Acrobatics, or acro in short, takes the art of gymnastics to the stage for entertaining an audience. Aerial stunts and complex maneuvers are incorporated into the sequence, making it differ from linear gymnastic moves. Dance routines and cheerleading often include acrobatic components to diversify the performances. Body contortions and freestyle tricks allow acrobats to combine their acts into hierarchies as they move in unison. Teamwork is inevitably crucial and makes the performance feel spontaneous and effortless.
Benefits of Acrobatics
Physical awareness
Acrobatics improves your muscle coordination and flexibility. It helps you achieve balance through proper posture and focus; this also makes you an agile athlete. Regardless of your sports preferences, acrobatics is a great gym routine to build stamina and resilience. The training is a sufficient workout for playing any sport to your maximum potential. When you practice acrobatics, you become increasingly aware of your body’s limits, which allows you to embrace your strengths and weaknesses.
Teamwork
Acrobatics can be performed individually and in groups depending on your interests. Group performances on stage rely heavily on team synergy that builds up the act. Working as a team increases your spatial consciousness and allows your motor skills to adapt in synchronized perfection. Acts that showcase athletic talents allow acrobats to move with seamless transitions between each routine.
Perception Training
Physical and spatial awareness does not just improve your motor skills; it also impacts your mental health. Acrobatic workouts introduce a new perception when you invest all of your focus and energy into the act. This leaves no room for stress and anxiety to sneak in, and you learn how to create a balance between your physical and mental wellbeing. Perception training plays a constructive role in overcoming obstacles by training your mind and body to accept new challenges.
A Sport for Everyone
You do not need to be an athlete to qualify; people of all age groups can train for acrobatics. Regular training sessions bring about a sort of meditative consistency in your life. This inspires discipline and self-confidence that are essential qualities for both kids and adults. Young acrobats grow up with a sense of accomplishment that makes them celebrate their artistic as well as athletic freedoms. Adults benefit through transferable skills that promote work ethics – apart from the simple joys of a dynamic workout at the gym.
Elements of acrobatics training
Somersaults
One of the most common acrobatic moves is the somersault. It is a 360-degree flip with the acrobat’s feet going over the head. Somersaults are performed backward, forwards, as well as sideways. The executions can be both aerial and ground-based.
Cartwheels
Cartwheels are acrobatic exercises that use both hands and feet to move sideways in an arc. This handspring movement resembles an actual cartwheel, with the legs moving over the body when the acrobat balances on both hands. The alternating hand-feet rotation ends with the acrobat finally standing upright. Cartwheeling forms the basics of elaborate flips and jumps that all converge at a singular standing point on the ground.
Butterfly Kicks
Martial arts such as taekwondo and capoeira include the butterfly kick. An acrobat springs into a jump with both legs swinging in athletic precision while the torso remains mostly stationary. There are different variations of a butterfly kick, and they all conclude at a standstill position, making the act seem natural and effortless.
Handstands
A handstand is a balancing act that involves keeping your body vertical and still as you balance on both hands. Beginners usually practice handstands against a wall for support. They are quite common in circus performances and dance routines that form balancing hierarchies like pyramids. The top-tier acrobats often do handstands before spiraling into more complex stunts.
Headsprings
A headspring is an extension of the basic somersault. You land on your head as well as both hands while somersaulting in a stand-up position. This creates momentum to move in longer sequences, allowing acrobatic groups to rehearse and launch into airborne stunts.
Aerial silks
These are more advanced forms of acrobatic stunts based on aerial suspension. A typical aerial silk performance includes an athlete balancing on a suspended fabric. There are no supportive backup lines, and acrobats require exhaustive training and safety procedures before qualifying for independent routines. Different climbs, wraps, and drops are incorporated into the stunts. Aerial silks are choreographed against gravity. The performances have a simplistic yet graceful feel to them, forming creative dance strategies on stage.
USA Gymnastics – The National Governing Body
Objectives
USA Gymnastics governs gymnastic and acrobatic sports throughout the United States. Its training programs establish national teams that compete for championships and the Olympic glory. The organization’s committees support interested athletes with personalized materials for their pursuits.
An online Acro-Basics module is designed to help beginner coaches take their first leap into acrobatics. Judges and club owners can sign up as well. There are various recreational and competitive routes, with information regarding skill techniques, judging basics, scoring systems, and equipment essentials.
The USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Program is an initiative to guide coaches, directors, and managers. This promotes athletic opportunities for athletes by implementing industry-approved standards in existing gyms and paving the way for brand-new programs.
Gymnasts can also become introductory athlete members and join mentor clubs. These provide competitive practices to become eligible for US Gymnastics events.
USA Gymnastics University
The School of Competitive Gymnastics – Acrobatic offers four certifications to endorse trainers and set exemplary sports standards. These certifications are progressive and must be achieved one after the other.
The Instructor Certification program addresses entry-level coaches with the techniques and skills required for gymnastic and acrobatic training. Instructor-certified coaches progress to the Junior Olympic Development Coach program to learn how to train pre-team gymnasts. From here, they graduate to the Junior Olympic Team Coach certification, and then finally, the National Coach program for elite acrobatic proficiency.
Acrobatics training during COVID
Several online platforms take acrobatic training to the screen. In this way, you can continue to bridge gaps in your athletic endeavors even during lockdowns and quarantines. Two of such training providers are as follows:
AcroSports
AcroSports has an online class portal to facilitate virtual training from the comforts of your home. Using Zoom, people of all ages can connect with coaches and enjoy personalized workouts. AcroSports has mainly recreational programs, ideal for hobbyists and first-timers. You can book a class with your favorite coach; all trainers are specialized experts within toddler, teenager, and adult level acrobatics. The toddler courses open exciting venues for kids at home to add some exercise and locomotion for staying active. These include imaginative plays and dance parties to make the whole training a fun experience.
MasterClass
MasterClass provides a top-notch online learning opportunity as it brings you content from the leading experts and celebrities in those fields. MasterClass with Simone Biles makes a truly electrifying gymnastic program for fans of this iconic athlete. It is a resourceful guide to master gymnastic fundamentals by watching bite-sized video tutorials. They include tips and advice from Simone Biles as she explains her techniques to shape a head-strong vision for any beginner.
