HISTORY OF GYMNASTICS

INTRODUCTION OF GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics is a sport which includes balance, strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. The exercise involved in gymnastics contribute to the improvement of the arms, legs, shoulders, back, chest and abdominal muscle groups. Self-confidence and self-discipline are mental traits that can also be developed through gymnastics. Many writers on education have valued gymnastics from the point of view of health and advocated the benefits of gymnastic exercise for the body. Gymnastics direct how to moves, roll, stand, jump, swing and turn upside down.

INTERESTING FACTS OF GYMNASTICS HISTORY

The word ‘gymnastics' comes from the Greek word ‘gymnos' which means naked.
In Ancient Greece, most of the gymnastics competitions were compete in the nude.
Johann Gunsmiths, a German professor who is considered as the creator and developer of gymnastics.
Vaults were not used in ancient gymnastics; instead, they used bulls to participate.
Gymnastics was officially established in 1862.
Gymnastics was introduced in Olympics at 1896.
The first women Olympics competition was held in 1928.
In the Olympics games, there are eight different events including the Floor Exercise, Vaulting Table, Pommel Horse, Roman Rings, Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bar, Uneven Bars, and the Balance Beam.
In the Artistic Gymnastics only men can compete in the Rings, Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bars, and Pommel Horse.
In the Artistic Gymnastics, only women can compete in the Balance Beam and Uneven Bars.
Both men and women athlete can compete in the Floor Exercise and Vault competition.
Gymnastics uniforms are made up of a leotard which is form-fitting, comfortable for sports person and keeps ease of movement.
Gymnasts use chalk(White powder) to improve their grip from sweat and keep their hands dry.
Difficult gymnastics moves/skills are often names after exceptional gymnasts.

GOVERNING BODY - INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS FEDERATION

The International Gymnastics Federation(FIG) is the governing body for Gymnastics in worldwide. The FIG governs eight sports: Gymnastics for All, Men's and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline Gymnastics - including Double Mini-trampoline and Tumbling -, Aerobics Gymnastics, Acrobatics Gymnastics, and Parkour. It counts 146 national member federations and has its headquarters in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in Switzerland.

SCORING UNDER GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics competitions are judged and scored on both an individual and a team basis. Each competitor must accomplish a required number of specific types of gymnastics moves on each piece of equipment. Judges award points to each participant in each event according to there performance 0-to-10 scale, 10 being perfect. Judging is strictly subjective; however, guidelines are provided for judges so that they can arrive at relatively unbiased scores.
Usually, there are four judges, and the highest and lowest scores are dropped to provide a more objective evaluation. Gymnasts try to perform the best routines in the most graceful way, thus impressing the judges with their performance.

TYPES OF DISCIPLINES/ GYMNASTICS

FIG disciplines include artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, and tumbling gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, aerobic gymnastics, and parkour. Disciplines which are not currently recognized by FIG include wheel gymnastics, aesthetic group gymnastics, men's rhythmic gymnastics, TeamGym, and mallakhamb.

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