Somersault
Encyclopedia
A somersault is an acrobatic
exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip
, moving the feet over the head
. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground. When performed on the ground it is normally called a roll
- in which a somersault can be competitively performed in three shapes: tucked, piked or straight.
In addition to full somersaults, somersaults can be used in 1/4 rotations. These create variations such as:
Within British Gymnastic associations, the above terms have been deprecated in favour of more standard terms. e.g. Crash Dive is referred to as a 3/4 Front Somersault (Straight). Similarly, the previously named Barani Ballout is now termed a Ballout Barani to indicate that the forward somersault is executed before the twist.
In addition there are many variations of double and triple somersaults, often including twist rotations and can end in body landings.
Other associated moves include:
Many sports (not just gymnastics) have added to the confusion of named somersaults. For instance in sports such as BMX
, FMX
, snowboarding
and even skateboard
ing, a backward rotation is referred to as a "backflip". Certain new sports such as tricking
and free running
also name their moves flips.
The word 'somerset' was also used in Victorian England to describe what today we call a somersault. For example, an 1843 poster advertising Pablo Fanque
's Circus Royal boasts, "Mr. HENDERSON will undertake the arduous Task of THROWING TWENTY-ONE SOMERSETS, ON THE SOLID GROUND."John Lennon
also employs the word in his adaptation of the circus poster for The Beatles
song, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
, in which he sings, "And Mr. H will demonstrate ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground."
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip
Flip (acrobatic)
An acrobatic flip is a sequence of body movements in which a person leaps into the air and then rotates one or more times while airborne. Acrobatic flips are performed in acro dance, free running, gymnastics, tricking, and various other activities...
, moving the feet over the head
Human head
In human anatomy, the head is the upper portion of the human body. It supports the face and is maintained by the skull, which itself encloses the brain.-Cultural importance:...
. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground. When performed on the ground it is normally called a roll
Roll (gymnastics)
A Roll is the most basic and fundamental skill in gymnastics. There are many variations to the skill. Rolls are similar to flips in the fact that it is a complete rotation of the body...
Types of Somersault
There are many variations of front and back somersaults with most technically recognized versions being defined in the competitive sport of TrampoliningTrampolining
Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists....
- in which a somersault can be competitively performed in three shapes: tucked, piked or straight.
- Crash Dive (3/4 Front Somersault to back landing)
- Lazy Back (3/4 Back Somersault to front landing)
- Ballout (1 Front Somersault to feet from back landing)
- Cody (1 back Somersault to feet from front landing)
Within British Gymnastic associations, the above terms have been deprecated in favour of more standard terms. e.g. Crash Dive is referred to as a 3/4 Front Somersault (Straight). Similarly, the previously named Barani Ballout is now termed a Ballout Barani to indicate that the forward somersault is executed before the twist.
In addition there are many variations of double and triple somersaults, often including twist rotations and can end in body landings.
Other associated moves include:
- BaraniBerani flipA Berani flip, , is an aerial maneuveur consisting of a front flip and a 180 degree turn . This trick is performed in number of sports including but not limited to gymnastics, cheerleading, trampoline, and aggressive inline skating...
(Front Somersault with 1/2 twist) - Rudolph (Rudi) (Front Somersault with 1 twists)
- Randolph (Randi) (Front Somersault with 2 twists)
- Adolf (Sometimes referred to as an Adi) (Front Somersault with 3 twists)
- Full Back or frontfull (Back Somersault or Front Somersault with 1 twist) less common with single fronts
- Double (Double Front or Back Somersault)
- Double Full (Back Somersault with 2 twists)
- Half Out (Double Front Somersault with 1/2 twist in the second somersault)
- Back in - Full out (Double Back Somersault with 1 twist in the second somersault)
Terminology
The word 'flip' is synonymous with somersault in a number of countries including the USA. However this is not used in trampolining in some countries such as Britain, whereby a flip is a skill that is executed with forward or backward movement, relying on the arms to create rotation, with an optional contact on the floor with the hands.Many sports (not just gymnastics) have added to the confusion of named somersaults. For instance in sports such as BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
, FMX
FMX
FMX is an acronym used to describe several things:*Famoxadone, a pesticide abbreviated as FMX*FMX , a system employing audio noise reduction*Freestyle Motocross...
, snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
and even skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
ing, a backward rotation is referred to as a "backflip". Certain new sports such as tricking
Tricking
Tricking is the informal name of a type of physical activity derived from the martial arts that includes techniques found in gymnastics, B-boying, and similar disciplines. Examples of incorporated techniques include the 540 kick from Taekwondo, the butterfly twist from Wushu, and the double leg...
and free running
Free running
Freerunning is a form of urban acrobatics in which participants, known as freerunners , use the city and rural landscape to perform movements through its structures...
also name their moves flips.
The word 'somerset' was also used in Victorian England to describe what today we call a somersault. For example, an 1843 poster advertising Pablo Fanque
Pablo Fanque
Pablo Fanque was the first black circus proprietor in Britain. His circus, in which he himself was a performer, was the most popular circus in Victorian Britain for 30 years, a period that is regarded as the golden age of the circus...
's Circus Royal boasts, "Mr. HENDERSON will undertake the arduous Task of THROWING TWENTY-ONE SOMERSETS, ON THE SOLID GROUND."John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
also employs the word in his adaptation of the circus poster for The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
song, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
"Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" is a song from the 1967 album by The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was composed by John Lennon...
, in which he sings, "And Mr. H will demonstrate ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground."
See also
- GymnasticsGymnasticsGymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
- TrampoliningTrampoliningTrampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists....
- HandspringHandspring (gymnastics)A handspring is an acrobatic move in which a person executes a complete revolution of the body by lunging headfirst from an upright position into a handstand and then pushing off from the floor with the hands so as to leap back to an upright position. Handsprings are performed in various physical...
- Jules LéotardJules LéotardJules Léotard , was a revolutionary French acrobatic performer who developed the art of trapeze. He also popularised the one-piece gymwear that now bears his name and was the inspiration for the 1867 song "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze"....
- TrickingTrickingTricking is the informal name of a type of physical activity derived from the martial arts that includes techniques found in gymnastics, B-boying, and similar disciplines. Examples of incorporated techniques include the 540 kick from Taekwondo, the butterfly twist from Wushu, and the double leg...
- DivingDivingDiving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...