The 7 Types of Gymnastics: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

When most people hear the word “gymnastics,” they picture flips on the floor, dazzling beam routines, or powerful vaults. But gymnastics is more than just artistic moves. In fact, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) officially recognizes seven different disciplines, each with its own style, skills, and competition rules.

Let’s explore all seven.

Artistic Gymnastics (WAG & MAG)

Artistic gymnastics is the most well-known type of gymnastics, especially at the Olympics. Athletes perform short routines on different apparatuses that highlight strength, flexibility, balance, control, and artistic presentation.

Men and women compete separately with different apparatuses.

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) includes four events:

• Vault – A fast run, springboard jump, and acrobatic flip over a vault table.
• Uneven Bars – Swinging and releasing between two bars set at different heights.
• Balance Beam – A narrow 4-inch beam requiring flips, leaps, and turns with poise.
• Floor Exercise – Tumbling and dance performed to music on a spring floor.

Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) includes six events:

• Floor Exercise – Powerful tumbling passes without music.
• Pommel Horse – Continuous leg swings and circles while supporting the body on handles.
• Still Rings – Strength holds and swinging moves performed on hanging rings.
• Vault – Similar to women’s vault but often with more difficulty.
• Parallel Bars – Swinging routines on two-level bars.
• Horizontal Bar – High-flying release moves and a strong dismount off a single bar.

In the U.S., artistic gymnasts start in the USA Gymnastics Development Program. Beginners follow compulsory routines at Levels 1–5, and older athletes compete in optional routines at Level 6 and beyond.

Best for: Kids and teens who love to tumble, perform, and master challenging skills. Builds full-body strength, flexibility, and confidence.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Rhythmic gymnastics blends ballet, dance, and acrobatics—performed entirely on the floor with hand-held apparatus. There are no flips or beams here. Instead, gymnasts perform choreographed routines to music using ribbons, hoops, balls, clubs, or rope.

This discipline is only competed by women at the Olympic level and features both individual and group routines.

The five rhythmic apparatus are:

• Ribbon – Long, flowing fabric that creates spirals and circles.
• Hoop – Rolled, spun, and tossed through space with elegant patterns.
• Ball – Balanced, bounced, or rolled across the body.
• Clubs – Juggled and swung rhythmically.
• Rope – Used for skipping, swings, and footwork (mainly in junior levels).

Rhythmic gymnastics is only competed by women in the Olympics and features both individual and group events. In the U.S., rhythmic gymnastics follows its own USA Gymnastics levels, often starting at Level 3 and progressing to elite.

Best for: Girls who love dance, music, and graceful performance.

Trampoline Gymnastics (TRA)

Trampoline gymnastics is all about airtime, control, and flipping high above the ground. Athletes perform continuous routines on a competition trampoline, combining twists, somersaults, and precise landings.

There are multiple events under trampoline gymnastics:

• Individual Trampoline – A solo routine with 10 high-flying skills performed back-to-back.
• Synchronized Trampoline – Two gymnasts perform identical routines side by side.
• Double Mini-Trampoline (DMT) – Athletes sprint, jump onto a small trampoline, perform two aerial skills, and land on a mat.
• Tumbling – Fast-paced flips and twists down a spring runway (sometimes listed separately).

Trampoline gymnastics is an Olympic sport and also part of the USA Gymnastics T&T program, which helps gymnasts progress from basics like seat drops to complex twisting flips.

Best for: Kids who love jumping, flying, and feeling weightless in the air.

4. Tumbling (TUM)

Tumbling is a power-based discipline focused entirely on fast-paced flips and twists down a spring runway. There are no beams, bars, or trampolines—just explosive movement across a straight track.

Gymnasts typically perform two tumbling passes per routine:

• Each pass includes 8 connected skills, often beginning with a round-off and back handsprings into powerful flips and twists.

Tumbling is featured in both individual and team competitions and is popular in cheerleading and power acrobatics.

Best for: Athletes who enjoy fast, powerful skills without using equipment.

Acrobatic Gymnastics (ACRO)

Acrobatic gymnastics is all about teamwork and trust. Instead of working on apparatuses, gymnasts perform in pairs or groups and use each other for support, balance, and lifts. Routines combine partner stunts, dance, and tumbling.

Common group types:

• Women’s Pair
• Men’s Pair
• Mixed Pair
• Women’s Group (3 gymnasts)
• Men’s Group (4 gymnasts)

Routine types:

• Balance – Holding still poses and partner balances.
• Dynamic – Throws, catches, and flight moves.
• Combined – A mix of both.

There are no beams or bars—just choreography, synchronization, and spectacular human pyramids.

Best for: Gymnasts who love working in teams, performing stunts, and building strength and trust with others.

Aerobic Gymnastics (AER)

Aerobic gymnastics (also called sport aerobics) is a fast-paced discipline that combines gymnastics, dance, and high-intensity cardio movement. Routines are energetic, rhythmic, and packed with powerful jumps, push-ups, and choreography.

Event formats include:

• Individual (men or women)
• Mixed Pair
• Trio
• Group (up to 5 athletes)
• Aerobic Dance (8 athletes)
• Aerobic Step (uses a platform)

Routines are set to upbeat music and last about 90 seconds. Judges score athletes on difficulty, artistry, and execution.

Best for: Athletes who love high energy, fast music, and continuous movement.

Parkour (PK)

Parkour is the newest gymnastics discipline and brings street-style movement into formal competition. Athletes navigate a course filled with obstacles—vaulting, flipping, swinging, and flowing through space with creativity and control.

There are two main events:

• Speed Run – Complete the obstacle course in the fastest time possible.
• Freestyle – Create your own flow and impress judges with flips, vaults, and style.

Parkour uses walls, rails, and platforms instead of traditional equipment. It’s about adapting to the environment and expressing movement freely.

Best for: Creative athletes who enjoy running, jumping, climbing, and thinking on the fly.

Discipline	Main Focus	Men	Women	Team Formats	Olympic?
Artistic Gymnastics	Apparatus-based routines	✅	✅	Yes	✅
Rhythmic Gymnastics	Dance + apparatus (e.g., ribbon)	❌	✅	Yes	✅
Trampoline	High-flying flips and twists	✅	✅	Yes	✅ (Indiv)
Tumbling	Fast acrobatics on a spring track	✅	✅	Yes	❌
Acrobatic Gymnastics	Partner balances and lifts	✅	✅	Yes	❌
Aerobic Gymnastics	High-energy, choreographed routines	✅	✅	Yes	❌
Parkour	Freestyle and speed obstacle runs	✅	✅	Some	❌

Each discipline offers its own style and benefits, so the best choice depends on your child’s personality and interests. No matter which path they take, gymnastics helps kids grow stronger, more focused, and more confident—on and off the mat.