Are YOU a Gymnast?

This is a bit of a playful topic but I was thinking about this the other day. I have a lot of conversations about exercise, training etc. Sooner or later (usually sooner) we end up talking about gymnastics which inevitably leads to people asking about my gymnastics traing. So two questions for you:

1. Are you a gymnast? (or like me to you feel fraudulent to claim to be one despite thinking about nothing else most of the day).

2. If not, when do you think you will view yourself as one?

My Answers:

1. I normally say "I'm a very keen, very amateur gymnast"

2. When I have a free standing ring HS and an Iron Cross I may feel more like I'm a "real" gymnast.

Alright, I'll play.

1. No, I'm not. I feel a crazy amount of respect for the few who have dedicated themselves to gymnastics. I'm just a fitness enthusiast who loves that style of training (and I think about it most of the day too, bud).

2. I don't think I'll ever really consider myself to be one. My focus has been almost entirely on the strength part of gymnastics, and the tricks and tumbling on all the apparatus are far beyond me. I'd love to learn it, but it's unlikely I'll be able to.

I actually take it as almost as an insult when people think I am an actual gymnast! Because what I do really does not compare to what a real gymnast does! I explain that I am a recreational gymnast, and the difference.

I'm not quite sure...Hmmm Maybe when I get some skills that I think are impressive

I always say I'm not a gymnast, I just say I do gymnastics for exercise, which usually produces a response of "uhhh...okay?". But my reasoning is that since I don't compete or practice routines on different apparatus, I don't think I can call myself a real gymnast.

element3904 said:

I always say I'm not a gymnast, I just say I do gymnastics for exercise, which usually produces a response of "uhhh...okay?". But my reasoning is that since I don't compete or practice routines on different apparatus, I don't think I can myself a real gymnast.

This.

I guess my thought process if different from yalls...

I absolutely consider myself a gymnast even though I am not advanced at all.. I can't tumble and I've never touched rings, but I have spent so much of my time this past year training, reading, and researching... eating better to ultimately become stronger and push my body beyond what I thought I'd be able to do in the beginning (i even gave up my soft hands!)... I have the heart of a gymnast... and I'll meet advanced standards in the future

This is a question I've often pondered. For me the word "gymnast" conjures images of gravity-defying athletes, a standard that I am light years away from ever reaching. That isn't to say someone has to be busting out malteses and planches on the rings to be considered a gymnast, but, personally, I would only be able to consider myself a gymnast if I had been in actual competitions, trained on most of the apparatuses, and was on a team. Since I only know some basic feats on the rings, calling myself a gymnast would be like only being able to doggy-paddle and calling myself a swimmer

Usually I just call myself a "gymnastics enthusiast" or "wanna-be gymnast" when asked.

It is interesting to be asked this question. I train at a gymnastics gym (mainly tumbling and trampoline but I still get coached on other events as well), a circus school (handbalancing and some strap work), MMA at another gym, as well as swimming and ballet which I will restart in a month and my own personal trainings. I never know what to tell people. So usually I say:

1. I am just a guy with way too much free time on his hands and lacking a social life.

2. I would consider myself a gymnast when my goals are more than just the parts of gymnastics I like. When I want to obtain excellent high bar abilities, pommel horse, and parallel bar skills as well, I would consider myself a gymnast. Instead, I only take the parts that I enjoy (mainly the parts that don't need an apparatus except the rings.)

Aurele said:

Since I only know some basic feats on the rings, calling myself a gymnast would be like only being able to doggy-paddle and calling myself a swimmer

But doing the doggy-paddle IS swimming

Awesome responses so far guys, thanks all for your opinions! I hope for many more; I find it really interesting to know how people view their own training and where they are in their development.

Although I have almost no experience with high bar and vault and a little experience with parallel bars and rings, but am not half bad on floor, I guess I could say I'm a gymnast. When I talk to people, I tell them that I'm not because of the no competition or formal training parts. I do, however, consider myself an acrobat. Just not of the circus type

No, I almost always exercise whilst fully clothed. (too obscure?)

Everytime I have said i'm a gymnast the person always want me to do some crazy tumbling trick, so i try and avoid that

Primate said:

No, I almost always exercise whilst fully clothed. (too obscure?)

It is a question of being and becoming.

Becoming is the journey; being is the destination.

Have you arrived?

If anyone did ask I would be more comfortable saying that I am becoming a gymnast,

rather than that I am one at this time.

That was well said, but then again who defines what is really a gymnast?

How about google?

gym·nast/ˈjimnist/

Noun: A person trained in or skilled in gymnastics.

