HISTORY OF GYMNASTICS

In the beginning of gymnastics, which formally originated from Ancient Greece,

gymnastics was originally intended for military training, where it was used by soldiers to
get ready for war. The skills and strength in performing gymnastics at the ancient times
were thought as great assets to those battling on the war field.

The earliest recorded activities in gymnastics were some exercises, stunts, and tumbling
resembling gymnastics.

Kung Fu- Chinese medical Gymnastics term.

The Germans were the greatest contributors to our present gymnastic program. The
following were instrumental in the development of gymnastics.

Johann Basedow (1723-1790) – he introduces gymnastics in the school curriculum.

Johann Guts Muths (1759-1839) – Great grandfather of gymnastics who wrote a

book entitled Gymnastics for the youth.

Freidrich Jahn (1778-1852) – father of gymnastics. He started the Turverein

movement.

Adolf Spiess (1810-1858) – introduced marching and free hand exercises performed
with music.

Pehr Ling (1776-1839) – a Swedish enthusiast invented the stall bars and the vaulting
box or Swedish box.

Dr. Dudley Sargent – the first American contributor to gymnastics because he was
instrumental in including gymnastics in the school curriculum.

Mrs. Francisca Aquino and Director Candido Bartolome – the two exponents of
physical education who started the gymnastics in the Philippines.

What is Gymnastics?

Gymnastics is a self-motivating activity where one can

manipulate the different parts of the body into varied positions
or movements. The attainment of the skills in gymnastics can
only be done through proper body preparations especially on
strength and flexibility.
 The gymnastics program has a different phase that contributes to various elements
in gymnastics. These elements are strength, flexibility, balance, agility,
coordination and endurance.
6 PHASES OF GYMNASTICS
.1. Conditioning Program

The exercises are selected for the purpose of preparing the body for more
complicated movements and skills. Exercises for warm-up can also be selected in this
phase. This phase can also be considered as “Calisthenics”.

2. Rhythmic Gymnastics

Routines or exercises accompanied with music are called “Rhythmic Gymnastics”.

They are so-called because they are performed in a rhythmical manner and the
movements are flowing. This phase includes the freehand exercise, and all exercises
with the use of light apparatuses such as wands, rings, hoops, ribbons, ropes, etc.

3. Stunts

Stunts are activities in the form of play and they test one’s strength. Flexibility,
balance, agility, endurance and coordination. This phase is especially suited to the lower
grades.

4. Tumbling

This is the most important phase of gymnastics program, because this is where the
ability of performer is tested as he rolls to and fro; twists, turns and springs about on
the mat, floor, and in the air.

5. Apparatus Exercise (Heavy)

This includes exercises done on the balance beam, vaulting horse, parallel bars,
uneven bars, rings, and the trampoline.

6. Pyramid Building

This phase of the program makes a picture (mural) out of body static positions.
The positions should be properly arranged and selected so that they form the shape of
a pyramid.
 BASIC POSITIONS IN GYMNASTICS
A. STANDING
DIRECTION
POSITION
1. Feet together The feet are about one inch apart,
toes pointing forward arms at the
side.
2. Stride position The feet are about 12 inches wide.
The stride may be made wider than
12 inches. The weight of the body is
on both feet and the trunk is at the
center. Arms at sides.
3. Lunge Position Bend one knee, the other leg straight.
Weight on both feet. Hands on hips.
4. Half-knee Feet together, bend knees to about
Bend 45 degrees angle; feet flat on the
floor, body erect; hands on hips.
5. Full Knees The knees are fully bent; sit on the
Bend heels of the feet. The weight of the
body is on the balls of the feet.

