- base
- The person who stays on the floor and supports the weight of the partner or group. The base lifts, steadies and catches. Acrobatic gymnastics brings together balance, dynamic throws and three roles you share with a partner
- dowel
- A wooden or fibreglass rod sewn into the leather of a grip at the base of the fingers. It adds stiffness and helps the gymnast hook onto the bar during advanced skills. What gymnastics grips are and when you need them
- dynamic
- A move in which the top leaves the base, travels through the air and is caught. Dynamics involve flight, rotation and precise timing. Acrobatic gymnastics brings together balance, dynamic throws and three roles you share with a partner
- hollow hold
- A core-strengthening position where you lie on your back with arms extended overhead, legs straight and lifted, and lower back pressed to the floor. It builds the tension and body shape used in many gymnastics skills. How to warm up properly before gymnastics: 4 phases that prepare your body to move safely
- inverted
- A position where your head is below your hips, such as in a handstand or the middle of a back handspring. Inverted skills carry higher risk because falling happens from a greater height and often with rotation. What a spotter does in gymnastics and when their hands make the difference
- inverted position
- The moment in a skill when your head is below your hips and your body is upside down, supported by your hands or another base. How to do a cartwheel: 6 steps from your first kick-over to a straight line
- kip
- A foundational bar skill that brings a gymnast from a hang position to a front support on the bar using a glide and hip snap. It marks the point at which many gymnasts begin wearing grips. What gymnastics grips are and when you need them
- panel mat
- A folding mat that can be shaped into a raised block or wedge, used for practicing roll entries and skills that need an incline. The 6 pieces of equipment that make home practice safer and more effective
- parallettes
- Low handles that sit on the floor, used for training wrist strength, holds and body positions needed for advanced floor skills. The 6 pieces of equipment that make home practice safer and more effective
- planche
- A static strength hold in which the body is held horizontally, parallel to the ground, supported only by the hands with the arms straight. Five types of gymnastics and what makes each one distinct
- scapular push-up
- A small push-up movement performed from a plank position, where you protract and retract your shoulder blades without bending your elbows. It activates the muscles that stabilise the shoulder joint. How to warm up properly before gymnastics: 4 phases that prepare your body to move safely
- spotting
- Physical support from a coach who guides your body through a new movement, often by holding your hips or shoulders. Spotting reduces the risk of falling and helps you understand how a skill feels before you attempt it independently. How to start gymnastics as an adult: 4 decisions that put you in the gym with confidence
- top
- The person who balances, flies or is thrown into the air by the base. The top requires body control and spatial awareness. Acrobatic gymnastics brings together balance, dynamic throws and three roles you share with a partner
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