Gymnastic Rings

Gymnastics rings are used in male gymnastics for routines and exercise. In competition, men perform a routine for a panel of judges for an overall score. As each gymnast has their own styles and personalities that shine through on their routines, each routine will vary vastly. During routines, men can use a variety of moves to form an entertaining and strategic routine. Every ring routine must contain a swing and handstand both to the front and to the back. To do this, takes a tremendous amount of skill.

Other moves that can be completed on the rings include flyaways, presses, swings, handstands, turns, shifts, balances, and strength exercises. There are other techniques and moves that can be completed but they take time and experience to perfect. These include malteses, victorians, and nakayamas.

Simple exercises can be done to gain strength and work on technique. By doing swings slowly, you gain control, muscle strength, and your technique will improve drastically. Holding handstands for long periods of time will familiarize the gymnast with the feeling of being upside down on the rings as well as building muscle strength in the arms. Supports can help the gymnast greatly.

While having to hold their strength in a handstand, they must also turn the rings which increases difficulty and technique. The gymnast can also use the rings to do well known exercises such as pull ups, crunches, and leg lifts.

Always remember to keep a lot of pressure on the rings at all times. If slack is let to the cables, serious injury can occur to the gymnast. The gymnast should always monitor how they exit the rings, turn their wrists, and wing their hips in order to insure the safety of the gymnast. Never place feet inside the rings at any time as it can result in serious injury or damage to the rings.

Whenever working on the rings, remember to keep your arms straight, unless doing a controlled bend. Leading with the heels in a swing will maximize your swing control as well as helping with not letting the rings swing with you. If you are not comfortable with the rings, do not ever attempt any moves alone. Whenever exercising or training on the rings, always remember to have a spotter with you. Do not over use the rings as you can cause stress injuries as well as muscles to be pulled.

Whenever considering purchasing rings for your home. Always make sure the clearance of your ceiling is high enough for you to safely do moves without injury. The regulation measurements of the rings consists of a 575 centimeters tall ring tower, cables 300 centimeters long, and the rings 50 centimeters apart.

As in most homes, these measurements cannot be met; you will want to pay close attention to the height of your ring tower. Some home ring sets have a base and a top with the cables anchored to the top but they can be more expensive. The home ring sets can cost anywhere from $20 to $500 if they are bought brand new. Used rings can be much less expensive but the quality may not be as good depending on the seller bought from.

When installing your rings at home, make sure that the rings are secure and can easily hold your weight. Making sure the cables and rings are straight and firmly attached; double check every piece of your gymnastic ring equipment. Whenever performing on these rings, remember to use safety equipment like grips or chalk to insure your safety. Remember to have a mat underneath the rings in case of a fall.