Artistry of Men's Olympic Gymnastics (Part B) - 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)

Pommel Horse:

Introduction:

In pommel horse movements, the gymnast performs the complete routine supported by the arms, thus requiring considerable arm and shoulder strength.  A conditioning program is essential before the gymnast is able to master the more difficult movements on the pommel horse.  All pommel horse movements are performed in a sequence of swings sideward, forward, or in a rotational direction.  These swings are not related to the swinging movements on other apparatus and are, therefore, much more difficult to master.  The following simple exercises performed on the side horse will assist the gymnast in developing strength and a proper swing.  Grips and basic positions on the pommel horse are similar to the support positions on the horizontal and parallel bars:

1)      Grips – overgrip and mixed grip

2)      Basic Positions – preparatory exercises for the pommel horse (front, back and straddle leaning rest, knee squat on-hop off, squat on-high leap off, squat-straddle on-pivot off, squat through with half turn, squat-straddle on-pivot to straddle off, flank vault over end of horse, front vault over end of horse, thief vault, thief vault-half turn, leg swings with turn to dismount, leg swings from straddle sit, straddle sit-swing to scissors turn, stand and swing to cross riding position, swing to straddle sit-swing to stand, vault with left leg over horse)

The following is a list of movements that the gymnast is required to do on the pommel horse.  Also included are the following (in the book) for coaches and teachers: a) Typical faults, and b) Method of teaching:

1)      Circles (including half single leg circle, back half single leg circle, single leg circle from front support, undercut single leg circle from front support, undercut single leg circle from rear support, undercut single leg circle in rear support)

2)      Scissors (including front scissors, reverse or back scissors) – required in all competitive pommel horse routines

3)      Double Leg Circles

4)      Mounts (including Kehre to stride support, single leg Kehre, double leg Kehre)

5)      Dismounts (all movements previously described can finish with a jump forward or backward or possibly with a turn.  In this manner, they can be used as dismounts.)

Horizontal High Bar:

Introduction:

The movements on the high bar are performed from a swing so that the sooner the gymnast masters this skill, the faster he will progress to the more difficult exercises.  Well rounded physical development is vital because the body is supported by the arms and shoulders on this apparatus.  The nature of the apparatus requires that the gymnast have self-confidence and courage and that the spotter be alert to potential dangers.

The following simple exercises performed on the side horse will assist the gymnast in developing strength and a proper swing.  Grips and basic positions on the pommel horse are similar to the support positions on the horizontal and parallel bars (some include spotting technique):

1)      Grips – overgrip, undergrip and mixed grip

2)      Basic Positions (including front hang, front hang: bent arms, bent inverted hang, single knee hang (includes spotting technique), inverted stride (includes spotting technique), skin the cat (includes spotting technique))

The following is a list of movements that the gymnast is required to do on the horizontal high bar.  Also included are the following (in the book) for coaches and teachers: a) Typical faults, b) Method of teaching, and c) Spotting technique:

1)      Support Positions (including front support, rear support, stride support)

2)      Dynamic Movements (including hip pullover from takeoff, hip pullover from front hang)

3)      Swings (including beat swing, front hang swing, swing: single knee hang, swing: bent inverted hang, front swing with half turn, front swing from beat swing, pull up swing from front hang, front hang swing from elementary swing, front support to underswing, single leg kip to stride support, glide kip, swing stoop to rear support from front hang, back or rear kip)

4)      Circles (including back knee circle, back hip circle from stride support, back hip circle, free hip circle, back hip circle from rear support, stride circle forward, hip circle forward, front hip circle: regrasp to undergrip, front seat circle)

5)      Half Giant Circle

6)      Giant Circles (including front giant, back giant)

7)      Back Uprise

8)      Vaults (including front support to single leg flank to stride support, squat vault from front support to rear support)

9)      Dismounts (including single leg flank dismount, dismount from back swing, underswing dismount from front support, underswing dismount from front support to half turn, squat dismount from front support, straddle dismount from front support)

This, then, concludes my discussion of Part B (the pommel horse and the horizontal high bar) for men.  A full discussion of men’s vault and men’s free exercise is included in the discussion of women’s vault and women’s free exercise.

copyright 2014, Anne Shier.  All rights reserved.