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Suggested Links
• The Fundamentals of Non-Locomotor/Locomotor Movements
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWK5hLd-cyE
o https://www.slideshare.net/jenildonatourianzamoises/locomotor-and-nonlocomotor-movements

Lesson 6: History and Meaning of Gymnastics

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the learner is expected to:

o Define gymnastics in his/her own words

o Identify and describe the great contributors in the development of gymnastics

o describe the phases of the Gymnastics Program

o Show understanding of the terminologies in Gymnastics through written assessment

Discussion:
Gymnastics

This is one of the most valuable areas in physical education

because of its total fitness value. It deals with the different
movements whether in place or in different directions, skills on the
floor, on the balance beam, on the bars and on the vault. Activities
in the form of stunts, tumbling and pyramid building give fun and
enjoyment to and individual.

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Application:
Activities in gymnastics help develop strong, healthy and shapely bodies. It helps an
individual gain confidence, determination and discipline. Gymnastics activities
Carlo Yulo, also
Filipinoimprove
Gymnast
poise, posture and coordination of movement of an individual.

A. History of Gymnastics
Gymnastics as a sport activity has been around for over 2000 years. It is one of the oldest
Olympics sports, and has always been part of the ancient, as well as the modern Olympics
games. The term “gymnastics” is derived from the Greek word “gymnos” meaning naked.
Gymnasium, originally an area for physical training, has been a school for training both the
mind and the body.

The following people were considered great contributors in the development

of gymnastics.
Johann Basedow (1724-1790) – a German educator who started a program
for total reform of the educational system. He said that the principal goal of education is to
prepare students for a happy, patriotic life of service to the community.

Johann Guts Muths (1759-1839) – the “Great Grandfather” of

Gymnastics.” He was the author of the book “Gymnastics for the Young”
published in 1973. The book becomes the main guideline for Physical
Education teachers in several countries for many generations up to
present.
Freidrich Ludwig Jahn (1779-1852) – He was considered as the Turnvater of the “Father of
Gymnastics.”
Franz Nachtegall (1772-1847) – He started the first training school for gymnastics teachers.
Per Henrik Ling of Sweden (1776-1839) – He invented the stall bars and the vaulting box. He
was the first to appreciate the corrective value of gymnastics.

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Adolf Spies (1810-1852) – He introduced marching and freehand exercises with music.
Dr. Dudley Sargeant (1842- 1924) – He was the first American contributor of gymnastics.
Mrs. Francisca Reyes Aquino together with Director Candido Bartolome started gymnastics in
the Philippines.

B. Meaning of Gymnastics
Gymnastics is defined as a self-motivating activity where one can manipulate the
different parts of the body in varied movements (Diñoso,1993). It is the performance of
systematic exercises often with the use of light apparatus like rings and wands and other
heavy gymnastics apparatus. It is a competitive sport in which individuals perform
optional and prescribed acrobatics, mostly on special apparatus and body control.
C. Phases of Gymnastics
The gymnastics program has different phases that contributes to the various elements in
gymnastics. These elements are strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and
endurance.
1. Conditioning Program – The exercises are selected for the purpose of preparing the body
for more advanced and complicated movements and skills. The selected phases or set of
exercises are called as “Calisthenics.”
2. Rhythmic Gymnastics – This are routines or exercises accompanied with music. This phase
includes freehand exercises, and all exercises which involve the use of light apparatuses to
form a routine on the floor. The performer is encouraged to create and develop her own
routine according to her abilities.
3. Stunts – These are activities in the form of play which test one’s strength, flexibility, balance,
agility, endurance and coordination. This phase is especially suited to the lower grades.
Some stunts can be considered as conditioning exercise while some are preparatory stunts
for tumbling skills.
4. Tumbling – This is the most important phase of the gymnastics program because the ability
of the performer is tested as he rolls to and from, twists, turns, and springs about on the mat,
floor and up in the air.