By doing gymnastics training are we then considered gymnasts?

A child joins a basketball team and becomes a basketball player. Are we saying that the process of becoming a gymnast is like metamorphosis? Are we tadpoles yet to become frogs?

When people ask me what i do. I say "i do gymnastics", they their like oh really cool!! where do you train? I just say, well i train gymnastics but in a normal gym, instead of lifting weights i just use my bodyweight and do gymnastics exercises like handstands and work on the rings.

Id say the ring & handstand wods make me feel like a "real" gymnast more then anything. Especially when im doing muscle ups and the average guy in the gym cant even do a proper full rom pullup. What am i saying? the average person in my gym cant even adjust the rings so they are the equal heights! It happens sooo many times it isnt even funny. lol

Ill feel more like a gymnast when i can do SLS(so close), Handstand press( so i can show everyone my awesomeness! ) and maybe something like a FL/handstand pushup and some tumbling skills 8)

Kolacz said:

That was well said, but then again who defines what is really a gymnast?

How about google?

gym·nast/ˈjimnist/

Noun: A person trained in or skilled in gymnastics.

By doing gymnastics training are we then considered gymnasts?

A child joins a basketball team and becomes a basketball player. Are we saying that the process of becoming a gymnast is like metamorphosis? Are we tadpoles yet to become frogs?

The definition just changes the question from "Am I a gymnast?" to "Do I perform gymnastics?" so it is back to square one.

Personally I do not feel honest and therefore comfortable saying that I perform gymnastics, or am trained in gymnastics at this stage. However as it is in my heart to eventually, I am comfortable telling anyone that I am becoming a gymnast.

I am also comfortable calling myself a gymnastic strength trainee.

Children in most sports are made to feel good regardless, to encourage. In many ways adult newbies are at the child level in gymnastics and might be be entitled to call themselves gymnasts the same way, although I can't say that this is particuarly encouraging

To me, after I can perform several routines showcasing a signficant set of skills of reasonable degree of difficulty with proper form and fluidity, may I consider myself as having arrived. If this happens it will happen; I must take all the time and only the time that is neccessary.

Kolacz said:

That was well said, but then again who defines what is really a gymnast?

How about google?

gym·nast/ˈjimnist/

Noun: A person trained in or skilled in gymnastics.

By doing gymnastics training are we then considered gymnasts?

A child joins a basketball team and becomes a basketball player. Are we saying that the process of becoming a gymnast is like metamorphosis? Are we tadpoles yet to become frogs?

Yeah, my origianl post wasn't so much to strike up a semantic debate about terminology.

Really looking to hear how people view themselves. Really interesting posts everyone, keep em coming

Well at least it was a friendly mini debate :/

I can only consider myself a rugby player. Actually a former one. I did well in my sport afterall, playing both top italian division and internationally for switzerland.

Not because I did 40 jumps off a plane I can call myself a skydiver...

I'm recreational racing on sunday, I've been motocrossing for years but I wouldn't say I'm a rider, I just say I go motocrossing.

I've been training gymnastic for almost a year now, I'm at a point where even advanced gymnasts are starting noting my progresses on rings. Yet I can't consider myself a gymnast in any way. To me what classifiy people as gymnasts is allround proficiency.

Let's say a benchmark of level 4 on all 6 events.

years and years of dedicated work, otherwise most people could call themselves whatever they're doing or did for a mere few months.

At least in rugby you earn the club's tie at the fiftieth cap...

A gymnast is someone who trains in some form of gymnastics (e.g. competitive, acrobatic or strength oriented); the level of proficiency is irrelevant. The example of someone who only dog paddles and an Olympic Team member both being swimmers despite the great disparity between their abilities is spot on. This essential essence is NOT dependent upon quality.

My beginning athletes are all gymnasts even though their level of skill and strength are practically non-existent. But with consistency and hard work that will change.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

I didn't dare to consider myself a gymnast, but it's great to hear that everybody who practice this exercices is.

Usage creates definitions, so if authorities like Coach Sommer refer to gymnastic strength trainees as gymnasts,

the term may stick. If Coach calls me as a gymnast I am happy to accept the compliment and work harder to live up to it!

Stil I personally feel gymnastics is not just a science but an art, and without both aspects evident it is questionable if one can be actually considered a gymnast. Gymnast-like, yes. Perhaps a poor gymnast .

Anyway a term is just a label. Does is really matter what someone calls us or what we think we are? We are what we are.

Love it or change it!

You can of course, use terms like recreational gymnast, competitive gymnast, and gymnastics (strength) enthusiast to further define yourself.

FutureisNow said:

is not just a science but an art

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