Cartwheel (gymnastics)

Cartwheel animation

A cartwheel is a sideways rotary movement of the body. It is performed by bringing the hands to the floor one at a time while the body inverts. The legs travel over the body trunk while one or both hands are on the floor, and then the feet return to the floor one at a time, ending with the performer standing upright. It is performed in a variety of athletic activities, including acro dance and some types of Indian dance, in gymnastics, and in the martial art of capoeira. It is called a cartwheel because the performer's arms and legs move in a fashion similar to the spokes of a turning wheel. In classical Indian Karana dance, it is called talavilasitam, and in capoeira is called aú.

Technique

To perform a cartwheel, one moves sideways in a straight line, keeping the back straight; places the hand of the same side on the ground, followed by the other hand; kicks the legs over the body and brings them down as the hands and body come up to a standing position.

A classic cartwheel performed with proper gymnastics form always starts with a lunge: the lead leg (stronger leg) in front and the weaker leg in the back. During the lunge, the gymnast has their arms high in the air and straight, and their hips square, facing forward. The gymnast then pushes off of the front leg and places their hands side by side on the ground in front of them. As they do this, they kick their legs up and over their torso and head as their body becomes inverted. During the rotation, the legs stay apart in a large, wide straddle (as far apart as the gymnast can get them). The legs are straight, and the toes and feet are pointed. In United States competitions, the legs must reach at least 90 degrees of motion in a competition in order for the gymnast to receive points. Finally, the gymnast sets their first foot on the ground, followed by the second foot, landing in a lunge with the weaker leg in front and the lead leg in back. The gymnast lands facing the opposite direction from the one they started in. Their hands and arms are straight and high.

In gymnastics

A cartwheel performed by a gymnast on a balance beam

Cartwheels are commonly performed in artistic gymnastics in the floor exercise and on the balance beam. On the floor, a gymnast may precede a cartwheel with other movements, as in a chasse cartwheel, which begins with side-step "gallops." It is a required skill in the USA Gymnastics Level 4 compulsory beam routine.

See also

References

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