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5. Apparatus Exercise (Heavy) – This includes activities done on the balance beam, vaulting
horse, parallel bars, uneven bars, rings, and the trampoline.
6. Pyramid Building – This allows the students to create pictures(mural) through body static
positions properly arranged and selected to form a pyramid.

D. Key Terms in Gymnastics

Agility – It is the ability to rapidly change the direction while maintaining dynamic balance.
Axial Movements – These are movements done by a part or parts of the body in a place,
such as bending, lifting, stretching, twisting, forming a circle, and the like.
Body Composition – It is the amount of lean versus fat tissues in the body.
Cardio Respiratory Endurance – It is the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to all vital organs. It is
the most essential component of the heart, blood vessels, and lungs to deliver nutrients and
oxygen to tissues and remove waste.
Cartwheel – It is movement where a gymnast turns sideways from a standing position, to
handstand, and then back to a standing position.
Combative Stunts – are stunts performed by two or more participants in a competition to
show strength, balance, agility and endurance.
Composition – are the movements put together in a routine.
Conditioning – These are exercises and activities used to increase strength and performance.
Coordination – This is the ability to integrate the body parts to produce smooth fluid motion.
Dismount – These are stunts used to get off the apparatus.
Dual Stunts – These are stunts performed by two persons.
Execution – It is a manner a gymnast performs the routine.
Exercise – It is a planned, structured, repetitive and purposeful physical activity for the
improvement or maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness.

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Fitness – This indicates soundness of body organs such as the heart and lungs. Fitness involves
human mechanisms performed efficiently under exercise or work conditions and a
reasonable measure of skill in the performance of physical of physical activities.
Flexibility – It is the full range movement of a joint which is important to prevent possible injury
to ligaments and tendons.
Group stunts – These are stunts performed by three or more participants.
Gymnastics – It is a system of bodily exercises based on scientific principles.
Health-Related Fitness – are aspect of physiological and psychological functioning which
are believed to offer some protection against degenerative. – type of diseases such as
coronary heart disease, obesity, and various musco-skeletal disorders.
Individual stunts – These are stunts performed by one person.
Locomotor Movement – This is performed by moving from one place to another such as
walking, running, hopping, skipping, galloping and other similar activities.
Muscular Strength – This refers to the amount of force a muscle or muscle group can exert.
Nutrition – is the basic food and nourishment needs of an individual to become physically fit.
Performance-related Fitness – It is the ability of the neuromuscular system to perform specific
tasks.
Physical Education – It is the vital and integral part of general education designed to
promote the optimum development of the individual physically, socially, emotionally, and
mentally through total body movement in the performance of properly selected physical
activities.
Physical Fitness – It is the ability of an individual to function, to tolerate stress in any form, and
to perform daily tasks successfully.
Pike – It is a position in which the legs are held straight and the body is bent forward at the
tips.
Power – This refers to work divided by time; the faster the completion of work, the greater the
power.
Pyramid Building – These are floor skills and tumbling skills that can be performed by three to
10 persons forming a shape of pyramid.

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Reaction Time – represents the time taken to respond physically to a given stimulus.
Regular Exercise – it helps fight stress and improves quality of night sleep and one’s energy
level each day.
Routine – It is a planned series of movements performed as continuous flowing exercise by a
gymnast.
Sequence – It is a group of movements as a part of a gymnastics routine.
Speed – It is the velocity or the ability to perform a movement in the shortest length of time.
Spotter – someone who assists a gymnast if need arises.
Spotting – It is assisting a gymnast during performance.
Stunts – These are activities in the form of play that test oneself on the components of
physical fitness.
Tuck – It is a position in which the knees are bent, legs are held tightly to the chest, and the
body is curled up like a ball.
Tumbling – It is the execution of acrobatic movement such as rolls, stunts, handspring on the
floor or on the ground.
Warm-up – is a conditioning exercise that include stretching and exercises of moderate
intensity that cause sweating and increase in muscle temperature.
Suggested Links (Optional):
• History and Evolution of Gymnastics
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPFiC3nAuxQ
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCPwbdmHy2s

Learning Module on Physical Education 1