Men’s rhythmic gymnastics (MRG) is a sport invented in Japan nearly 70 years ago that combines calisthenics and elements of Swedish, German, and Danish gymnastics …
MRG was made an official event at the National Sports Festival held in 1947, and the All-Japan Intercollegiate Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships started in 1949 (All-Japan Inter-High Championships were introduced in 1952).
There are two variations of MRG, individual (where gymnasts perform solo with one of four apparatus) and team, which focuses on tumbling, flexibility, balance, and synchronization.
Today there are nearly 2,000 men’s rhythmic gymnasts active in Japan, from junior clubs with students as young as five up through top universities like Aomori, Hanazono, Kokushikan, and others
Neal Courter is a past USA Gymnastics Collegiate national title holder on both Floor and Vault for William and Mary. Neal was a Nissen Emery Award Finalist in 2017.
An article in The Detroit News looks back at Larry Nassar’s life and medical career. Trying to understand how he came to become “one of the most sought-after physicians in the gymnastics world“.
How were so many gymnasts, parents and coaches fooled?
Now that FIG has adopted a form of Parkour / Free Running, some nations will start to formalize the activity. That’s a good thing. Many kids doing Parkour training at Gymnastics clubs are not as safe as they should be.