Artistic gymnastics is a sport that uses dancing, acrobatic and gymnastic skills. Arrangements and figures in artistic gymnastics are performed with accessories such as balls, hoops or ribbons or without the use of additional equipment. This spectacular sports discipline is usually practiced from an early age, but not all artistic gymnastics figures are difficult, so adults can also perform them. Find out what rhythmic gymnastics is and learn more about this demanding sport.

Artistic gymnasticsis a very versatile sport that requires many physical talents. To practice it, you need to develop your dance skills, which professional gymnasts learn in classical dance lessons with elements of movement stylized as folk dances. People doing this activity must also work on their motor coordination and rhythmicity.

Another component of artistic gymnastics are acrobatic exercises, which are the most difficult part of this discipline. Gymnasts (because women mainly perform this sport) must also master the basic gymnastic exercises to perfection. For this purpose, they train their flexibility, endurance and balance, which enable correct and effective performance of figures.

Contents:

  1. Artistic gymnastics - what is it?
  2. Artistic gymnastics - figures
  3. Artistic gymnastics - exercises
  4. Artistic gymnastics for men
  5. Artistic gymnastics - effects
  6. Artistic gymnastics - to whom is it recommended?

Artistic gymnastics - what is it?

Artistic gymnastics is a sub-discipline of gymnastics consisting in performing dance and acrobatic routines with the use of basic gymnastic exercises. It has existed as an Olympic discipline since 1984.

Artistic gymnastics is performed with gymnastic equipment, such as a ball, rope, clubs, hoops or ribbons, or without the use of any accessories.

This type of sport requires extraordinary coordination and mobility, which is why it is usually practiced by the youngest.Artistic gymnastics is mainly practiced by girls and women aged 4 to 24 . It is performedindividuallyor in groupsof 5 to 6 age-matched players.

Age and skill categories in rhythmic gymnastics are:

  • youth class - children up to 9 years old
  • youngsters (class III) - children under 10
  • junior younger (class II) novice - under 12
  • junior - class I
  • senior - M class

The jurors, divided into two committees, evaluate the performances of the gymnasts in terms of body technique, the use of accessories and the overall artistic performance.

Artistic gymnastics - figures

Figures performed during artistic gymnastics combine elements of acrobatics, dance and basic gymnastic sequences. This sport discipline has a lot of artistry and every gymnast during her set-up brings something out of herself to the presented movements.

After all, there are some basic figures that are mandatory in the practice of this sport and are valid for all competitions, regardless of whether you perform a setup with or without gymnastic equipment.

The main figures of rhythmic gymnastics are:

  • bridge from standing,
  • classic bridge,

CHECK: How to make a bridge for standing and lying down?

  • splits to the side,
  • splits forward,
  • star,
  • star on one hand,
  • star without hands (resembling a somersault sideways),
  • handstand,
  • standing on its head,
  • roll forward,
  • reverse roll,

SEE: Learning to flip forward and flip backward

  • rundak (star with legs joined together),
  • weight in front (lying on the stomach).

Artistic gymnastics - exercises

Before starting the performance of complicated figures of artistic gymnastics, the duty is to prepare our body for this extraordinary type of movement. Without proper exercise, doing any sequence belonging to this sport is virtually impossible.

Examples of gymnastic exercises to improve stretching and flexibility are:

  1. Bend forward - stand with your legs together and bring your hands closer to the floor, trying to reach as far as possible. Systematically deepen the slope.
  2. Bend forward with legs apart - stand with your feet apart and bend forward. Try to hide your head as deep as possible between your legs.
  3. Cradle on your stomach - lie on your stomach and grasp your ankles with both hands. Try to make the cradle by rocking back and forth.
  4. Sit backwards - sit on your heels,then gently spread your knees apart and lift your hips up. Try to arch your body into an arch and grab your ankles with both hands.
  5. Handstand against a wall - stand against a wall or ladders and place your hands on the floor. Give yourself some space for momentum and try to push yourself off the floor so that your legs touch the wall. Try to stay in this position for a dozen or so seconds.
Worth knowing

Artistic gymnastics for men

Men's artistic gymnastics is a sports discipline almost unknown in the world. It developed in Japan and Russia.

The principles of its performance are similar to women's gymnastics, but still completely different from the artistic expression presented by ladies. There are no dance sequences or many gymnastic equipment there. Only skipping rope and clubs are used, and the entire competition performances resemble free gymnastic exercises on the mat.

The first official men's artistic gymnastics competition was held in 2003 during the World Championships in this sub-discipline.

Artistic gymnastics - effects

The most important effects of artistic gymnastics include such positive aspects as:

  1. Improving body posture- this is the main and the most lasting effect of practicing this sport. During artistic gymnastics, our figure must be constantly straight and tense. Especially when performing dance routines, we must be graceful and agile, and after each figure in artistic gymnastics, return to the desired body posture, which is a pulled-in stomach, straight spine, pulled shoulder blades. This develops a permanent and beneficial habit for the body to maintain an upright posture, even in everyday life.
  2. Strengthening and slimming the muscles- we gain this thanks to demanding figures and gymnastic exercises that engage the muscles of the entire body to work. Our figure then develops evenly and proportionally, because even when we perform separately on our hands, e.g. standing on our hands, we also exercise other muscles, mainly postural, which are responsible for the he alth of our joints and bones.
  3. Improving body stretching- this is a characteristic element of artistic gymnastics. This sport significantly contributes to the development of flexibility of muscles and joints, and thanks to frequent practice, it allows you to sit in the twine or precisely make a star even without a long warm-up. Stretching is extremely important for maintaining the overall fitness of our body. It enables us to perform basic physical exertion, such as bends or squats. It also increasesthe range of mobility of our joints.
  4. Positive influence on the psyche- artistic gymnastics increases the awareness of one's own body, because it makes it a work tool that needs to be taken care of and to know its strengths and weaknesses. This increases your self-confidence. It also happens due to overcoming internal barriers and own weaknesses and achieving greater and greater sports successes. A strong body is also a strong mind.

Artistic gymnastics, apart from the above effects, also significantly improves balance, agility, motor coordination and increases the sense of rhythm and musicality.

Important

Artistic gymnastics, apart from many advantages, like every sport, also has several disadvantages. These can include:

  • joint overload , mainly in the spine and knee joints; This usually happens when we do not have the correct exercise technique or do not follow basic movement hygiene, which is proper warm-up and regeneration during training.
  • limited time to start the adventure with this sport ; you should start from an early age, preferably already in the preschool period, then the joints will get used to the specific figures of artistic gymnastics faster and better.
  • relatively late effects ; this sport requires months or even years of practice before we feel and notice the desired he alth effects.

Artistic gymnastics - to whom is it recommended?

Artistic gymnastics is intended primarily for young people. This is due to the fact that the young body will adapt the body faster to unnatural bends and gymnastic figures. If we have aspirations to take part in sports competitions, we have to start very early, preferably at the age of 4.

However, after turning twenty, we can still practice this sport! Of course, then the effects of the effort will come much later and we may not be able to perform some movement sequences, but artistic gymnastics will still have a positive effect on our body. The he alth effects that this sport will give us will be invaluable! From increasing the flexibility and flexibility of the body to improving the general posture of the figure, and even eliminating defects in the spine and other joints, e.g. the hip or shoulder joint. Artistic gymnastics uses basic movement patterns and deepens them thanks to stretching exercises and increasing joint mobility. With the right approach and gradual progression, we can start the adventure with this discipline at any age.

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