3º ESO: Gymnastics 1: Basic Facts and Vocabulary

Ratio: 5 / 5

A) ORIGINS:

Gymnastics is a traditional sport in the Olympics.
It was practiced in Ancient Greece. Gymnos means “nude” in greek. Gymnasts did their exercises nude then!!
It is a very spectacular sport, with incredible and powerful movements.
In this unit you will learn the basic vocabulary and skills of Gymnastics.

Gymnastics is a sport that needs flexibility, balance, strength and endurance.

It has different apparatus. Gymnasts do exercises in those apparatus and a judge gives them a score. We will only study Artistic Gymnastics, but... It has two forms: Artistic and Rythmic Gymnastics.

Watch this highlights videos showing you the different apparatus for women and men gymnastics:

B) BASIC VOCABULARY:

GENERAL:

Lenghtwise: A lo largo		Upside down: Del revés
Backwards: Hacia atrás		Mat: colchoneta
Straddle: a horcajadas (con piernas abiertas: "straddle roll")

ACTIONS:

To take place: tener lugar, celebrarse		To face: mirar hacia
To balance: equilibrarse, guardar el equilibrio		To be awarded: ser concedido u otorgado
To perform: llevar a cabo, realizar		To compete: competir

SKILLS:

The roll: (voltereta) is a complete roll on the ground.
Straddle roll: you already know !
Front cartwheel: (la rondada) is like a side cartwheel, but instead of facing one side, you turn your body to face front.
Headstand or Head-and-hand balance: (equilibrio de cabeza o puntal) is a handstand that also uses your head for balance.
Somersault or Front flip: (mortal) is a complete forward roll in the air
Backwards somersault of Back flip: is a complete roll backwards in the air.
Side cartwheel: (rueda lateral) is a complete side rotation of the body.
Handstand or Hand balance: (el pino o equilibrio de manos) is balancing your body upside down on your hands.
Bridged handstand: ( pino-puente) is the sum of a handstand and a bridge.
Front angel: (el angel frontal) is a balancing position on one leg. You should hold it for a few seconds.
Running handstand or Front handspring: (paloma) is a complete inversion of your body with a running start and a hand push on the ground.

APPARATUS:

Floor work or floor exercise: Suelo	Parallel bars: Paralela
Vault: Potro de salto	High bar or Horizontal bar: Barra fija
Balance Beam: Barra de equilibrio	Pommel horse: Caballo con arcos
Asymmetrical parallel bars: Paralelas asimétricas	Rings: Anillas