The Basics of Form

There are two basic rules regarding form that you can apply to any skill: Keep It Straight, and Keep It Together.

Examples of Keeping It Straight: Legs should be kept straight. Arms should be kept straight except when tumbling or blocking off the vault, both of which require a slight bend. Most of the time, the body should be kept straight; that is, the shoulders, hips, and knees should form a straight line. (Obviously, this rule doesn’t apply to dance movements, running, tucked tumbling, etc.)

Examples of Keeping it Together: Except during deliberate straddles, dance moves, running, and stepping in or out of moves, the legs should be tight together. The inner sides of the feet should always touch. Ideally, the entire length of the inner legs should be tight together, but some gymnasts appear bow-legged when they put their ankles together. This is less often actual bow-leggedness than it is that the inner thighs are so strong and built up with muscle that even when pressed together, the knees don’t touch. Arms should be kept straight up and down--close to the ears. When tumbling in a tucked or piked position, the legs should be kept together (more on “cowboying” later).

Let’s start with the basics: Toes. Whenever possible, gymnasts should point their toes. Here’s a great photo explanation from Monica’s Danz Gym.

How to Watch Gymnastics

Have you ever watched a gymnast get up on the bars, swing and twirl and flip, and then inexplicably get a low score? A lot of people love to watch gymnastics, but most of them don’t understand what to look for in a good routine. The purpose of this Tumblr is to help you understand what to look for when you watch gymnastics, so that you can follow the judges’ logic and enjoy the sport on a more detailed level. I hope you find it helpful!