What we do
Tumbling
Tumbling Combines the artistry of Artistic Gymnastics with the high level skills of Trampolining on a 25 metre Long Track made of Fibre Glass Rods. The Video bellow shows some of the Worlds best Tumblers in the last couple of Years.
Trampolining
Everyone dreams of flying. Trampoline Gymnastics takes you about as close to flying, without the need for a motor. Seen as a reflection of man's desire to defy gravity, early civilisations devised various methods of sending a person into the air, such as using outstretched animal skins to throw them up and safely catch them on their descent. Circuses have used a number of methods to propel performers into the air for a variety of somersaults but it was not until George Nissen invented the trampoline, that the sport took off.
Trampoline Gymnastics is a relative newcomer to the gymnastic family but has a very rich and proud tradition in the UK. It is a spectacular sport that can see a world-class trampolinist reach heights of 10 metres whilst performing multiple somersaults and twists.
As well as being a sport in its own right, Trampoline Gymnastics is widely recognised as a training tool for many other gymnastic disciplines and sports such as diving and freestyle skiing. Trampoline Gymnastics embodies courage and elegance. The sport requires precise technique and perfect body control, leaving with very little margin for error.
Trampoline Gymnastics in the UK, encompasses two very distinct categories of competition; Trampoline (individual or synchronised) and Double Mini Trampoline (DMT).
Trampoline:
A typical competition routine on the trampoline is characterised by high, continuous rhythmic feet to feet, to back, front or seat rotational jumping elements, without hesitation or intermediate straight bounces between two elements.
In a synchronised competition, a pair of gymnasts can consist of two women or two men. Pairs must do the same element at the same time and must start facing the same direction.
A typical trampoline competition is made up of three routines/rounds: compulsory (a combination of free and compulsory elements), voluntary (free elements of the gymnast’s own choosing) and the final voluntary round. Each routine is made up of 10 skills and must start and finish on the feet.
DMT
The DMT is like two mini tramps that have been joined in the middle. The first section of the apparatus is set at a slight angle and called the mount. From the mount, skills are performed onto the second section of the apparatus. This second section is called the spotter and is where skills can be performed back onto the tramp bed or as a dismount onto the landing mat.
Double Mini Trampoline can be likened to a combination of Athletics, Trampolining and Gymnastics. Competitors sprint down a carpeted track and hurdle onto the apparatus before performing double and triple somersaults with the same precision required on a trampoline. The only difference is that gymnasts have to land on a trampoline bed less than a quarter the size of a trampoline, before performing a dismount on to a landing mat.
In DMT competitions there are four passes, two in the preliminary round and then two in the final round. Each pass consists of one skill performed as either a mount or a spotter, followed by a dismount skill making two skills per pass.
Acro
Acrobatic gymnastics is a competitive gymnastic discipline where partnerships of gymnasts work together and perform figures consisting of acrobatic moves, dance and tumbling, set to music. There are three types of routines; a 'balance' routine where the focus is on strength, poise and flexibility; a 'dynamic' routine which includes throws, somersaults and catches, and a 'combined' routine which includes elements from both balance and dynamic.
Freerunning/Parkour
Freestyle sports are dynamic and exciting, gaining popularity within the UK for providing participants with the ability to express themselves creatively through movement and an incredible range of tricks. To help capture the power and explosive nature of freestyle, British Gymnastics has developed a new club-based activity called FreeG, which comes indoors and introduces a range of freestyle-specific equipment and training techniques to take your trick learning, to a new level.
FreeG fuses traditional gymnastic and acrobatic tricks, with kicks and leaps made famous through martial arts and brought to worldwide attention by festival performers and stunt actors.
Men’s Artistic
You think football is tough? Try being the master of six pieces of apparatus, each different to the other and requiring a combination of strength, mobility, endurance, flexibility, body control and co-ordination. The physique of an elite male gymnast says it all – years of hard work and dedication.
Roles models like three-time Olympic medallist Louis Smith began the sport at a young age, drawn to the thrill of learning new ‘tricks’, being with his friends and keeping out of trouble. Sound familiar?
With loads of physical activity, balanced with fun and excitement to test the craziest of thrill seeker, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics has something to keep every lad challenged:-
Floor Exercise (FX)
The 12 X12 metre sprung floor area allows the gymnast to reach incredible heights following a series of explosive and power acrobatic and tumbling skills. Coming back down to earth is only half the fun!
A floor routine can include movements that demonstrate strength, flexibility and balance. Routines combine moves such as somersaults, twists and hold elements. The whole floor area is used throughout the routine and often shows touches of personal expression and execution. An elite gymnast’s routine will typically last between 50 sec. and 1’10 min.
Pommel Horse (PH)
Standing 1.15 metres from the floor the pommel horse is one of the hardest pieces of men’s apparatus to master. It is unforgiving and has been known to buck many a gymnast. Great Britain has a proud tradition of fine pommel horse workers. Are you the next?
