Gymnastic formation
Encyclopedia
Gymnastic formation is a collective art based on gymnastic expressed by 30 to 5000 figurants using only human bodies without instruments. It is commonly presented in Japanese schools as a part of physical education
curriculum. The expression of the collective beauty based on force
, passion
, and union of young men is much more important than the individual expression. It is a modality of mass game
.
In this moment, there is no unified English expression. In the United States of America, journalists sometimes use the expression “mass gymnastics” especially to represent annual festival of the North Korea
. However, this expression not always includes mounting, and therefore, it meaning is similar to mass game
. In the other English speaking countries, such as Malaysia, it is called “gymnastic formation”. In Japan
, it is called “kumi-taisô”, which means mounting gymnastics.
and ceramic art of ancient China
. In the Middle Age
of Europe
, it was exhibited in Italy
on the festivities. In 19th Century, gymnastic formation was performed in Germany
. In the beginning of the 20th Century, in the United States of America, some young women’s groups performed it. In Czechoslovakia
(country name of that time), large-scale gymnastic formation of thousands of figurants was exhibited up to 1985. In Japan
, gymnastic formation of hundreds of figurants is performed up to the present in annual sports festival of schools. Up to the end of the 20th Century, gymnastic formation was practiced in many organizations of the world. However, in 21st Century large-scale gymnastic becomes less exhibited. Today, it is seem in limited countries and territories, such as Hong Kong
, Malaysia, Brazil
, Philippines
, and North Korea
. The former four are civil events and the latter is a national governmental event.
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
curriculum. The expression of the collective beauty based on force
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. In other words, a force is that which can cause an object with mass to change its velocity , i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform...
, passion
Passion
-Emotion:* Passion * Passions , emotional states as used in philosophical discussions* Stoic Passions, various forms of emotional suffering in Stoicism-Crucifixion of Jesus Christ:...
, and union of young men is much more important than the individual expression. It is a modality of mass game
Mass games
Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of performing arts or gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance that emphasizes group dynamics rather than individual prowess.-Methods:...
.
In this moment, there is no unified English expression. In the United States of America, journalists sometimes use the expression “mass gymnastics” especially to represent annual festival of the North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. However, this expression not always includes mounting, and therefore, it meaning is similar to mass game
Mass games
Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of performing arts or gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance that emphasizes group dynamics rather than individual prowess.-Methods:...
. In the other English speaking countries, such as Malaysia, it is called “gymnastic formation”. In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, it is called “kumi-taisô”, which means mounting gymnastics.
History
Basic performances of gymnastic formation are seen at the wall painting of ancient EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and ceramic art of ancient China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In the Middle Age
Middle age
Middle age is the period of age beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. Various attempts have been made to define this age, which is around the third quarter of the average life span of human beings....
of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, it was exhibited in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on the festivities. In 19th Century, gymnastic formation was performed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In the beginning of the 20th Century, in the United States of America, some young women’s groups performed it. In Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
(country name of that time), large-scale gymnastic formation of thousands of figurants was exhibited up to 1985. In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, gymnastic formation of hundreds of figurants is performed up to the present in annual sports festival of schools. Up to the end of the 20th Century, gymnastic formation was practiced in many organizations of the world. However, in 21st Century large-scale gymnastic becomes less exhibited. Today, it is seem in limited countries and territories, such as Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Malaysia, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. The former four are civil events and the latter is a national governmental event.
Performance
Gymnastic formation has general objective of demonstration of force, passion, and union of the participants and not a modality to dispute championship. General flow is from small-light mounting to large-heavy mounting. The performance of the NGOs, such as the SGI, is widely variable, such as, bi-dimensional wave, sky rocket, windmill, walking wall, walking pyramid, catapult, instantaneous stand-up pyramid, instantaneous stand-up tower, three-layers' plane tower, four-layers' tower, and rarely five-layers' tower. The six-layers' tower that stood up in Osaka, Japan, in 1982 was indexed on the Guinness Book.Bibliographic references
- Yasuichi Hamada, 1996. Ilusstrated gymnastic formation. Daishûkan Edition, 305p. ISBN 978-4-469-26349-7 (in Japanese, 浜田靖一 『イラストで見る組体操・組立体操』)
- Yasuich Hamada, 1998. Illustrated and photographed mass games. Daishukan Edition, 268p. ISBN 4-469-26384-2 (in Japanese, 浜田靖一 『イラストと写真で見るマスゲーム』)
See also
- CastellCastellA castell is a human tower built traditionally in festivals at many locations within Catalonia, Spain. At these festivals, several colles castelleres or teams often succeed in building and dismantling a tower's structure...
s, human towers built in Catalonia - Govinda sportGovinda sportGovinda or Dahi Handi is a sport organized on Krishna Janmashtami to celebrate the birth of Krishna. It is very popular in Mumbai and surrounding area of Thane....
, human towers built in India