Strength Training And Fundamentals In Gymnastic Conditioning

Gymnastics performance combines functional strength with technique and skills. Practicing only gymnastics doesn't provide the necessary physical traits for advanced gymnastics. As a result, the gymnastics training program is specifically designed to improve strength for the purpose of performing each skill correctly. With increased strength and fundamentals, a gymnast can improve technique and learn new skills more easily.

Workouts

Strength-training workouts are designed to complement the gymnastics drills for learning elements, routines and combinations. Each workout is integrated into the general gymnastics training and takes place year round. This consistent approach to strength training ensures maximal strength and performance gains while allowing adequate amounts of rest and recovery.

Anaerobic Sport

Gymnastics is primarily an anaerobic sport -- or a sport that utilizes energy without oxygen. As a result, strength and power are essential components to the strength training of gymnastic conditioning. The goal of the anaerobic strength-training workouts is to increase maximum strength without sacrificing the flexibility and mobility of the muscles and joints by significantly increasing muscle size.

Specificity

With the specific demands of gymnastics fundamentals, the strength-training exercises must be sport-specific. These sport-specific exercises resemble the movement patterns used during a gymnastics competition. Sample strength-training exercises include pullups, pushups, handstand pushups, situps, lunges and squats. The specific exercises help to build functional strength essential for learning new skills.

Skills

Learning new skills and fundamentals must be preceded by building a sufficient amount of strength. The strength level ensures that the skill and fundamentals are learned correctly the first time. Without sufficient strength, it will be nearly impossible to execute the fundamentals correctly, or the skill will need to be relearned as strength levels improve.