May's Skill of the Month - The Round Off

The Round Off is one of the most common tumbling skills in both men’s and women’s gymnastics. It is mainly used to shift power from a forward run into backward tumbling, but it is also used on the Balance Beam and Vault.

Round Offs begin with a hurdle where the dominant leg is bent and lifted. The gymnast then reaches forward with the arms and legs through Lunge and kicks as if starting a Cartwheel. While upside down, the gymnast’s legs come together and the hands push off the floor to land on 2 feet facing the direction from which the skill came.

Next Month: The Chin Up