Women's Artistic Gymnastics
Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
Popularised in the 70’s by elfin-like stars such as Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics remains one of biggest crowd pleasers and most watched sports at the Olympic games.
It’s fascination and popularity amongst girls of all ages lies in it’s ability to provide constant challenge and teach body control, coordination, amplitude and courage.
It was the sport of choice for the UK’s most decorated gymnast, Beth Tweddle, who began the sport at an early age yet continues to thrill audiences the world over, with her ability to innovate and prove that age is no barrier to participation and success.
Women’s Artistic Gymnastics is the sport of choice for girls who love turning their world upside down, in more ways than one:-
Vault
Following apparatus innovation in early 2001, the vaulting horse has now been replaced with a wider vaulting table. It provides the perfect platform from which to launch sky high, before returning to earth with a controlled landing.
Gymnasts approach the vault from a 25metre run, transfer their speed to the springboard and seek a quick hand placement to the table. From here the gymnast uses internal spring to launch themselves vertically for a combination of somersaults and twists. A good vault should land at least 2metres from the table and include no steps on landing
Uneven Bars
Like the men’s parallel bars the Uneven Bars provide double the challenge for gymnasts. The low bar is set around 170cm in height and the high bar often around 250cm. The distance between the two bars is set at a maximum of 180cm.
Swinging and continuous movements are required on this apparatus. Routines typically include movements in both directions as well as above and below the bars. Elements with twists and somersaults with multiple grip changes and high flight often are awarded with the highest scores. Like men’s horizontal bar, the wind up and dismount is often the most exciting part of the routine.
Balance Beam
Perhaps the most precarious piece of apparatus for girls, the beam stands 1.25metres from the floor, is five metres long and if that was not posing enough of a challenge, is only 10cm wide. That is the width of your average house brick!
A beam routine is an exercise in precision with no room for error. The gymnast performs a combination of acrobatic elements, leaps, jumps, turns, steps, waves and balance elements. These can be done standing, sitting or lying on the beam. It is a requirement that the gymnast uses the entire length of the beam, with routines concluding often with a series of acrobatic elements off the side or end of the beam.
Floor
The floor exercise allows the gymnast their moment in the spotlight and is considered by many to be the most expressive piece of women’s apparatus.
A floor routine, always accompanied by music, includes a combination of dance movements and sequences interspersed with a variety of tumbling and acrobatic elements. The whole floor area must be used in the routine with clear variances in mood, tempo and direction. Individuality, originality, and artistry of presentation are the key ingredients of a great routine.
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Tumbling
Tumbling is characterised by the complex, swift and rhythmical succession of acrobatic bounding from hands to feet, feet to hands or even feet directly back onto feet. A tumbling pass may be over in a matter of seconds and is performed on a tumbling track that is 25 meters in length.
In tumbling, a gymnast performs a tumbling pass which sees the gymnast gain speed and power by running along a track and performing a series of somersaults and twists. World-class tumblers perform no less than two double somersaults in one run, the best of them three, with twisting elements in addition.
A typical tumbling competition will include the gymnast completing three tumbling passes. The first is called a Straight Pass (composed of somersaults), the second is called the Twisting Pass (twists) with the third and Final Pass (composed of both somersaults and twists.
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Pre-School
Bouncing, spinning, rolling – your children are already natural-born gymnasts. So if you want to help them develop their physical skills, what better place to start?
Pre-school gymnastics teaches your children important skills like balance and co-ordination. With expert supervision and a playful environment, it’s a great way for them to have fun and lay the foundations of a healthy, active lifestyle.
Your budding sport stars can jump straight into the world of pre-school gymnastics. With an adventure playground to explore and lots of exciting activities to get involved in, the sessions are always energetic and entertaining. And while they’re having fun with new friends, they’ll also be getting a head start in the world of physical exercise.
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We have different pre-school classes; Independent Pre-School (Tiggers) and Parent and Toddler Classes (Tweenies)
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Our Independent Classes are a 60-minute class is the introduction to basic gymnastics skills. Activities include tumbling, low bar, floor beam, fine and gross motor skills. This class is offered to all pre-school children. These are bookable by the term only.
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Our Parent and Toddler classes This 60-minute class is designed to enhance the child’s motor, listening, and social skills through fun gymnastics-oriented activities (an adult is expected to actively participate with their child). This class is offered to both girls and boys aged 6months up to 3years. These classes are pay as you go but booking in advance is essential.
Gymnastics For All - GfA
Gymnastics for all encompasses our Non-Competitive Classes or elsewhere known as Recreational Classes based at both venues and our schools we teach extra curricular at. Based on the notion that gymnastics is a sport for everybody, Gymnastics for All is the flagship discipline of the sport. Offering a variety of activities, programmes, events and competitions suitable for all genders, age groups and abilities, Gymnastics for All contributes to personal health, fitness and well-being.
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The focus of Gymnastics for All activities is Fun, Fitness, Friendship and Fundamentals, involving :
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Gymnastics with or without apparatus
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Gymnastics and Dance
Gymnastics for All begins with movement programmes for pre-school children and progresses through to recreational gymnastics taught in clubs, schools and leisure centres across the UK. Children are encouraged to learn and experience a variety of basic movement patterns across the range of gymnastics disciplines. By exposing children to movement and skills involved in all disciplines, they can quickly find their feet, choose to specialise in one discipline or transition to another as their preferences change.
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An increasing number of clubs and leisure centres across the UK are specialising in Gymnastics for All, providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part in festivals and performances under the GymFusion brand.
GymFusion is British Gymnastics national Festivals programme. It offers the opportunity for teams of gymnasts to perform in a show style, non-competitive event where the emphasis is on fun and friendship. It offers a fantastic experience for both gymnasts and spectators alike by capturing the ethos of Gymnastics for All; the bringing together gymnasts of all ages, genders and abilities, to enjoy the diverse range of physical activities offered by the sport.
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Gymnastics for All also provides opportunities for international representation. Every four years the World Gymnaestrada sees in excess of 20,000 Gymnastics for All enthusiasts the world over, come together to perform routines of national and cultural significance in front of adorning fans from all corners of the globe. With age and ability no barriers to participation, the World Gymnaestrada epitomises the philosophy of Gymnastics for All.
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And if competition is your thing, then Gymnastics for All also provides opportunities for lifelong participation in the British Vets or for competitive teams (e.g. World Gym for Life Challenge) in order for participants to mix it with the best.
Gymnastics for All is about 'More Opportunities for More People' and offers a wide range of experiences for participants and spectators while providing the opportunity to focus on fun, fitness, friendship and fundamentals.
