Introduction to gymnastics: Types of

gymnastics
When you think of gymnastics, you may picture women doing stunts on balance
beams, or men performing extraordinary feats on still rings – but did you know
that these routines only represent one of the seven types of gymnastics?

The sport is a complex combination that involves physical strength, flexibility,

power, agility, coordination, grace, balance and control. Out of all the different
disciplines, competitive artistic gymnastics is the most well known, but the other
forms of gymnastics, including rhythmic gymnastics and aerobic gymnastics,
have also gained widespread popularity.

Artistic gymnastics
The most popular and widely-practised form, artistic gymnastics is divided into
women’s and men’s gymnastics. Women compete on four events: vault, uneven
bars, balance beam and floor exercise, while men compete on six events: floor
exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. The sport
consists mainly of the use of various gymnastic apparatus, as well as the use of
the floor for different exercises.

Rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is the performance of various gymnastics moves and dance
exercises to music, with or without various gymnastic apparatus. Only women
compete in the sport, which combines elements of ballet and gymnastics in the
performance of five separate routines with the use of one of the five apparatuses:
ball, ribbon, hoop, clubs and rope. There are also group routines consisting of
two to six gymnasts, performing with a maximum of two apparatuses of their
choice.

Aerobic gymnastics
Aerobic gymnastics, also known as sport aerobics, involves the performance of
routines by individuals, pairs, trios, or groups of up to six people. These routines
typically emphasise strength, flexibility and aerobic fitness, rather than acrobatic
or balance skills. Routines typically lasting 60 to 90 seconds are performed on
floors, without the use of other apparatus.