WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF GYMNASTICS? (15 TYPES) - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Some of the most common elements of gymnastics are the balance beams, the horse jump, the floor, the parallel bars, the pommel, the rings, the jumps and the bridge, among others.

Many acrobatic and tumbling movements are gymnastic elements in artistic gymnastics. In all types of gymnastics an element is a skill with points and associated penalties in the point code of the competition rules.

In the different types of gymnastics there are other movements performed by gymnasts during an exercise that do not have a score and are not elements themselves.

Gymnastics items list

Tumbling

It is an acrobatic discipline that combines some of the skills of artistic gymnastics with those of trampoline gymnastics. Sometimes it is practiced on a track about 25 m long.

It was developed from tumbling performances performed by performers a while ago, but is now part of a sport and is codified, regulated and judged using special acrobatic equipment.

Many elements are practiced in floor exercises by participants in both male artistic gymnastics and female artistic gymnastics.

Some elements of tumbling such as the round-off and multi-rotation jumps are integrated into the balance beam routines.

Layout or plate

In this position the gymnast's body is fully extended, with the fingers extended and the legs straight.

A plank in the tumbling, on the balance beams or in the horse jump is performed in this position.

Roundoff

This movement is similar to a star lap, except that the gymnast lands with both feet together on the floor instead of one foot at a time, in the direction of the finish.

This gymnastics technique changes horizontal speed into vertical speed and can be used to transform momentum in a run into backward momentum.

Star spin

It is a rotational movement of the body. It is done by bringing the hands to the floor once at a time while the body is inverted.

The legs travel on the torso while one or two hands are on the floor, and then the feet return to the floor one at a time. The movement ends with the performer standing straight.

Leg opening or split

In an element that consists of a position in which the leg is in line with the other and the legs are extended in opposite directions.

When performing a split, the lines defined by the inner thighs of the legs form an angle of about 180 degrees.

This exercise involves a great stretch, so it requires a lot of flexibility in the leg muscles. Additionally, it is also used as a warm-up exercise.

Horse jump

This element of artistic gymnastics is developed in an apparatus in which the gymnasts perform. Both male and female gymnasts participate in this discipline.

To participate in this element the gymnast runs down a track and then jumps on the horse with his hands.

Gymnasts are expected to land cleanly, without any extra jumps or steps. Additionally, they must demonstrate good technique and execution. Falls and extra steps are penalized.

Balance bar

The gymnast performs a choreography of about 90 seconds consisting of jumps, acrobatic skills, twists, dance elements, and cartwheels on a padded bar.

The bar measures about 125 cm from the ground and is 500 cm wide. This discipline requires balance, grace, flexibility, and strength.

Mortal jump

In an acrobatic exercise in which a person rotates 360 degrees on a horizontal axis with the feet passing over the head.

A somersault can be performed forward, sideways, or backward and can be performed in the air or on the floor. When performed on the floor it is called a somersault.

Floor exercises

This event is held on the 12 meter by 12 meter padded floor. The gymnasts perform choreographed routines of about 90 seconds, often to the beat of a song.

The routine should consist of tumbling passes with some aerial element without hand support, somersaults of different types, simple jumps, turns and dance elements.

Double jumps

The double jump back is the simplest form of double jump. Double jumps can be performed forward or backward; They can be made in a folded, collected or plate-shaped position.

The most difficult way is to perform a double twist jump, in which the gymnast does a full turn on each turn of his somersault.

Pommel horse

It is performed only in men's artistic gymnastics. It is a bar in which the gymnasts perform exercises in the air that involve the legs while they are supported with their hands on the horse.

It is considered one of the most difficult events in gymnastics.

Somersault or rolls

It is one of the most basic elements of gymnastics. There are many variations of this ability; Rolls involve a complete rotation of the body, but the rotation of the roll is usually done on the floor. Rolls also help you recover from a fall.

Needle

This element involves placing both hands on the floor and one leg on the floor, then kicking the other leg in a full leg spread.

Uneven bars

This apparatus is only used in women's gymnastics; it is made of metal. The bars are positioned at different heights and widths, allowing the gymnast to move from bar to bar.

Kip

This element is basic in the uneven bars, although it is also done in the men's high bar. The kip is an important skill that is used both when riding and as a connecting element in a bar routine.

The kip allows the gymnast to swing under the bar to reach a front support on a bar. The sliding kip is the most used element to ride on the women's uneven bars.

References

1. Kip. Recovered from wikipedia.org
2. Somersault. Recovered from wikipedia.org
3. Roll. Recovered from wikipedia.org
4. Girl's gymnastics. Recovered from books.google.co.ve
5. Split. Recovered from wikipedia.org
6. Vault. Recovered from wikipedia.org
7. What are the ABC elements of gymnastics? (2015). Recovered from livestrong.com
8. Cartwheel. Recovered from wikipedia.org
9. Roundoff. Recovered from wikipedia.org
10. What are the elements of gymnastics. Recovered from answers.com
11. Tumbling. Recovered from wikipedia.org
12. Uneven bars. Recovered from wikipedia.org
13. Gymnastics. Recovered from wikipedia.org
14. What are the elements of gymnastics and how can I improve them? (2017). Recovered from quora.com.