Category Archives: Gymnastics Terms

Definition: Tap Swing

Tap Swing: Tap swing refers to hollow-arch-hollow swing gymnasts do in giant swings. The purpose of the tap swing in women’s gymnastics developed from the need to avoid the low bar during giant swings. It has evolved as a way … Continue reading →

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Definition: Ring Jump

Definition: Ring Jump Ring jumps and ring leaps are done on both the floor and beam. Gymnasts jump off both feet, lift their legs into a 180 degree or more split, but also put their head back and arch their … Continue reading →

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Definition: Onodi

Onodi: An Onodi is a balance beam skill performed by women on beam and floor and is named after Hungarian Olympic gymnast Henrietta Onodi. To do an Onodi, the gymnast starts like a back handspring and does a half twist … Continue reading →

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Definition: Higgins

Higgins: A high bar or uneven bar skill done from a handstand, with a 1/2 pirouette and finish in elgrip position. Also called Higgins roll. Floor Bar Higgins Spot Gymnastics Bars Higgins Roll Higgins from Giant Giant to Higgins to … Continue reading →

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Definition: Russian Front

Russian Front: A Russian front somersault is a forward somersault, done with a specific straight arm circling lift. The timing of the arm circle lifting action is sometimes difficult for young gymnasts to understand and master. The arms circle upward, … Continue reading →

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Definition: Yamawaki

Yamawaki: A high bar release move first done by Japanese gymnast, Kyoji Yamawaki. It is essentially a stretched Markelov. The FIG has rated it a “D” difficulty skills. Here is a video that begins with a crash and then has … Continue reading →

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Definition: Markelov

Markelov: A men’s and women’s high bar release move, that is essentially a vault catch. Here is a video of both Svetlana Khorkina and Courtney Kupets, both doing Markelovs on the uneven bars: Here is a video of Soviet gymnast, … Continue reading →

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Definition: Handspring Front Layout with Triple Twist Vault

The most difficult rated vault being done, as of July 2011, is the front handspring, front layout vault with 3 twists, done by South Koreas’s Hak Seon Yang Continue reading →

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Definition: Ballout

Ballout: A ballout is a trampoline skill that starts from a 3/4 dive or from a back drop and rotates forward in a 1&1/4 front somersault breadth axis lands on two feet. A double ballout is a back drop with … Continue reading →

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Definition: Breadth Axis Rotation

Breadth Axis Rotation: Breadth Axis (abbreviated BA) rotation refers to somersaulting rotation.  Breadth axis rotation refers either front or back somersaults.  This term is used primarily in reference to descriptions of skills for trampoline competition, although it could be used to refer to any other … Continue reading →

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