B. SITTING
POSITION
1. Long Sitting Sitting with legs extended forward,
toes pointed; trunk erects and hands
on hips.
2. Hook Sitting Sit on buttocks: bend knees close to
the body. Trunk erect, hands on shin
of the legs.
3. Long Sitting Legs and toes are extended forward;
Rest hands at the rear on the floor. Elbow
and body straight.
4. Tuck Sitting Sit on buttocks, bend knees close to
body; round back so that the
forehand and the knees are in
contact; hold shin of legs
5. Stride Sitting Sitting on buttocks. Spread legs
apart, trunk erect, hands o thighs.
6. Side Sitting Sitting on buttocks, bend right or left
leg in front; other leg extended
sideward. Hands on knees.
7. Hurdle Sitting Sitting on buttocks, bend right or left
leg at the back about 90 degrees
angle’ the other leg extended
diagonally forward.
 8. Heels Sit From kneeling position, sit on the
heels of the feet, toes pointed. Hands
on hips
9. Cross Sitting Sitting on buttocks, cross legs, knees
pointing outward, cross arms at
shoulder level
10. Frog Sitting Sit on buttocks, feet touching each
other, knees flat on the floor, hands
on waist or both knees.
C. KNEELING
POSITION
1. Kneeling Kneel on both knees, knees close
together, body erect, hands on hips.
2. Stride Kneeling Kneeling on both knees, with knees
apart.
3. Half-kneeling Kneeling on right, left in half-kneeling
Right or Left position in front. Hands on hips.
4. Kneeling Extended sideward. Kneeling on one
Position One leg, the other extended sideward,
Leg forward or backward.
D. LYING
POSITION
1. Back or Supine Lying on the back, the body is well
Lying extended, arms overhead, toes
pointed.
2. Front Lying Body is well extended and front of
the body is in contact with the floor.
Toes pointed, arms forward.
3. Side Lying With the body well extended, the side
of the body is in the contact with the
floor, one hand on the floor.
4. Hook Lying In a back lying position, bent knees,
Position with the feet close to buttocks, feet
flat on the floor. Arms overhead.
5. Tuck Lying Lying on back, pull the knees close to
Position the forehead, hold shin on legs.
E. ARM SUPPORT
POSITION
1. Supine or Back From a long lying position, lift the
Arm Support body with straight-arm support. Body,
legs and toes well extended and one
straight line.
2. Prone or Front From a front lying position, lift the
Arm Support body to front arm support; body legs
 and toes well extended and in one
straight line.
3. Side Arm The body is supported with the right
Support or left arm; the body is well
extended.
F. FOUR-BASED
POSITION
1. Dog Stand From a kneeling position, place the
Position hand on the floor, elbows straight.
Toes pointed, the knees and hands
are the base support.
2. Bridge Stand From a hook sitting lift the trunk; legs
Position and arms in right angle with the
trunk.
G. HAND
POSITIONS
1. Hand on Waist Fingers pointing front thumbs
pointing backward.
2. Hands on Palms facing down, thumbs touching
Chest the chest, elbows in line with the
shoulders.
3. Hands on Elbows in line with the shoulders, rib
shoulders cage lifted.
4. Hands on Neck Place hand beyond neck, fingertips
meeting each other, elbows in line
with the shoulders.
5. Hands on Hips Thumbs pointing back and fingers
pointing front.
H. ARM
POSITIONS
1. Arms Forward
2. Arms Sideward
3. Arms Upward
4. Arms Oblique - Forward downward
Positions - Sideward downward
- Sideward upward
5. Arms in T- - T-Position
Position - Reverse T-position
Stunts are activities in the form of play that test one’s self on flexibility, agility,
balance, coordination, strength and endurance.

1. Individual Stunts – these are stunts performed by only one person.

2. Dual Stunts – these are stunts performed by two persons.
POSITION DIRECTION
A. INDIVIDUAL
STUNTS
1. Turk Stand In cross sitting position, arms in front
of the body clasping the elbow, stand
without breaking the hand clasp and
the leg cross. Do this several times.
2. Rocking Chair In tuck sitting position, roll on back
until the buttocks are up. Return to
tuck sitting position. Do this several
times.
2. Ankle Hold Walk Hold the ankle with hands, legs
relatively straight. Walk forward.
3. Coffee Grinder Side support position, walk on feet to
go around a circle. Do this right and
left.
4. Egg Roll or Tuck Tuck lying position; roll sideward
Roll Sideward without breaking the tuck position.
5. Log Roll Supine lying position, hands clasped
overhead, roll sideward right or left
with the body, arms and legs relatively
straight.
6. Human Ball Frog sitting position, hold the feet so
that the arms are between the knees.
In tuck position, roll on the right side
continue on the back to the left side
and come up to original position.
7. A-Jump-To- Full Half-knee bend, jump in air at the
Turn same time turn in air as the body is
suspended. End facing the same
direction.
8. Dog Walk In a four-based support, buttocks up
walk alternately, left with the hands
 and feet.
9. A-Frog Kick Squat position, hands n the floor ib
front of the knees, push with the feet
so that the buttocks are lifted in the
air. The weight of the body is on the
hands.
10. Lame Dog Walk Place hands in front on the floor,
buttocks up and one leg extended in
air. Move both hands forward, then hop
supporting foot close to the hands.
Repeat the movement several times.
11. Frog Jump Squat position, hands on floor, jumps
forward as far as you can; end in the
squat position.
12. Inch Worm From a front arm support, walk on feet
toward the hands with knee straight for
eight counts. Then walk with the hands
forward for eight counts. To front arm
support. From a bridge position, walk
on hands and feet alternately towards
the head.
13. Hip Walk From a long sitting position, hands on
neck, walks on buttocks forward or
backward.
B. DUAL STUNTS
1. Wring the Dish - Partner faces each other and joins
Cloth hands.

- raise one joined hands while the other

is lowered.

- turn under the raised hands and end

in a back to back position.

- continue the turn to face each other

again. Do this fast and several times.
2. Chinese Get- - Long sitting position, partner stay
Up back to back position with elbows
locked.
- Bend right knee ct 1, bend left knee ct
2, and push against each other’s back
to stand. Go down to original position
four counts.
3. See-Saw - From the hook sitting position,
partner’s feet together, hold each
other’s hand.
- One partner goes to lying positions
and the other partner stands to bend
forward.
- Repeat with the partner standing etc.