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A cinematographic analysis of the parallel arm downswing from a handstand on the still rings

The purpose of this study was to study the essential• factors involved in the execution of the parallel arm downswing in the sequence of the backward giant swing on the still rings. Comparisons were made among gymnasts who had had different amounts of experience in the use of the parallel arm downswing technique.The subjects were four male American collegiate gymnasts. Selected as the experienced performers were an Olympic gymnast from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, and. a specialist on the still rings from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. Selected as the less experienced performers were two all around gymnasts from the Ball State University men's gymnastic team.The cinematographic method was used to collect the data. In order to identify the biomechanical differences between the subjects, seven categories were considered to be the essential factors possibly involved in the execution of the parallel arm downswing. The horizontal and linear velocities of the wrist, the body angles, the angular velocity of the body segments, and the total body's tangential forces were graphed and studied. Plots of the trajectory of the center of gravity and plots of the loci of the body joints were compared and interpreted. The performance times of the subjects were compared in terms of the time elapsed during the whole and a part of the downswing.It was concluded that for these subjects, the successful parallel arm downswing should be accomplished by using the following factors: a faster push of the rings, a lean of the shoulders, a straighter body, a stronger beat action of the trunk, a proper timing (after the bottom of the downswing) of the legs and. a closer trajectory of the center of gravity throughout the downswing. The total body's tangential force and the performance time, appeared to be essential factors for the successful parallel arm downswing. However, it was not determined whether a greater amount of force or a shorter execution time is necessary for the ideal execution of the reverse giant swing on the still rings.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/181676
Date January 1977
CreatorsKinoshita, Hiroshi
ContributorsAssmann, Nikki A.
Source SetsBall State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Formatxii, 118 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.
SourceVirtual Press

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