General skills for beginners in gymnastics

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Beginners are often introduced to gymnastics by learning tumbling moves on the floor. This is a necessary skill to acquire before they can move on to more complicated stunts. Practicing such moves will constitute a huge part in building one’s ability to perform other techniques smoothly and attain the correct body posture.

Forward roll 

Squat with your feet together, and your knees bent and placed alongside each other. Place your hands on the ground in front of you with your elbows bent. Drop your head between your arms, and tuck in your chin. Push over with your legs onto your upper back; so that your body rolls forward and your hands are pushed over your head. Follow the curve of your spine as you roll.

Backward roll 

From a standing position, keep your arms up and slowly sit back into a squat, and roll on your back. As soon as your butt and back touches the ground, bend your arms and reach behind your ears. Your hands should catch the ground as you continue to roll back on your shoulders, protecting and taking any pressure off your neck and head. To complete the roll, allow the momentum to bring your legs and hips over your head. Only when your hips roll past vertically over your body, do you press on the floor with your arms to finish the rotation to land on your feet again.

Handstand 

Start with a wall in front of you, preferably a padded one. Make sure you have plenty of open space all around you, and a padded surface underneath you. Stand about 1.2 to 1.5metres away from the wall, facing it. Lift your arms straight up over your head. Place one foot in front of the other, and place both hands in front of you on the floor, shoulder-width apart. Keep your fingers spread out slightly and facing forward. Using the momentum from placing one foot in front of the other, kick one leg up toward the wall, and then follow with your other leg. Keep your arms straight. If you are not able to get all the way up into a handstand, it will be helpful to have a spotter who pulls your legs upwards.