Modern Educational Gymnastics

Modern Educational Gymnastics provides a guide in gymnastics based on Rudolf Laban’s analysis of movement. This book sets out a discipline and standard, demanding perseverance, grit, and determination in individual ways of moving that provides every individual with an opportunity to achieve not only possibilities in movement and physical prowess, but ideas as well. The topics covered include weight transference; fundamental body action of bending, stretching, turning, and twisting; awareness of the body; way or how a person moves; time, space, and flow factors; use of space; apparatus work; and working with other people. Brief discussions on forming a lesson, achieving good poise, and use of observation to the teacher and students are also deliberated in this text. This publication is intended for gymnastics teachers, but is also useful to students or individuals hoping to acquire knowledge on the fundamentals and basic principles of gymnastics.

Preface

I. Introduction

The Human Being

The Need for Movement

The Value of Gymnastics

II. Weight Transference : Gesture — Adjustment of the Body Weight in "on" and "off-balanced" Movement (1) Using Adjacent Parts of the Body

The Effort Content

Development of Rolling

Examples

III. Weight Transference : (2) Using Non-adjacent Parts of the Body

Adjustment of the Body Weight

The Effort Content

Ways of Developing

Examples

IV. Weight Transference : (3) Using Non-adjacent Parts of the Body Involving Flight

The Five Basic Jumps

Other Possibilities

Examples

V. The Fundamental Body Action of Bending and Stretching

Definition

Bending and Stretching of the Spine

The Legs

Hip, Knee, Ankle and Foot Joints

The Arms

The Effort Content

The Use of Space

VI. The Fundamental Body Action of Turning and Twisting

Definition

Examples

The Effort Content

VII. Awareness of the Body

Awareness of Different Parts of the Body

Awareness of the Relationship of Parts as in Meeting and Parting

Importance of a Part of the Body

Awareness of a Part Leading

Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Use of the Body

Simultaneous and Successive Movement

VIII. The Way (or How) a Person Moves — Effort Content

How a Person Moves

The Effort Content of Movement

The Weight Factor

Firmness and Fine Touch

Weight Rhythms

Practical Application

IX. The Time Factor

Suddenness and Sustainment

Interplay of Time

Practical Application

Resilience of Movement

Sequence of Movement

X. The Space and Flow Factors

The Space Factor

Flexibility and Directness

The Flow Factor

Bound and Free Flow

XI. The Use of Space

Personal Space

General Space

Directions in Space

Levels of Space

Central and Peripheral Use of Space

Extension in Space

Planes of Movement

Body Shape

XII. Apparatus Work

Climax to the Lesson

Value of Apparatus Work

Sequence of Movement or Vault

The Preparation or Approach

Contact with the Apparatus

Types of Apparatus, Action Tasks, Movement Tasks

The Recovery

Ways of Using the Apparatus

Organization of the Apparatus

Handling and Care of the Apparatus

VIII. Working with Other People

Without Physical Contact

With Physical Contact But No Weight Nearing

Involving Weight Bearing

In Relationship to Apparatus

XIV. The Lesson

The Form of a Lesson

The Theme of a Lesson and Characteristics of the Main Age Groups

The Development of a Sequence

Exploration, Selection and Skill of Performance

Taking over Classes Whose Previous Training Has Been of a Formal Nature

Presentation of the Work and Contact with Classes

XV. Observation

Value

Mental Attitude

What is Involved When Observing

The Use of Observation to the Teacher and to the Girls

XVI Poise

Good Poise

Causes of Poor Poise

Common Postural Weaknesses

Weak Feet, Knock-knees, Poking Head and Round Shoulders, Hollow Back, Scoliosis and a General Lack of Tension