16 Popular Types of Gymnastics to Explore This Year
Gymnastics is a sport that combines strength, flexibility, and grace. If you’re looking to get into gymnastics or expand your skills, you might feel overwhelmed by the many options available.
It’s unclear which type of gymnastics is right for you or how they differ. I’m here to help simplify your choice.
In this article, I’ll break down 16 popular type of gymnastics you can explore this year. You’ll learn about each discipline’s unique features, from artistic gymnastics to trampoline and tumbling.
By the end, you’ll clearly understand your options and be ready to pick the perfect gymnastic style.
List of Different Types of Gymnastics to Try
1. Artistic Gymnastics
Artistic Gymnastics involves performing routines on different apparatuses with a focus on strength, flexibility, and precision.
It benefits overall body strength, coordination, and mental focus.
- Key Elements: Floor exercise, vault, balance beam (women), pommel horse, parallel bars (men)
- Core Skills & Techniques: Strength, flexibility, balance, and artistry
- Equipment Required: Balance beam, parallel bars, vaulting table, rings, horizontal bar, floor mat
- Major Competitions: Olympic Games, World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
2. Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic Gymnastics combines dance and gymnastics with apparatus handling, promoting grace, flexibility, and coordination.
It’s especially beneficial for developing balance and rhythm.
- Key Elements: Routines using ribbon, hoop, ball, clubs, and rope
- Core Skills & Techniques: Coordination, flexibility, grace, and timing
- Equipment Required: Ribbon, ball, hoop, clubs, rope
- Major Competitions: World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, Olympic Games
3. Trampoline Gymnastics
Trampoline Gymnastics involves acrobatic movements performed on a trampoline. It builds aerial awareness and control and helps improve balance, coordination, and cardiovascular endurance.
- Key Elements: Individual trampoline, synchronized trampoline
- Core Skills & Techniques: Aerial skills, balance, precision
- Equipment Required: Trampoline
- Major Competitions: Olympic Games, World Trampoline Championships
4. Acrobatic Gymnastics
Acrobatic Gymnastics is a partner-based discipline focusing on lifts, throws, and group balances. It enhances teamwork, strength, and timing.
- Key Elements: Balance routines, dynamic routines, combined routines
- Core Skills & Techniques: Strength, coordination, trust, and synchronization
- Equipment Required: Mats and spotting equipment for safety
- Major Competitions: World Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships
5. Aerobic Gymnastics
Aerobic Gymnastics combines high-energy movements set to music, improving cardiovascular health, strength, and endurance.
It’s great for both fitness and competitive performances.
- Key Elements: Individual, mixed pairs, trios, groups
- Core Skills & Techniques: Rhythm, strength, and endurance
- Equipment Required: Aerobic mat
- Major Competitions: Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships
6. Tumbling
Tumbling involves high-speed acrobatic passes on a spring runway, perfect for those who enjoy fast-paced flips and twists.
It enhances agility, power, and spatial awareness.
- Key Elements: Handsprings, flips, twists
- Core Skills & Techniques: Power, precision, and aerial skills
- Equipment Required: Spring floor or tumbling track
- Major Competitions: Tumbling World Championships
7. Parkour (Freestyle Gymnastics)
Parkour emphasizes fluid movement and agility in various environments, focusing on overcoming obstacles.
It builds adaptability, strength, and mental resilience.
- Key Elements: Vaults, wall runs, jumps
- Core Skills & Techniques: Agility, balance, strength, and creativity
- Equipment Required: Urban or specially designed parkour spaces
- Major Competitions: World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF) events
8. General Gymnastics (Gymnastics for All)
General Gymnastics promotes participation for all ages and skill levels, focusing on fitness and fun.
It’s a great way to improve general health and social interaction.
