RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS

In 1962 rhythmic gymnastics was officially recognized by the international gymnastics federation (FIG).The first World Championships for rhythmics held in 1963 at Hungary. Rhythmic gymnastics was included as an ​Olympic sport in 1984. In the Olympics, Rhythmic gymnastics has only female participants. But nowadays in some countries, males are beginning to participate in rhythmic gymnastics. Rhythmic Gymnastics is governed internationally by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG).In rhythmic gymnastics, the athletes perform with equipment instead of on equipment. Gymnasts perform jumps, tosses, balances, leaps and other moves with different types of apparatus, and they are judged according to their grace, danceability, apparatus handling, execution, coordination, choreography, etc.

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS APPARATUS

Rhythmic gymnastics classified into five different apparatus-

1. Rope 
2. Hoop 
3. Ball
4. Clubs
5. Ribbon

Rope

Rope made of hemp or synthetic material, which are light in weight. Skills in rope include swings, throws, circles, rotations, and figures of eight, etc.

Hoop

Hoop made of plastic or wood. The various skill involves rolls, swings, circles, figures of eight, throws, passes through and over the hoop.

Ball

Ball made of rubber or synthetic material. Skills include Ball throws, bounces or rolls, catches, flexible exercise, etc.

Clubs

Clubs made of wood or synthetic material. Flowing skills include small circles, asymmetric movements, throws and catches, etc.

Ribbon

Made of cloth with various colors. Minimum Ribbon 6 meters in size for senior and 5m for juniors. It is the most popular event in rhythmic gymnastics. Flowing movements include circles, throws, swings, serpents, etc.

Freehand

In Freehand gymnasts perform without apparatus. Which includes there style, technique, and execution of dance skills.

SCORING METHOD

In Rhythmic gymnastics, the score is given out of 20.0 for each event. The score is a combination of elements, choreography, music, catching the apparatus and execution, etc. Score is given according to the FIG code of points. Which are reviewed every four years. After each Olympic game, the scoring process is modified.

MAJOR EVENTS

OLYMPIC GAMES

WORLD CUP

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Related Pages

• more about the sports of Gymnastics 
• Artistic Gymnastics
• Acrobatics Gymnastics
• FIG

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ACROBATICS GYMNASTICS

Acrobatic gymnastics also is known as sports acrobatics. Acrobatic gymnastics began in the Soviet Union in the 1930s and the first world championships were held in 1974. It is a discipline where gymnasts perform together consisting of acrobatic moves, dance, and music within specific time durations. In Acrobatic Gymnastics there are three types of routine and five group categories. All routines are performed in music and take place on a 12m x 12m  floor area.
In Acrobatic gymnastics the focus is on strength, grace,  poise, Choreography, flexibility, catches. Each pair or group performs routines featuring gymnastics tumbling skills,  balances and dynamic skills with a flight. All exercises are choreographed and performed to music.

Routines

• Balance

The balance routines consist of skills requiring static holds, poses, and pyramids. All levels of the group perform a balanced routine at competitions. Balance routines are done within two minutes and thirty seconds. And also known as Static.

• Dynamic

The dynamic routine consists of skills that show flight, landing, demonstrating a variety of throws, catches, back and forward saults and twists. All levels of the group perform a dynamic routine at competitions. Dynamic routines are done within two minutes. And Also known as Tempo.

• Combined

The combined routine consists of a combination of balance and dynamic elements.

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 Types of Acrobatic Gymnastics

There are five types in acrobatic gymnastics

Men's Pairs

Including one base and one top.

Women’s Pairs

Including one base and one top.

Mixed Pairs

Including a male base and a female top.

Women's Groups/ Women’s trio

Including a base, middle, and a top.

Men's Fours/ Men’s group

Including a base, two middle and a top.

Scoring

In acrobatic gymnastics, the score is given out of 30.00. The following are the categories in which the athletes are scored.

• an artistic component which evaluates the athlete performance in terms of choreography, diversity, and ability to perform to the music; (scored out of 10).

• an execution component which evaluates the deductions incurred by the athlete while performing the partner and individual skills of the routine. This is scored out of 10, but then later doubled to emphasize its importance.

• a difficulty component which is the overall equivalent score based on the degree of difficulty and number of skills (the difficulty score is determined by the value allocated to skills according to the Code of Points).

Major Events In Acrobatic Gymnastics

• World Championships
• World Cup
• The World Games 

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ARTISTICS GYMNASTICS

Artistic Gymnastics is a type of gymnastics in which sportsperson implement short routines (ranging from about 30 to 90 seconds) on various apparatuses, The Gymnastics is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), which designs the code of points (rules) and regulates all form of international competition. Artistic Gymnastics future divided into two parts-

1.    Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG)
2.    Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG)

Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG)

There are six apparatus in Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG)

•     Floor Exercise

  

Gymnasts perform a spectacular 70-second acrobatic routine on a square mat. The floor exercise is a demonstration of power and strength and is performed without music.

•     Pommel Horse

  

Routines frequently involve circles, scissor swings with the legs split, spectacularly combining these movements while turning and traveling along with the horse.

•    Roman Rings

Involve difficult combination of strength elements, swing elements, requiring control, and balance in the forward and backward swings and dismount.

•     Vaulting Table

  

25 m sprint creates the necessary power to explode from the springboard before the dynamic push off the table, to generate greater height for rotations and flight before landing on the mat.

•     Parallel Bars

Parallel Bar routines require swing above and below the bars. Including changes of directions and balances, end with dismount off the side of the end of the bars.

•     Horizontal Bar

  

A Horizontal bar is used to perform a series of swings, release skills, changes of direction and a dismount.

You can find Interesting fact of gymnastics history.

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

There are four competitive apparatus in Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG):

•     Floor Exercise

  

In-Floor combination of dance and powerful gymnastics moves performed to music, where each gymnast communicates her own personality and style.

•     Vaulting Table

  

Same criteria apply for the female gymnast as men gymnast.

•     Balance Beam

  

It is an event in which a gymnast balances on a narrow horizontal bar raised off the floor while performing exercises. a narrow beam on which a breathtaking 90-second routine of leaps, back-flips, and somersaults is performed.

•     Uneven Bars

  

A pair of parallel bars set at different heights.which is used for a continuous series of moves including grip changes, releases, and dismount.

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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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