Gymnastics Skill Names

Even for those unfamiliar with the rules and jargon of gymnastics, watching a competition live or on television can be an incredible experience. Gymnastics requires a high level of flexibility, strength, concentration, skill and confidence. But though gymnastics is beautiful, it can also be hard to follow. After all, there are thousands of skills listed in the International Gymnastics Federation's Code of Points. If you know the names of just a few basics, you'll have a much better understanding of the sport.

  1. Roundoff

    • A roundoff is a basic building block for most backward gymnastics tumbling. It's a move similar to a cartwheel, but the gymnast will end the movement with his legs locked together rather than spread apart. The gymnast should also finish this skill with his torso leaning just slightly forward, rather than upright. Once his students have mastered the move, gymnastics coach Benjamin Carson works on connecting roundoffs to other harder skills, such as back handsprings.

    Back Handspring

    • A back handspring is a back flip with a slightly arched back. The gymnast starts in an upright position, then bends her legs to push off the ground and complete a backward 360-degree flip, placing her hands on the floor when she is upside down. Finally, the gymnast pushes off the ground with her hands and lands upright again. USA Gymnastics requires all competitive gymnasts to master this skill.

    Back Tuck

    • A back tuck is a backward somersault performed in the tuck position -- that is, with the knees bent tightly and close to the chest. The gymnast performs a 360-degree rotation in the air without ever placing his hands on the ground. Gymnasts can also try front tucks, which are essentially the same skill, but in a forward rotation. Advanced gymnasts compete double backs or double fronts, requiring a 720-degree rotation in the air.

    Full Twist

    • A full twist is when a gymnast performs a layout -- essentially, a somersault with straight legs -- and adds a 360-degree sideways rotation while in the air. Advanced gymnasts slowly add rotations to their twists. For example, a gymnast can perform a double twist -- a layout with a 720-degree sideways rotation -- or even a triple twist. In 2006, Spanish gymnast Patricia Moreno even attempted a quadruple twist -- that's a 1,440- degree rotation.

    Giant

    • The backward giant circle is a skill that can only be performed on the uneven bars for women and the high bar for men. The gymnast starts in a handstand position, then swings down and rotates 360 degrees around the bar, ending again in a handstand. Gymnastics coach Brian Bakalar explains that, although giants are meant to look graceful and simple, many gymnasts struggle to learn this skill.