Artistry of Men's Olympic Gymnastics (Part A) - by Anne Shier (a.k.a. "Annie")

(From the book “Olympic Gymnastics for Men and Women”, written by Bryce Taylor, Boris Bajin, and Tom Zivic, 1972)

The Rings:

Introduction:

A performance on the rings should include swings, static or held positions, and strength movements.  Because of the movable support position, this particular apparatus requires the gymnast to have exceptional balance, coordination, and strength; this is also the reason that there are fewer movements than on the other men’s gymnastics apparatus.

The following is a list of the elements of the movements that are required on the rings:

1)      Front hang

2)      Bent hip hang

3)      Rear hang

4)      Inverted hang

The following is a list of movements that men can do on the rings.  Also included are the following (in the book) for coaches and teachers:  a) Typical faults, b) Method of teaching, and c) Spotting technique:

1)      Supports (including front support, bent arm support, “L” position--used as a starting position for other movements involving greater strength, shoulder stand, handstand)

2)      Swings (including front hang swing, back swing, swing in support)

3)      Kips (including kip to “L” position)

4)      Front Uprises (including front uprise to “L” position)

5)      Back Uprise

6)      Dislocates (including the “inlocate” (forward), dislocate (backward)—Note:  movements known as dislocates should only be attempted after the gymnast has gained, through conditioning, a high degree of strength and flexibility. The dislocation consists of a circular motion forward and backward around the shoulder axis.)

7)      Peach Baskets (including peach basket from bent inverted hang: back kip)

8)      Supports to Hangs (including support to bent-inverted or inverted hang position, shoulder stand to inverted hang position, front swing in support to a hang position, roll forward from a support to an inverted or bent-inverted hang position)

9)      Backward Roll

10)  Dismounts from Rings (including front / forward swing dismount, back swing dismount, underswing dismount, dislocate dismount, [layout] somersault dismount, straddle back dismount)

Parallel Bars:

Introduction:

A basic prerequisite for success on the parallel bars is the development of upper body strength.  It is important that the gymnast prepare himself through progressive resistance exercises, calisthenics, and actual swings on the apparatus. 

Movements performed on the parallel bars include swings, hangs, under-arm supports, and hang supports.  The majority of a routine is made up of swings so that 80 - 90 percent of the gymnast’s practice time should be spent in this area.

The following is a list of elements and movements that are required by the gymnast on this apparatus:

1)      Basic Stand Positions (this is the basic stand position used primarily for starting and ending routines – stand in front of bars, stand between bars, stand behind bars)

2)      Basic Grips (including inside grip, outside overgrip under bars, inside reverse grip, overgrip, as well as, under-arm support grip: straight body or bent body)

3)      Support Positions (including “L” position, shoulder stand, handstand, bent inverted hang)

4)      Swings (including under-arm support swing, bent inverted hang swing, back uprise, dip swing (in support)-back uprise)

5)      Back Uprises (including back uprise-straddle to “L” position, back uprise-straddle to support position, back uprise to shoulder stand, front uprise, dip swing-front uprise)

6)      Movements Involving Rotation (including peach basket (with aid of feet) to seat position, peach basket to support position: end of bars, peach basket to under-arm support position: middle of bars, peach basket to support position: middle of bars)

7)      Twisting Movements (including front “Stutz” from bent arm swing, from bent arm swing-forward “Stutz” to straight arm support position)

8)      Backward “Stutz”s (including under-arm support to back “Stutz” to under-arm support, backward bent arm swing to back “Stutz” to under-arm support)

9)      Forward Roll

10)  Backward Rolls (including backward roll to shoulder stand, backward roll to support)

11)  Dismounts from Parallel Bars (including front dismount from support, front dismount through handstand, back dismounts, double leg flank dismounts, straddle dismount at end of bars, squat dismount over both bars from front support, straddle dismount over both bars from front support)

This, then, concludes my discussion of Part A (the rings and parallel bars) in men’s gymnastics.

copyright 2014, Anne Shier.  All rights reserved.