APPROACH TO A BIOMECHANICAL PROFILE OF DISMOUNTS AND RELEASE REGRASP SKILLS OF THE HIGH BAR

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, 70 dismounts and release-regrasp movements on the high bar were selected from films gathered with three synchronized cameras during the compulsory and the optional men's hig h bar competition. The skills were classified into 10 groups depending on the direction of rotation, body configuration, and flight projecti on. Kinematic variables were used to profile the movement groups. Stat istically significant differences between the groups were identified b y ANOVA. Three groups with significant differences in terms of the max imum values and the locations of the maxima could be differentiated. T hese were (a) backward rotating swings with an increase of rotation (e .g., overgrip giant swing-triple backward tuck somersault dismount), ( b) backward rotating swings with a change of the direction of rotation (e.g., overgrip giant-Tkatchov straddle), and (c) forward rotating sw ings with an increase or a decrease of rotation (e.g., undergrip giant swing-Jaeger somersault).