A comparison of kinematics of different forward somersault movements in gymnastics beam

Forward somersault movements (FSMs) are very often used in gymnastics beam competitions. FSMs include four different movements (A, B, C, D) with increasingly difficulties. Twenty-one movements (9 A, 8 B, 3 C, 1 D) performed by national or international level gymnasts were recorded using high speed video cameras, and kinematics of the movements were compared. The results indicated that a gymnast, successive performing high difficult FSM, has the following abilities: excellent acceleration ability to get large runup velocity, excellent transformation ability to transform horizontal velocity into large vertical velocity, precise control ability to make the horizontal take-off velocity within a proper range, and make the take-off angle almost in vertical direction. It is strongly suggested that the athletes develop strength power of lower extremities and the ability of controlling velocity and posture before learning FSMs with high difficulty.