TUMBLING

execution of acrobatic movements such as rolls, twists, handsprings, or somersaults on floor mats or on the ground. The activity goes back to ancient times as that part of acrobatics done without apparatus. Tumbling was performed by traveling bands of entertainers in the European Middle Ages and later by circus and stage performers. Once an international competitive sport, it has been superseded by gymnastics and has gravitated to high-school and age-group competition in the United States, Canada, and some European countries. Competition in the United States is governed by the Amateur Athletic Union. A modern competitive routine consists of three or four series, or trips down the mat, one of which must demonstrate backward moves, another forward moves, and another twisting skills. The mats are arranged in rows 60 feet (18.2 m) long and 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) wide. Tumblers may rest briefly between series but may take no more than two minutes for the entire performance, including rests. Although competitive activity has diminished, tumbling still enjoys worldwide popularity as a gymnastic developmental exercise and forms an integral element of gymnastic floor exercises.