Involves performance of
routines by individuals or pairs, emphasizing strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness
rather than acrobatic of balance skills.

4. Sports Acrobatics (Acrobatic Gymnastics ) (ACRO) - is a sport which combines the

power and athletic prowess of Tumbling and Artistic Gymnastics with the grace, artistry
and presentation of dance.

5. Trampolining Gymnastics (TG) - this sport debuted at the Sydney 2000 games
featuring both men’s and women’s individual events. (en. Bejing2008.cn). It is doing
flips only on the trampoline. The routines involve a build-up phase during which the
gymnast jumps repeatedly to achieve height, followed by a sequence of ten leaps
without pauses and ends with a series of aerial tumbling skills.

6. General Gymnastics (GG) – is the historical and cultural base of all FIG activities. It is a
non-competitive form of gymnastics. It is a sport for everybody, regardless of age,
gender or ability. It prepares individuals for participation in sports and develops vital life
skills.
The diversity of the sport, varying equipment, and a mix of skills and competencies have
created a sport that meets the needs of a wide range of participants. Currently, the
British Gymnastics have been developing a program for disabled gymnastics to the most
profoundly disabled gymnasts, starting with the Learning, Physical, Hearing and Visual
Impairments

Objectives of Gymnastics

1. Participate in exercises that will be useful throughout life as conditioning of “keeping

fit” exercises and to correct minor postural defects.

2. Enhance creativity through the exploration of new movements and movement

combinations.

3. Further develop courage, initiative and perseverance.

4. Stimulate interest and enjoyment of gymnastics for its fitness values.

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