Tumbling (gymnastics)
Encyclopedia
In gymnastics
, tumbling, also known as power tumbling is an acrobatic sport
ing discipline which combines some of the skills of artistic gymnastics on the floor with those of trampolining
. It is practised on a 25 metre long spring track. It was developed from tumbling performances performed by entertainers
from very early times but as a sport is now codified, regulated and judged and performed using standardised special equipment.
This sport is practised by both men and women. Competitors perform two passes, each containing 8 skills along the track, usually starting with a Round-off, Barani, or Rudi (the Barani and Rudi are forward, twisting somersaults) followed by a series of back-handsprings and/or whips (a fast, long back somersault done in a straight body position) ending in a 'dismount' skill. Only the feet and hands are allowed to make contact with the track.
Governed by rules established by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
(FIG), tumbling is one of the gymnastic disciplines. Many elements of tumbling are also practised on Floor Exercise
by participants of both Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) and Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG). Tumbling elements such as the round-off and back-handspring (flic) are commonly integrated into the balance beam routines of gymnasts.
Tumbling has only been an Olympic gymnastics event once, at the 1932 Summer Olympics
, and was a demonstration event in 1996
and 2000
. It is one of the events of the World Games
. There is an annual World Championships held in conjunction with the Trampoline World Championships
.
Scoring is similar to trampolining
with five judged scores for execution (form, body position and final landing) and one for the degree of difficulty (number of somersault
s and twists etc.). The top and bottom execution scores are dropped and the remaining three added to the Difficulty score to give the total for the pass.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, tumbling, also known as power tumbling is an acrobatic sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
ing discipline which combines some of the skills of artistic gymnastics on the floor with those of trampolining
Trampolining
Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists....
. It is practised on a 25 metre long spring track. It was developed from tumbling performances performed by entertainers
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
from very early times but as a sport is now codified, regulated and judged and performed using standardised special equipment.
This sport is practised by both men and women. Competitors perform two passes, each containing 8 skills along the track, usually starting with a Round-off, Barani, or Rudi (the Barani and Rudi are forward, twisting somersaults) followed by a series of back-handsprings and/or whips (a fast, long back somersault done in a straight body position) ending in a 'dismount' skill. Only the feet and hands are allowed to make contact with the track.
Governed by rules established by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique or International Federation of Gymnastics is the governing body of competitive gymnastics. Its headquarters is in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was founded on July 23, 1881 in Liège, Belgium, making it the oldest international sport organisation...
(FIG), tumbling is one of the gymnastic disciplines. Many elements of tumbling are also practised on Floor Exercise
Floor (gymnastics)
In gymnastics, the floor refers to a specially prepared exercise surface, which is considered an apparatus. It is used by both male and female gymnasts. The event in gymnastics performed on floor is called floor exercise. The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring is FX.A spring...
by participants of both Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) and Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG). Tumbling elements such as the round-off and back-handspring (flic) are commonly integrated into the balance beam routines of gymnasts.
Tumbling has only been an Olympic gymnastics event once, at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Gymnastics at the 1932 Summer Olympics
At the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, eleven events in gymnastics were contested, all for men only. The competitions were held from Monday, August 8, 1932 to Friday, August 12, 1932.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:...
, and was a demonstration event in 1996
Gymnastics at the 1996 Summer Olympics
At the 1996 Summer Olympics, two different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. The artistic gymnastics events were held at the Georgia Dome from July 20–25 and July 28–29. The rhythmic gymnastics events were held at Stegeman Coliseum in nearby...
and 2000
Gymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics
At the 2000 Summer Olympics, three different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline. The artistic gymnastics and trampoline events were held at the Sydney SuperDome on September 16–25 and September 22–23, respectively...
. It is one of the events of the World Games
World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...
. There is an annual World Championships held in conjunction with the Trampoline World Championships
Trampoline World Championships
The Trampoline World Championships are the World Championships for trampolining. They were originally held annually from 1964 - 1968. The frequency was switched to biennially from 1970-1998...
.
