LEARNING MODULE 4: Gymnastics: History, Phases of the Gymnastics

Program, Objectives and Terms in Gymnastics

Intended Learning Outcomes:

 Determine the history and terms in Gymnastics, and the Phases of the
Gymnastics Program;
 Give the importance of Gymnastics in Physical Education;
 Label the four divisions of the body.

BRIEF HISTORY OF GYMNASTICS

The earliest recorded activities in gymnastics were some exercises, stunts, and
tumbling resembling gymnastics. Hanging, climbing ropes, swinging, balancing on stones
and logs, flipping, and turning were common activities during the early civilizations. The
Chinese had a sort of exercise called the “Kung Fu” or Medical Gymnastics, while India
had the “Yoga”. The Greeks had activities with apparatuses and they developed the word
“gymnastics” which mean “Naked Art”. The pictures on stones found in Egypt are
evidences of the Egyptian participation in some sort of balancing activities. The pyramids
were inspirations of the pyramid activities in gymnastics. The Roman because of their
love of war, devised a wooden equipment similar to the back of a horse where they could
practice mounting and dismounting a horse indoor. This equipment is now being used in
the class activities and skills in its use is one of the events in the competitive gymnastics.

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

 1723-1790 – Johann Basedow introduced gymnastics in the school curriculum

 1759-1839 – Johann Guts Muths called the “great grandfather of gymnastics”

wrote a book entitled Gymnastics for the Youth. He invented the outdoor
apparatuses like the see-saw, the horizontal ladder, the oblique wooden ladder,
the climbing rope, balancing beam, the vault apparatus, and rope ladder.

 1778-1852 – Freidrich Jahn is considered the “father of gymnastics”. He started

the Turverein movement. He introduced the horizontal bar, parallel bar, the side
horse, and the vaulting buck.

 1810-1858 - Adolf Spiess introduced marching and free hand exercises

performed with music.

 1776-1839 – Perh Ling a Swedish enthusiast invented stall bars and vaulting box
or Swedish box.

The American gymnastics is largely influenced by Europe as evidenced by the early

Turverein movement in their colleges. Dr. Dudley Sargent was the first American
contributor to gymnastics because he was instrumental in including gymnastics in the
school curriculum.

Gymnastics in the Philippines was started by two exponents of physical education –

Director Candido Bartolome of the University of the Philippines and Mrs. Francisca
Aquino of the Bureau of Public Schools.

WHAT GYMNASTICS IS

Gymnastics is a self-motivating activity where one can manipulate the different parts
of the body into varied positions or movements. One can do a pike, a tuck, a layout, an
arch, a split, and can roll, twist, rotate and etc. the attainment of skills in gymnastics can
only be done through proper body preparations especially on strength and flexibility.

The changes in today’s gymnastics are the emphasis on flowing movements and the
inclusions of dance and locomotor skills in the creation of routines. Grace, poise, and
dignity of movements are emphasized. The masculine and rigid movements are now
changed to more relaxed and easy movements.

The Phases of the Gymnastics Program

The gymnastics program has different phases and each phase contributes to the
various elements in gymnastics. These elements are: strength, flexibility, balance, agility,
coordination, and endurance. In addition, grace, poise and dignity of movements are
attained.

1. Conditioning Program

The exercises are selected for the purposes 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” since routines can
be made out of the exercises in the conditioning program.

2. Rhythmic Gymnastics

Routines and 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 free hand
exercise, and all exercises with the use of light apparatuses such as wands, rings,
hoops, ribbons, ropes, etc. gymnastics skills, dance skills, locomotor skills, stunts
and tumbling skills are combined to form a routine in the floor. This is where the
performer can create and develop her own routine according to her abilities.

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 lower grades.
 Some stunts can be considered as conditioning exercise and still some are
preparatory stunts to tumbling skills.

4. Tumbling

This is the most important phase of the gymnastics program, because this
is where the ability of the performer is tested as he rolls to and fro; twists, turns
and springs about on the mat, floor4 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 the body static
positions. The positions should be properly arranged and selected so that they
form the shape of a pyramid.

Objectives of Gymnastics

 To improve and maintain a physically fit body.

 To improve efficiency of movement through grace, poise, dignity, form, and
rhythm.
 To enhance creativity through exploration of new movements and movement
combinations.
 To improve courage, initiative, determination, and perseverance.
 To stimulate interest and enjoyment of gymnastics.

Terms in Gymnastics

1. Arch – the arch is a position where the body is curved like an arc of a circle. With
the hip forward and the head and trunk bent backward.

2. Dismount – is a stunt used by a performer to get off the apparatus.

3. Exercise or Routine – exercises planned series of dance skills, locomotor skills,

gymnastics skills, and tumbling skills performed with or without music.

4. Held or Static Position – these positions held for 2 seconds.

5. Mount – mounts are stunts performed by a performer to go up on an apparatus.

6. Press – press in the application of steady pressure to a particular muscle or

group of muscle in order to attain a desired stretch.

7. Scale – scale is a support on one leg with the other leg raised at the back and
the body arch.

8. Split – is a position where the legs are extended forward and backward in a
straight position.

9. Spotter – is a person who helps a performer go about a skill for the first time.
 10. Spotting – is the act of helping a person to go about a skill for the first time.

11. Tuck – is a position where the head and the knees are in contact and the trunk is
curved.

Background Knowledge

The Body

The body has four divisions. They are the:

1. Head
2. Trunk
a. Chest region
b. Waist
c. Abdominal region
d. Hip region
e. Buttocks
f. Back – upper back and the lower back
3. Upper Extremities or Arms
a. Hands – fingers, palm
b. Wrist
c. Arms – forearms and elbow
d. Shoulder girdle
4. Lower Extremities
a. Feet
b. Ankles
c. Legs – thigh, hamstrings, lower legs, knees
Conceptual Activity 4:

Essay: Explain briefly and precisely. (5 points each)

1. What is gymnastics in your own idea?

2. Is gymnastics important in the Physical Education Curriculum? Why do you think

so?

Quiz 4:

I. Identification: Identify the following. Write your answers on the space provided.

___________1. Who introduced the marching and free hand exercises performed

with music?

___________2. It is a stunt used by a performer to get off the apparatus.

___________3. What does the word “gymnastics” mean?

___________4. What do you called the routines or exercises accompanied with

music?

___________5. Who is the great grandfather of gymnastics?

___________6. What do you called to the person who helps a performer go about a

skill for the first time?

___________7. These are positions held for 2 seconds.

___________8. It is the most important phase of the gymnastics program.

___________9. Who is the father of gymnastics?

___________10. This phase can also be considered as “Calisthenics”.

II. True or False: Encircle letter T if the statement is TRUE, F if otherwise.

T F 1. Mounts are the stunts performed by a performer to go up on an apparatus.

T F 2. Perh Ling is a Swedish enthusiast invented the stall bars and vaulting box.

T F 3. Arch is a position where the head and the knees are in contact and the trunk is

curved.

T F 4. Dr. Dudley Sargent was the first American contributor to gymnastics.

T F 5. Chinese had a sort of exercise called “Yoga”.

References:

Clarita P. Diñoso, Ed.D. Gymnastics Book. REX Book Store. pp 1-5.