A good pommel horse routine will demonstrate smooth continuous circular and pendulum type swings, double leg circles and scissor movements. It is quite common to see gymnasts move up and down the length of the pommel horse and finish their routine by swinging through handstand after a series of spindles and quick hand placements. The pommel horse is a piece of apparatus not for the feint-hearted.
Rings (RG)
Often described as like ‘watching a bird swing in a cage’, to master the rings a gymnast needs incredible strength, balance and body tension. Suspended 2.80 metres from the floor, there is little room for error.
Ring routines include a variety of movements demonstrating purse strength, support and balance. Gymnasts often perform a series of swings and holds with both forward and backward elements. The routine culminates in a wound up swing followed by an acrobatic dismount containing multiple somersaults and twists. Feeling dizzy?
Vault (VT)
Imagine charging 25 metres towards a 1.35 metre vaulting table, springing from the top and landing within a set of parallel lines on the other side. This is the task facing the gymnast wishing to master the vault.
The combination of a fast run and approach to the spring board, quick transition to the vaulting table and explosive take-off should see the gymnast catapult themselves sky high in preparation for a controlled landing. Multiple twists and rotations are seen in the air with gymnasts often approaching the vault in either a forward or backward direction. There is little room for error in ‘blink and you may miss it’ apparatus.
Parallel Bars (PB)
If you thought swinging and balancing on one bar was hard enough, try negotiating two. The Parallel Bars stand 2.00 metres from floor and ‘give’ under the gymnasts weight to provide for some crazy combinations of skills seen both above and below the bars.
Like the rings, the parallel bars require a combination of swinging movements with strength or hold elements. Gymnasts often travel along the bars and typically bring the routine to a close with a daring dismount from the end or side of the bars involving multiple somersaults and twists.
Horizontal (High) Bar (HB)
Perhaps the most spectacular of the men’s apparatus, the horizontal bar stands 2.80 metres from floor and sees the gymnast turn multiple swinging circles, daring release and catch elements and tightly wound up dismounts that defy the imagination.
Gymnasts perform continuous clean swinging movements and must not touch the bar with their body. Complex grip changes add variety and risk to routines. Dismounts provide the most ‘heart in mouth’ moments of the horizontal bar routine as the gymnast catapults themselves well above and beyond the bar before safely negotiating a safe and controlled landing. Master this piece of apparatus and you would make a great pilot!
Women’s Artistic
Popularised in the 70’s by elfin-like stars such as Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics remains one of biggest crowd pleasers and most watched sports at the Olympic games.
It’s fascination and popularity amongst girls of all ages lies in it’s ability to provide constant challenge and teach body control, coordination, amplitude and courage.
It was the sport of choice for the UK’s most decorated gymnast, Beth Tweddle, who began the sport at an early age yet continues to thrill audiences the world over, with her ability to innovate and prove that age is no barrier to participation and success.
Women’s Artistic Gymnastics is the sport of choice for girls who love turning their world upside down, in more ways than one:-
Vault (VT)
Following apparatus innovation in early 2001, the vaulting horse has now been replaced with a wider vaulting table. It provides the perfect platform from which to launch sky high, before returning to earth with a controlled landing.
Gymnasts approach the vault from a 25metre run, transfer their speed to the springboard and seek a quick hand placement to the table. From here the gymnast uses internal spring to launch themselves vertically for a combination of somersaults and twists. A good vault should land at least 2metres from the table and include no steps on landing
Uneven Bars (UB)
Like the men’s parallel bars the Uneven Bars provide double the challenge for gymnasts. The low bar is set around 170cm in height and the high bar often around 250cm. The distance between the two bars is set at a maximum of 180cm.
Swinging and continuous movements are required on this apparatus. Routines typically include movements in both directions as well as above and below the bars. Elements with twists and somersaults with multiple grip changes and high flight often are awarded with the highest scores. Like men’s horizontal bar, the wind up and dismount is often the most exciting part of the routine.
Balance Beam (BB)
Perhaps the most precarious piece of apparatus for girls, the beam stands 1.25metres from the floor, is five metres long and if that was not posing enough of a challenge, is only 10cm wide. That is the width of your average house brick!
A beam routine is an exercise in precision with no room for error. The gymnast performs a combination of acrobatic elements, leaps, jumps, turns, steps, waves and balance elements. These can be done standing, sitting or lying on the beam. It is a requirement that the gymnast uses the entire length of the beam, with routines concluding often with a series of acrobatic elements off the side or end of the beam.
Floor Exercise (FX)
The floor exercise allows the gymnast their moment in the spotlight and is considered by many to be the most expressive piece of women’s apparatus.
A floor routine, always accompanied by music, includes a combination of dance movements and sequences interspersed with a variety of tumbling and acrobatic elements. The whole floor area must be used in the routine with clear variances in mood, tempo and direction. Individuality, originality, and artistry of presentation are the key ingredients of a great routine.