Equipment
When Power Tumbling was first started, and for the first ever US National Championships in Tumbling in 1886, gymnasts would perform their skills only on thin mats. From there, "floors" evolved in a wide variety of ways, including rows of skis tied together with the ends cut off under those mats, and then to the rod floor used today, developed by Randy Mulkey, which is a 25 metres (82 ft) long by 2 metres (6.6 ft) wide track consisting of fibreglass rods (laid horizontally, to make it springy) under two layers of foam mats. It also includes a 10 metres (32.8 ft) run up at the front and at the end is a mat where the gymnast lands their dismounting skill.Competition
Competitors perform two passes, each containing eight skills along the track, usually starting with a Round-off, Barani, or Rudi (the Barani and Rudi are forward, twisting somersaults) followed by a series of back-handsprings and/or whips (a fast, long back somersault done in a straight body position) ending in a 'dismount' skill. In the lower levels, there are rules about what each pass should contain. At more advanced levels there is a choice about the skills performed. This includes adding much more difficulty to the passes by adding twisting somersaults (called single, double or triple fulls) in the middle of the pass. The dismounting skill is often another double or triple full or a double or triple back somersault, which can also include extra twists. Internationally, competitors frequently have 3 double somersaults incorporated in to each pass. All athletes in this sport at high levels are expected to have a finals pass as well as their other two passes. While not used at every meet, it is important to have three passes.Scoring is similar to trampolining
Trampolining
Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists....
with five judged scores for execution (form, body position and final landing) and one for the degree of difficulty (number of somersault
Somersault
A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip, moving the feet over the head. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground...
s and twists etc.). The top and bottom execution scores are dropped and the remaining three added to the Difficulty score to give the total for the pass.
Basic tumbling moves
- Punch fronts
- Back tucks
- Back handsprings
- CartwheelsCartwheel (gymnastics)In gymnastics, a cartwheel is a sideways rotary movement performed by bringing the hands to the ground while the body inverts and the legs travel over the body, coming down to a standing position.-Terminology:...
- RoundoffsRoundoffA roundoff is a move in gymnastics similar to a cartwheel.The roundoff is a gymnastic technique that turns horizontal speed into vertical speed ; it is also used effectively to turn forward momentum from a run into backwards momentum, giving speed and power to backwards moves such as flips and...
- Roundoff backhandsprings
- Layouts
- Front Hurdlers
- Front Fulls
- Double FullDouble FullThe Double Full is a trampoline move that comprises a single back somersault with two full twists. This move also may be executed on the ground in rapid succession as a cheerleading/gymnastics/acrobatics routine....
- Standing Fulls
- Barani
- Whip
- double backs
- ariel
Notable tumblers
| Person | Country |
|---|---|
| Alexei Kryjanovsky | |
| Chrystel Robert Chrystel Robert Chrystel Robert is a French tumbling champion. She is a five time world champion, three time European champion and has won numerous additional international medals. From 1989 to 2000, she was Champion of France almost every year, leaving only the 1997 title to her French teammate, Karine Boucher.... |
|
| Elena Blujina | |
| Fen Tao | |
| Alexander Rasolin | |
| Seamus O Cearra | |
| Damien Walters Damien Walters Damien Walters is a former British gymnast of Derbyshire specialising in tumbling. He participated in four Trampoline World Championships. In 2003, he was one of four members of the British team winning the World Title in the team competition. In the years 2001 and 2007 he ranked 4th with the... |
|
| Seán Connon | |
| Andrei Krylov Andrey Krylov (gymnast) Andrey Krylov is a Russian trampolinist and was the gold medallist in men's tumbling at the 2007 Trampoline World Championships.-External links:*... |
Videos of power tumbling
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9UUmQXu4Oo
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbsWHsiFQ84&mode=related&search=
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8zABUcYECE&NR=1
See also
- United States Tumbling & Trampoline AssociationUnited States Tumbling & Trampoline AssociationThe United States Tumbling & Trampoline Association offers competitions in tumbling, trampoline and double-mini trampoline. It was founded in 1971 by Larry Griswold and George Nissen. Starting with 200 members and one division, the U.S.T.A. now has 6000 members, nine divisions for tumbling, and...
- CheerleadingCheerleadingCheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
- Tumbling Drills