Dominant Movement Patterns

Knowledge of the Dominant Movement Patterns (DMPs)

The Dominant Movement Pattern (DMP) is a framework for classifying gymnastics activities into a small number of reoccurring movement patterns that helps to simplify the teaching of gymnastics.

The 6 DMPs are landings, locomotions: rotation: spring: statics and swing. A large range of activities can be used within the gymnastics lessons to assist with the development of gymnastics movement patterns.

The DMPs are the building blocks for more complex skills. Skills may have multiple DMPS within. For example the DMPs relevant to learning a log roll are statics and rotation. Activities that help develop both the static shape (rocket) and rotation (side roll) help the participant learn the log roll.

Dominant Movement Pattern – Statics

Statics is a term used to describe any activity that uses a still or stationary body position. These still positions should be mastered at floor.

They include:

• Body tension basics – developing muscular control and the ability to keep the body and core tight
• Balances – teaches participants about body control and centre of gravity
• Supports (front, back and side) – fundamental static positions that are a pre-requisite for any rotation and/or inversion activity, such as forward rolls and handstands
• Handstand activities – where the participants support their body weight upside down on their hands. Participants must be able to manage their body while inverted before progressing to the full handstand

Dominant Movement Pattern – Locomotion

Locomotion refers to a movement pattern from one point to another either forwards, sidewards or backwards e.g., galloping, skipping,

Locomotions include:

Walking on a height – more challenging walking locomotion on a beam or height either forwards, backwards or sideways

Running – short run up for a vault or jump

Animal walks – inverted locomotion activities that assist with coordination, supporting body weight in movement and ultimately the development of handstands

Dominant Movement Pattern – Rotation

Rotation describes activities where participants turn around different body axes. For example, rotations can be on the lateral axis (e.g., forward roll) on on the longitudinal axis (e.g., log rolls or turning jumps) or the medial axis (e.g., cartwheels). Participants should be able to support their own body weight.

Rotation includes:

Turns – the action of rotating around a longitudinal axis, including walking or jumping turns

Cartwheels – a weight bearing action where, through the medial axis participants pass through an inverted body position.

Safety rolls – activities or rolls where the emphasis s on safe landing positions. Participants learn how to land in upright or controlled falling positions and exit safely through a rotation shape that helps protect their body as the impact is absorbed and distributed safely. . Participants should learn how to land safely when moving forwards, backwards, sideways or from raised surfaces.

Dominant Movement Pattern – Spring

Spring describes activities where the participant moves quickly of the ground. Spring can occur from feet to feet, feet to hands or hands to feet.

Spring includes:

Jumping – the action of propelling the body of the ground. Jumps can be performed singularly or in series e.g.  2-foot jumps, ½, straight jump, star jump, tuck jump and jumps in series

Springing – an explosive action where the participant moves quickly off the ground. The action should always be controlled. There should always be a controlled and safe landing.

Dominant Movement Patterns – Landings

Landings is the action of returning to the ground after performing any airborne or partially airborne activity (e.g., jumps, turns). It is important when participants do any skill, that the exit shape/position is controlled. This ensures safety on landing from any particular skill but also assists with linking one skill to the next.

Landings include:

Motor bike landing – the term referred to encourage safe landing technique when landing on feet

Prone safety landing — the action of falling in a forward safety landing position. The arms brace the fall in a controlled way. The head turns to the side in a timely manner.

Dominant Movement Pattern – Swing

Swing provides participants with the opportunity to develop key physical skills such as upper body strength. It is fundamental to developing more advanced skills for the competent participant. Ensuring safety is important including lower apparatus height or using additional matting and also ensuring controlled entry and exits to swing activities.

• Swing includes:
• Swinging in support e.g., swing on the p-bars, casts on bars
• Swing in hang e.g., glides, tuck swings, long swings