Chapter 3

Basic skill of Gymnastics

Historical back ground of gymnastics

Gymnastics is thought to have began in ancient Greece about 2500 years ago where it was
used in training to keep fit for sporting activities. In the Greek city of Athens, gymnastic
tournaments were held, including tumbling, rope climbing, and other similar activities.

The gymnasium was the hub of cultural activity. Men met there not only to practice sport, but
to understand art, music and philosophy. The Greeks believed symmetry between the mind and
body was possible only when physical exercise was coupled with intellectual activity. Because of
their love for these tournaments, the Athenians sponsored the ancient Olympic Games. When
the Roman’s conquered Greece, they found that gymnastics was very valuable in their military
training. But after the fall of the Roman Empire, gymnastics vanished for hundreds of years.

Today, gymnastics is often termed the ultimate combination of sport and art, but the idea is
nothing new. Plato, Homer and Aristotle strongly advocated the strengthening qualities of
gymnastic activity.

 Who created gymnastics and why?

Modern gymnastics as we know it today was invented by a German doctor called Friedrich
Ludwig Jahn in the 1800s (around 200 years ago).

Jahn believed that physical education was important for our health and our national identity,
which is why he created modern gymnastics.

He invented a lot of the equipment we use today including the balance beam, parallel bars, and
rings. This has led to him being thought of as the ‘father of gymnastics’.

 Basic skills of gymnastics

Basic skills required for the gymnast are flexibility, core strength, balance, upper and lower-
body strength, power, mental focus, discipline, and dedication. Although not necessarily a skill,
commitment is mandatory and is often assessed by gymnastic coaches. Basic skills can be
trained, and most are taught by a coach. All skills can be learned by using proper technique and
having a tenacious attitude. Technique is the crucial foundation to increase skill level and
become proficient with all functional movement.

 Gymnastics games
1. Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus

Men have six apparatuses that they use in artistic gymnastics. The pommel horse, vaulting
table, rings, parallel bars, horizontal bar and floor are all considered events and apparatus.
Women only have four apparatuses in artistic gymnastics -- the vaulting table, uneven bars,
balance beam and the floor.

2. Rhythmic Gymnastic Apparatus

The stick, rings, rope and clubs are the four apparatuses used in rhythmic gymnastic for males.
Women have five pieces of apparatus for rhythmic gymnastics -- the ball, hoop, ribbon, rope
and clubs. Since these are the central features of the performance, apparatus is defined by
what the gymnast performs with and not on. Additional equipment is prohibited.

3. Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatics Apparatus

The International Federation of Gymnastics also recognizes trampoline, acrobatic and aerobic
gymnastics. These are single-apparatus sports. Aerobic gymnastics limits its gymnast to the use
of the floor apparatus. Acrobatic gymnasts’ apparatuses are their bodies and the bodies of their
partners or groups, while trampoline gymnastics’ only apparatus is the trampoline. In all three,
additional equipment is not allowed.

 Benefits of Gymnastics

Whether you’re a studen gymnastics creates major benefits for both your body and mind.
It’s a great practice to stay fit, build mental focus, and even fight off a wide range of diseases.
Read on to learn about the top health benefits of gymnastics and how it can help improve your
overall life.

1. Increases Your Flexibility

As you engage in gymnastics, you condition your muscles to be more flexible. Not only can this
benefit you while you do gymnastics itself, but it also limbers you up so that you can help
reduce the risk of future injury. It also gives you more control over your body during your
routines.

2. Improves Bone Health

Weight-bearing exercise benefits your bones because it helps them stay in shape and prevents
brittleness. Women in particular experience a loss of bone mass as they get older, so engaging
in weight-bearing moves from a young age can help preserve bone density and keep women
from developing the bone disorders that sometimes come with age.

3. Builds Strength

As you go through your routines, you’ll obviously be toning and building muscle. Because you
have to use your muscles to such a large degree while doing gymnastics, the sport will definitely
make you stronger.

You will notice that your muscles begin to gain more definition and that you find it easier to do
movements that were hard when you were just starting out. This strength benefits you outside
of the studio, too, making it easier to carry other heavy things, like large bags of groceries or
your kids.

4. Helps To Prevent Disease

Because gymnastics helps promote a healthy body, adding it to your routine can help ward off a
range of diseases, such as metabolic conditions like diabetes. A regular and consistent routine is
the best way to reap the rewards that gymnastics has to offer.

5. Builds Personal Discipline

By nature, an activity like gymnastics requires a lot of self-discipline because it isn’t always an
easy endeavor. You will have to be diligent about getting to class, practicing consistently, and
sometimes persevering through frustration or discomfort.
6. Develops Greater Coordination

Gymnastics requires a certain amount of coordination to help you perform the moves properly
and without risk of injury. As you continue with gymnastics, you will likely notice that your
natural coordination improves as you learn new skills and techniques.

7. Encourages Focus

Gymnastics cultivates the ability to concentrate and focus on one single task at a time. Put
simply, you can’t be reading a text and talking with friends and also listening to music as you
prepare for a back handspring. This practice requires focus and dedication, a skill you can build
on over time.