Men's rhythmic gymnastics

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Men's rhythmic gymnastics is related to both Men's Artistic Gymnastics, Wushu martial arts, and Women's Rhythmic Gymnastics and emerged in Japan from stick gymnastics taught and performed since long ago with the aim of improving physical strength and health. The technical rules of this version of the gymnastics came around 1970s. Only four apparatus are used: the rings, the stick, the rope, and the clubs. Athletes are judged on the some of the same physical abilities and skills as their female counterparts such as hand/body-eye co-ordination, but tumbling, strength, power, and martial arts skills are the main focus, as opposed to flexibility and dance of women's rhythmic gymnastics. The sport has a growing number of participants, competing solo and on a team, and is most popular in Asia, especially in Japan where high school and university teams compete fiercely. On November 27-29 2003 five countries from two continents participated in the 1st Men's RG World Championship - Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Canada and USA. The latest World Championship included Russia, Korea, Malaysia, Canada, USA, Mexico, and Australia.

While the routines that have been performed so far by male single competitors and teams more or less look like slight variations of or synchronized floor exercises in the more traditional men's artistic gymnastics, Ruben Orihuela from Spain has literally re-created all the physically demanding moves and routines that had been reserved for or accomplished by only females before him, and he has also demonstrated the unusual prowess of super physical flexibility that had been seen only in female rhythmic gymnasts.