Cabriole: A gymnastics and ballet leap in which one leg is extended in midair and the other beat against it before the gymnast lands on the foot used for take-off.. Cabrioles can be done to the front, side and back.  The kick-the-habit kick on TV commercials was a cabriole. 

Candlestick: A candle stick is a shoulder stand position where the gymnast is essentially resting on the back of their shoulders with their feet pointed towards the ceiling. The gymnast’s arms can be in a variety of original artistic positions or on the floor to assist with support and balance. 

Cartwheel: A gymnastics movement where the gymnast moves sideways (in the motion the wheel of a cart would follow) in a straight line alternately placing the hands and feet on the ground and finishing with the body coming up to a lunge landing position.  The name cartwheel is so named because when a gymnast performs this, their arms and legs move like the spokes of a turning wheel. 

Cat Leap: A gymnastics and ballet leap where a gymnast takes off from one foot, raising one knee and then the other in a turned out position and the toes pointed.  Also called a Pas de Chat. 

Chainé Turn: A turn on the balls of the feet, usually done in a series of half turns. Turns that are linked together; that is chained together. To do this turn correctly, it is especially important to spot the turn correctly. Keep your eyes focused on one spot in the direction you are turning. As you execute the turn leave the head there until the last moment when you have to whip it around to complete the turn. Whip it into exactly the same spot you started the head in to keep you in a straight line. You should be in a high relevé throughout the turns., pulled up through the hips and thighs with your hips always as your guide for placement. 

Chassé: A dance movement of the feet which gives the impression of one foot chasing the other, often used as a lead-up to a leap. 

Chest Stand: A front prone arched balance pose in which the performer's chest is resting on the floor for support and the legs are up in the air over the head stretching forward. 

Choreography: (1) A compilation of movements which make up a dance or gymnastics beam or floor routine. (2) The artistic creation of original movements which make up a dance or gymnastics routine with all the necessary requirements: acrobatic and choreographic elements, pirouettes, jumps, etc. 

Chow: An uneven bar skill named after Amy Chow. It is a Stalder backwards to a handstand on the high bar with 1 and ½ turns in the handstand to a mixed-L grip.  It has been rated by the FIG as an E level skill and its FIG number is 6.504. 
Circumduction: The act of moving the body, with or without apparatus, in a full circle with forward and backward flexion of the trunk and one hand leading the other to make a small circle in front of the body or a large circle around the body and overhead. 

Clear Hip Circle: A back hip circle in which the body hips do not touch the bar. At the optional level, the skill should start and finish in a handstand.  Also called a Free Hip Handstand.

Code of Points: The official FIG rulebook for judging gymnastics skills from the International Gymnastics Federation with the rules in which the scoring system and the composition of a program are based. The code of points specifies the difficulty value of all skills, as well as outlines requirements that must be fulfilled for each event.  It is a necessary and valuable tool for coaches and judges. See FIG

Cody: Back somersault from a front drop on the stomach done on the trampoline.  This can be a difficult skill to rotate when first learning it. 

Composition: The structure of a gymnastics routine and how each individual element, movement or skill is arranged into a routine is called the composition of the routine.  The overall arrangement of individual movements and skills into a gymnastics routine. 

Compulsories: A routine in which the elements are pre-determined by an organization such as USA Gymnastics (or other national federation) or by the FIG. Routines that are specified and designated by the gymnastics federation for certain levels of gymnasts and which all gymnasts at that level must perform. Compulsory routines are no longer a part of international competitions.  They are used in the U.S. at the beginning levels of gymnastics competition (Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6) and as a part of Elite testing.  Also called mandatory routines.

Compulsory: All gymnasts competing compulsory routines must perform specified skills in a specified order. Compulsory routines have been eliminated from higher level optional gymnastics competitions.  Compulsory is an adjective used to describe routines, levels and gymnasts. 

Concentric Muscle Contraction: A concentric contraction is when a muscle shortens while contracting. Doing a pull-up by contractng the biceps  is an example. 

Coupé:  A ballet term whose literal meaning is to cut.  It is a ballet dance movement that calls for the non-support foot to be pulled sharply off the floor and placed with a pointed toe either in the back or the front of the ankle.

Counter Turn: A counter turn is most often used to describe the turning of the hips in the opposite direction of a double leg circle. When a gymnast has their legs straight in front of them, their hips should be turning in the opposite direction of their circle. For a clockwise circle the gymnast’s right hip will be higher than their left. This enables the gymnast to extend and drive their heels for the completion of the circle. It enables a much stronger circle, and allows for spindles to be performed dynamically.

Crash dive: A trampoline skill where ¾ of a front somersault is performed landing in the back.  Also called a suicide, but that term is not too popular with gym owners.. 

Cross: A strength move performed on the still rings, in a straight body or " L" position, with the body perpendicular to the floor and the arms stretched straight out perpendicular to the body. Also called an Iron Cross.

Gymnastics Dictionary