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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Gymnastics introduction

It is said that gymnastics developed from ancient exercises and skills utilized by the ancient Greeks. These movements and techniques were used for various skills such as mounting and dismounting horses or maneuvering through circus-like performances.

These movements have evolved through thousands of years to become the sport we now know as gymnastics. Most of the skills are still basically the same but the horse and the circus equipment are now gone. In their place, modern equipments are now being used in various gymnastic disciplines and events.

Gymnastics training

The sport of gymnastics needs rigorous and disciplined training. All gymnasts have undergone many years of strict and exacting exercise and instruction to develop the right skills and techniques that can win medals and accolades in competitions. Yet, all gymnasts begin from simple instructions for simple movements and techniques that are the foundation from which more complex and difficult techniques develop. Here in this article we will discuss two of the most basic gymnastic techniques.

Gymnastics posture

For athletes participating in sports like swimming and gymnastics, there is a need to assume a totally different body posture compared to other sports to be able to complete well. This posture can carry over to their personal lives as well, and one can easily identify a swimmer or gymnast by the particular way they stand, walk or carry themselves.

While football and basketball are "leg based" sports, swimmers and gymnasts have assimilated a decidedly hunchbacked posture because of the "hand based" orientation of their particular athletic activities. The hunchbacked posture in gymnastics is part of the sport's proper form and is known as "hollowing out". Constant training in this posture can lead to the athlete's assuming the same form in the daily course of his or her life, which is potentially a cause for serious injuries in the knee, shoulder, neck and lower back.

CONCLUSION

Gymnastics is arguably one of the world’s oldest sports. It is also a very natural sport involving activities that people would normally do outside gym class or gymnastic competitions such as jumping, running, climbing, swinging and tumbling. Modern gymnastics as a sport involves the performance of a series of movements.