I decided I would make a skill dictionary to make it
easier to understand me and so I don't have to define every skill when I come
across it. So if you ever are reading and come
across a skill that is
unfamiliar to you come back to the skill dictionary and look it up. I hope this helps!
Back walkoverDefinition: A back walkover is performed on floor and beam, and is considered a basic skill in gymnastics.
In a back walkover, the gymnast starts in a standing position, then:
•Lifts one leg up and arches back until his/her hands touch the ground
•Pushes off the leg on the ground and shifts his/her weight to his/her hands
•Passes through a handstand position, with legs close to or in a split position
•Steps down from the handstand
FormDefinition: The word form is used in gymnastics to describe the way an athlete does his/her skills. Good form is to perform the move with the right body positions -- usually straight legs, pointed toes, and arms in the correct position.
Good form can vary from skill to skill. For example, good form in a back tuck would be to have the legs tucked and together, with toes pointed. In a regular handstand, however, good form would be to keep the legs straight.
Also Known As: Execution
Press handstandDefinition: A press to handstand is a basic skill in which the gymnast starts in a standing or seated position, and slowly rolls up into a handstand position.
It can be done with the legs straddled or together, and is performed on the balance beam, floor exercise, parallel bars, and rings.
The skill requires balance, flexibility, and strength.
Round-offDefinition: A round-off is a very basic gymnastics move. It is similar to a cartwheel, except the gymnast ends by bringing his legs together and snapping his legs down into a standing position.
A round-off is often used at the beginning of a tumbling pass to gain momentum, and many female gymnasts perform a round-off into a back flip variation as their dismount on beam.
Also Known As: round off
BaraniDefinition: A
Barani is a gymnastics move in which a gymnast performs a forward flip with 1/2 twist. It can be done in a tuck, pike, or layout position.
RudiDefinition: A
rudi is a gymnastics move in which a gymnast performs a forward flip with 1 1/2 twists. It can be done in a tuck, pike, or layout position.
Stuck LandingDefinition: When a gymnast lands a tumbling pass, vault, or dismount without moving his/her feet, it is called a stuck landing.
The aim of every gymnast is to stick -- if the gymnast moves his/her feet at all it is a deduction.
On floor exercise, men are expected to stick their tumbling passes, while women are allowed to take one step back into a lunge without a deduction.
Also Known As: sticking the landing, stick
Touch warm-upDefinition: The touch warm-ups are the very last chance for an athlete to warm up on the apparatus in a competition.
Because sometimes it can be a long period of time between the regular warm-ups and when the athlete competes, s/he is given a touch immediately before competing on that specific apparatus. It's usually 30 seconds in length -- enough time for him/her to do a few skills and regain the feel for the equipment.
The main purpose of a touch warm-up is safety.
Also Known as:warm ups, touch (ex.first touch, second touch
etc.)
AerialDefinition: A skill without hands, such as a no-handed cartwheel, walkover, or round-off.
Arabiana jump backward with a half turn into a front somersault
Back Handspringa jump backward onto the hands, followed by a quick
Punch from the hands to the feet(also called flip-flop or
flic-
flac)
back bendA
position in which the body is curved backward making an arch. Hands and feet are flat on the floor.
Also called: Bridge
FlyspringA forward moving skill with gymnast taking off on two feet to the hands, followed by a quick
Punch from the hands to two feet.
front hand springA forward moving skill with gymnast taking off with feet
stepping one two to the hands, followed by a quick
punch from the hands to two feet.
Front through to Backa tumbling pass that begins with a punch front and ends with a back somersault
Fulla back somersault with a twist. A full- in is a double back
salto with a full twist during the first
salto. A full-out is a double back
salto with a full twist during the second
salto.
Half-inA double back
salto with a half twist on the first
salto. A half-out is a double back
salto with a half twist on the second
salto.
Handspringspring from the feet to the hands to the feet again. It is used as its own skill or as a linked skill an can be done forward or backward.
Layouta
salto performed in a
stretched body position, straight or slightly arched.
Pikea position in which the body is bent more than 90 degrees at the hips while straight legs are maintained.
Punch fronta front
salto with takeoff from two feet
Randya front flip with two and a half twists
SaltoA flip or somersault, with the feet coming over the head and the body rotating the axis of the waist (without hands)
somersaultany movement in which the gymnast flips and rotates in a complete circle in the air
Also
known as:
Somi,
sommie(not what you thought was it. What you where
probably thinking of is
really called a forward roll not a somersault. The word somersault is misused
very commonly, when you say to your three year old "do a somersault" you are
really telling her to do a back flip. But not many know this. It is
really called a forward roll)
SplitsA
position in which the legs are extended apart, making a straight line.
Middle or straddle splits are done with the body facing forward and the legs extended to the sides. Left splits are done with the left leg forward and the right leg extended back. Right splits are done with
the right leg forward and the left leg extended back.
StraddleA
position used in leaps and jumps in which the legs are extended apart to the sides while the hips
remain centered. Straddle jumps and leaps for high-level
gymnast should be at or over 180 degrees (a full split).
TuckA forward or back somersault in the
tuck position.
Tuck Positionhips are bent at a more than 90 degrees with legs completely bent and knees touching chest.
Twistflip or somersault, with the feet coming up over the head and the body rotating side to side.
Walkovermove with gymnast
beginning on leg moving through fa bridge (back bend) position to end on one foot with legs remaining split throughout the skill.
This skill can be done forward or backward.
Whipno handed back handspring used to generate power and speed into another skill