Adrales,Melody

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Gymnastics
is a sport that includes exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and
endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms,
legs, shoulders, back, chest, and abdominal muscle groups. Alertness, precision, daring, self-
confidence, and self-discipline are mental traits that can also be developed through
gymnastics.[1]Gymnastics evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks that included
skills for mounting and dismounting a horse and from circus performance skills.

GYMNASTICS HISTORY
SHORT HISTORY OF GYMNASTICS
Gymnastics is thought to have began in ancient Greece about 2500 years ago where it
was used in training to keep fit for sporting activities. In the Greek city of Athens,
gymnastic tournaments were held, including tumbling, rope climbing, and other similar
activities.

The gymnasium was the hub of cultural activity. Men met there not only to practice
sport, but to understand art, music and philosophy. The Greeks believed symmetry
between the mind and body was possible only when physical exercise was coupled with
intellectual activity. Because of their love for these tournaments, the Athenians
sponsored the ancient Olympic Games. When the Roman’s conquered Greece, they
found that gymnastics was very valuable in their military training. But after the fall of the
Roman Empire, gymnastics vanished for hundreds of years.

Today, gymnastics is often termed the ultimate combination of sport and art, but the
idea is nothing new. Plato, Homer and Aristotle strongly advocated the strengthening
qualities of gymnastic activity.
The term “artistic gymnastics” emerged in the early 1800s to distinguish between free-
flowing styles from the techniques used by the military. Although viewed as a novelty
sport by many, gymnastics competitions began to flourish in schools, athletic clubs and
various organizations across Europe in the 1880s. When the Olympic movement was
resurrected at Athens in 1896, gymnastics was one of the first sports included.
The early Olympic Games featured some gymnastic disciplines which could hardly be
called “artistic”, however. Rope climbing, tumbling and club swinging were some of the
events that failed to survive the refining process. At the World Championships, 1st held
in Antwerp in 1903, field events such as the pole vault, broad jump and shot-put even
featured every now and then until 1954. Swimming appeared once, at the 1922
championships.
The Olympic program began to settle in 1924, with men competing for individual medals
and in team events on each apparatus. 4 years later, women began competing in
Olympic gymnastics at Amsterdam. By 1952, the Soviet Union had become the leading
country in Olympic gymnastics, its profile rising slowly after a group of social reformers
– including playwright Anton Chekhov – formed the Russian Gymnastic Federation in
1883.

Importance of Gymnastics
When we watch the gymnasts perform at the highest level, such as the Olympics or national
championships, it’s easy to be amazed at how strong and flexible they are. The raw physical
strength, flexibility, power, agility, coordination, grace, balance and control required in
gymnastics are impressive, but these elite level athletes are not the only ones who can benefit
from participating. Here are the Top 10 from Health Fitness Revolution and author of the
book Resync

1. Flexibility: Flexibility is a primary factor in gymnastics. Increasing flexibility can also be

an effective aid to the reduction of injury, preventing people from forcing a limb to an
injurious range of motion. By learning movements and combining them in a routine,
the gymnast can attain greater flexibility and greater control of the body.
2. Disease prevention: Participation in gymnastics can help maintain a healthy body, which
is key to preventing numerous health conditions such as asthma, cancer, obesity, heart
disease and diabetes. Being involved in gymnastics helps encourage a healthy
lifestyle, including regular physical activity and eating a well-balanced diet.
3. Strong and healthy bones: Participation in weight-bearing activities — including
gymnastics — can develop strong, healthy bones, which is important to develop at a
young age. As we age, we inevitably experience a decrease in bone mass every year.
Building strong, healthy bones at a young age can help reduce the risks of developing
osteoporosis later on in life.
4. Increased self-esteem: A study conducted by researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson
Medical School have indicated that children who participate in physical activity like
gymnastics are likely to have better self-esteem and self-efficacy.
5. Daily exercise needs: The American Heart Association recommends children participate
in 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Adults age 18 and over should participate
 in 30 minutes of exercise at least five days per week. Participation in gymnastics helps
meet the exercise recommendations set forth by the American Heart Association.
6. Increased cognitive functioning: Participation in gymnastics does not only offer physical
gains; it is beneficial for improving concentration and mental focus – an important
aspect of anyone’s life. Gymnastics allows children the chance to think for
themselves, to stimulate their imaginations and to solve problems safely.
7. Increased coordination: Gymnasts do not react with as large a “startle response” to
sudden imbalances as non-gymnasts. By applying this conditioning outside the sport,
people become better equipped to avoid hazardous situations by quickly identifying
them and naturally correcting body alignment when walking, standing or jumping, etc.
8. Strength development: Gymnastics produces, pound-for-pound, the best athletes in the
world. Gymnastics uses almost exclusively body weight exercises to build upper
body, lower body, and core strength.
9. Discipline: Gymnastics instills a sense of discipline. Each student must have the self
control to make corrections when a coach asks them to, and they must also have the
self discipline to stay on task when a coach is working with another gymnast.
10. Social skills: At all ages, gymnastics provides an opportunity to develop social skills.
Younger children learn how to stand in line, look, listen, be quiet when others are
talking, work and think independently, and how to be respectful of others. The older
kids learn how to set a good example for the people who look up to them and become
role models at a young age.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO TAKE GYMNASTIC

Because in taking gymnastic we will be able to learn how to make our body strength,
flexibility. In this extracurricular activity he will be able to know our capability. And
capability of our body. This ability will breed confidence our confidence, as we can
physically compete in all activities. Another aspect of gymnastics that nurtures
confidence is the conquering of fear. Doing this backflip is scary, we can overcome
this and be more assertive and self-assured. Additional benefits include the
encouragement of a healthy and active lifestyle, learning how to fall and land
gracefully and the development of social skills.