Difference between Gymnastics and Acrobatics. Gymnastics is often considered very similar to acrobatics, but there are significant differences between them in various contexts. What are these differences?
What is Gymnastics?
Contemporary gymnastics is primarily understood as a sport that involves competitions among athletes who perform various exercises with special apparatus such as rings, parallel bars, and vaulting horses. Typically, athletes are scored based on their performance in these exercises when they participate in official competitions.
Gymnasts primarily rely on their strength to perform fundamental exercises. If they lack strength, the effectiveness and quality of their performance will be low. However, in some cases, gymnasts also need to demonstrate agility, which is an attribute associated with another discipline – acrobatics.
What is Acrobatics?
The term “acrobatics” corresponds to a specific branch of gymnastics. It involves athletic activities and performances that primarily focus on exercises emphasizing agility, as mentioned earlier. Additionally, acrobatics places importance on skills such as jumping, balancing, and strength, much like gymnastics in general.
Acrobatics can be a part of sports gymnastics or even circus gymnastics. Key elements of competitive acrobatics include exercises involving jumps, rolls, and somersaults. Circus performers, on the other hand, are capable of performing a wide range of acrobatic tricks, often accompanied by activities such as juggling and horseback riding.
Comparison
The main difference between gymnastics and acrobatics lies in the fact that the former encompasses a broader range of activities, relying on both strength and agility, whereas the latter specifically focuses on exercises emphasizing agility. Acrobatics is an integral part of modern gymnastics, whether in the context of sports or circus performances. In many cases, the exercises within these categories complement each other.
