The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Gymnasts flex, flip this weekend at UTech

Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

Potential gymnastic stars will display their spins, flips and swings at the 11th staging of the Gym Stars Invitational Tournament scheduled for the University of Technology (UTech) Gymnasium on Saturday and Sunday.

The event, hosted by Ishimoto's School of Gymnastics, will feature six sessions over the two days. On Saturday, the tournament will start at 10:00 a.m. with a level one competition featuring students at the beginners level. The second session will feature an inter-school competition followed by level two and three events, and the final session for advanced individuals at 4:30 p.m.

Physical strength

On Sunday, the tournament will kick off at noon with the Jamaica Amateur Gymnastics Association level two and three and level A and B open events.

The Ishimoto Gymnastic School, which was started 12 years ago, is hosting the competition with the intention of growing the sport in Jamaica. According to Yasunori Ishimoto, founder of the school, gymnastics is fundamental for the development of body and mind and is good for other sports.

Physical strength

"Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, agility and coordination," he said. "Children as young as two years old and adults can become involved. We want to let people know that gymnastics is alive and well in Jamaica."

Ishimoto stated that over 170 persons have registered for the tournament, with more than 30 competitive gymnasts down to participate.

The modern form of gymnastics typically involves exercises on uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault (for women), and high bar and parallel bars, still rings, floor exercise, vault, and pommel horse (for men). It evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks, including skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and circus performance skills.

The tournament at UTech should be a mixture of competition and fun, as participants will be judged on routine on all levels to see if they incorporate the basic rules and perform with consistency.