- Key Elements: Group routines, festivals
- Core Skills & Techniques: Basic gymnastics skills, teamwork, and coordination
- Equipment Required: Mats, basic gymnastics equipment
- Major Competitions: Gymnastics for All World Gymnaestrada
9. Wheel Gymnastics
Wheel Gymnastics involves performing routines inside a large wheel, combining elements of dance and gymnastics.
It helps improve balance, coordination, and core strength.
- Key Elements: Spiral, straight-line, and vault exercises
- Core Skills & Techniques: Balance, core strength, and coordination
- Equipment Required: Gymnastic wheel
- Major Competitions: World Wheel Gymnastics Championships
10. TeamGym
TeamGym features group routines performed on floor, tumbling tracks, and trampettes. It encourages teamwork, synchronization, and physical fitness.
- Key Elements: Floor routines, trampette, tumbling
- Core Skills & Techniques: Synchronization, strength, and rhythm
- Equipment Required: Tumbling track, trampette, mats
- Major Competitions: European TeamGym Championships
11. Aesthetic Group Gymnastics
Aesthetic Group Gymnastics combines dance and gymnastics in group routines, emphasizing harmony and expression.
It enhances flexibility, coordination, and team spirit.
- Key Elements: Synchronized group routines
- Core Skills & Techniques: Grace, flexibility, teamwork
- Equipment Required: Mats, Music
- Major Competitions: Aesthetic Group Gymnastics World Championships
12. Mallakhamb (Traditional Indian Gymnastics)
Mallakhamb is a traditional Indian sport performed on a vertical pole or rope. It develops strength, flexibility, and endurance and is known for its acrobatic poses and balance.
- Key Elements: Pole exercises, rope exercises
- Core Skills & Techniques: Strength, balance, and flexibility
- Equipment Required: Wooden pole, hanging rope
- Major Competitions: National Mallakhamb Championships in India
13. Display Gymnastics
Display Gymnastics involves non-competitive routines often performed at exhibitions. It focuses on creativity and entertainment and promotes community, fun, and expression.
- Key Elements: Group choreographed routines, themed performances
- Core Skills & Techniques: Creativity, teamwork, coordination
- Equipment Required: Varies by routine
- Major Competitions: Gymnastics festivals and exhibitions
14. Power Tumbling
Power Tumbling is a fast-paced form of tumbling on an elevated spring track. It emphasizes high-powered flips and twists and enhances strength, speed, and precision.
- Key Elements: High-speed tumbling passes
- Core Skills & Techniques: Strength, aerial skills, and agility
- Equipment Required: Power tumbling track
- Major Competitions: Tumbling World Championships
15. Cheer Gymnastics
Cheer Gymnastics incorporates gymnastics skills within cheerleading routines, building strength, coordination, and team spirit.
It is a great way to boost confidence and physical fitness.
- Key Elements: Tumbling, stunts, jumps
- Core Skills & Techniques: Strength, synchronization, agility
- Equipment Required: Mats, cheerleading equipment
- Major Competitions: Cheerleading World Championships
16. Geriatric Gymnastics
Geriatric Gymnastics caters to seniors, focusing on exercises that improve balance, flexibility, and mobility.
It’s ideal for enhancing physical health and reducing fall risks.
- Key Elements: Low-impact movements, balance exercises
- Core Skills & Techniques: Balance, flexibility, gentle strength training
- Equipment Required: Mats, balance equipment
- Major Competitions: Non-competitive; practiced in senior fitness classes and wellness programs
Conclusion
Now that we’ve explored 16 popular type of gymnastics, you have a better idea of the diverse world this sport offers.
From the graceful routines of rhythmic gymnastics to the high-flying acrobatics of trampoline, there’s truly something for everyone.
Remember, the best type of gymnastics for you depends on your interests, skills, and goals. Why not try a few different styles to see what clicks? Many gyms offer trial classes so that you can get a feel for various disciplines.
Ready to take the leap? Find a local gymnastics club and sign up for a beginner’s class in the style that caught your eye.
Who knows? You might discover a new passion that keeps you fit, challenges you, and brings joy to your life.
