Rhythmic vs. Artistic Gymnastics? ?

Question

I was an artistic gymnastics for a while so I understand the flexibility, balance, dedication AND strength involved. But I was watching the rhythmic gymnastics in the olympics and I don't fully understand the sport. It looks stupid and is the same thing as artistic gymnastics except without the tumbling and the girls are skinnier. Whats the point? It is just dance, with random objects, it reminds me of a marching band's band dancers.

Answer 1

omg, if u really did rhythmic, it takes a lot of skill and flexibility and athletesism just like artistic.  

Answer 2

I think in lieu of meeting certain requirements of specific skills, the movements have become unnatural.  It brings down the overall viewing pleasure of the routines.

Answer 3

can you touch your head to your but? well all of them can. i'm biased because i do rhythmic.. at a horribly lower standard than the people you saw. but it's not just dance.

artistic may have a balance beam, we have clubs, rope, hoop, ball, ribbon. and then you find interesting and usually painfully complicated ways to use them whilst completing elements: flexibilities (tonneaus, illusions, penches- prmenades, galinas, timmochenkos) balances (ring, sidemount, slow turns) pivots (passe, foute, sidemount pivots, penche, ring etc) and leaps (split, split ring, straddle jump, ring etc.)

all of which are extremly difficult the more rotations you do the more back work you put into it and the more you do in a row.

its sort of like a artistic floor routine- except no sprung floor so its harder to get elevation. you have to be more flexible to compete at such a high standard- most can put one leg on on chair another on a differen chair and then push down to the ground or even more.

you also have to throw the aparatus- the more rotations, elements or leaps you put with the throw the more points you can get, and the harder elements you do the more possible points. you get deducted for not fully doing a pivot (basically your entire routine is written on a sheet of paper and handed to the judges and they tick if you do them completely right and deduct for eg incomplete pivot (only half way round, or leg not straight or dropped throw) you also get deducted if the apparatus isnt moving right- i.e. the spiral (or serpents ) in the ribbon have to be extremely tight... small circles and the ribbon off the ground. your apparatus is like an extension of your body.

they are not always "just skinnier". nastia liukin is probably the same weight/ size as them. that one of the reasons i think she looks so good, 'cause you can see her knees are straight and her oes pointed and she looks really elegant. they are probably very skinny, but also its the way their bodies are shaped- coaches often pick the gymnasts to join the elite squads because they have the shape that can be molded into beautiful flexibilities- long legs and flexible legs/ back.

we arent allowed to tumble but we do walkovers and other acrobatic type moves which are just as spectacular when you really get to see them- e.g. galinas

for me i think it is just as hard, if not more, than artistic gymnastics. artistic gymnasts end up doing the same thing on 3 apparatus basically- beam floor and vault... just flipping. and the dancing and presetation on the floor just looks rather horrible- its only the tumbling that makes it interesting- bar nastia who actually had some rhythmic quality to her routine. for rhythmic- you get to do all different difficulties in different routines with the 4 different apparatus...

also in groups- you have toco-ordinate with 4 other people on the floor- 10 clubs on the floor at one time is a crapload to be thinking about and to pull it off is amazing. if you look at the intricacy of the choreography you'd be as spell bound as me. in all- rhythmic gymnasts train as much if not more than artistic gymnasts, artistic hasjust had more popularity because its more known, and the males like to show off their muscles.

Answer 4

Perhaps you could give it a try before insulting it?  There is a lot of flexibility, balance, dedication and strength involved in rhythmic gymnastics as well.  

Just because you do not understand something, does not make it stupid-it makes you ignorant (in the true definition of the word, I am not trying to be insulting).

Answer 5

wow that comment was intelligent (not)

Answer 6

Last time I checked Jump roping and hulla hooping wasn't a sport but... what do you know......???..... it is.... I think it's ridiculous.

Answer 7

Believe me, they move a whole lot faster than the marching band dancers and lighter too...