What Is Involved in Tumbling?

A core part of gymnastics involves being able to both understand how the body works in motion and how to propel the physics of the body without any equipment assistance. This fundamental knowledge lends itself to every other part of gymnastics and physical movement of sport motion. Known as tumbling, the technique teaches a person how to manipulate her body's ability to move and do so without being injured.

  1. Background

    • Tumbling is not simply playing around and jumping in the air; it involves a technique of body movement that incorporates flips, rolls, or momentum changes via arm and hand control. This skill is performed on impact mats without any hand or launch equipment. The body moves with the power of its own limbs. To develop the appropriate power and skill, tumblers have to practice to learn the appropriate physical discipline, strength, and power. Many tumblers start in gymnastic classes at a young age, though it is possible for adults to learn and practice basic tumbling without too much problem.

    History

    • Tumbling is not a new sport. It has existed since ancient times and is referenced multiple times in historic texts and images on historic artwork. Ancient Greece and Rome both held competitions involving tumbling. With the rise of Christianity and religious morals regarding the body, tumbling died out a bit but was resurrected again during medieval times by jesters, circuses, and entertainers. For a number of centuries, the skill remained with clowns and traveling circuses, but by the 19th century it formally returned with gymnastics and the modern Olympics.

    Getting Started

    • As noted earlier, the majority of tumblers learn the sport early on in childhood gymnastic classes. Such young students pick up the skill like fish to water and can do so easily with limber bodies. A second young stage opens up for many who want to be involved with competitive cheer leading. Many of the complex moves require a good understanding of tumbling to avoid injury during moves. Older people and adults can practice tumbling but will likely never be as good at the sport as someone who started learning it as a child. Those who take it to a professional level regularly compete in the Olympics and then eventually join professional entertainment troupes such as the Cirque du Soleil.

    Career Options

    • Ironically, making a paycheck from tumbling skills still involves the same business practices as existed in medieval times. Entertainment remains the chief form of employment for those who want to tumble as a career direction. Additionally, the sport is time-limited. At some point due to age, injuries, and limited capability, a person has to retire from tumbling due to deteriorating performance ability.