What is tumbling?

Tumbling is an essential part of sideline and competitive cheerleading, and is a staple in almost every cheerleading routine that is performed today. Cheerleading routines often include tumbling passes done by several team members in sync, and also individual power passes. Tumbling moves that are used by today's cheerleading teams include the cartwheels, roundoffs, handsprings, tucks and fulls.

History of Tumbling

Tumbling got its roots from gymnastics, not in cheerleading. In gymnastics, tumbling routines are part of a gymnasts' floor exercise including dance moves. Tumbling, as part of gymnastics, was first used as a part of training porgram for other sports and activities. Gymnastics proved itself to be a high powered sport and goes to the Olympics. Tumbling has evolved as its own event like cheerleading and dance. It was in the 1920s that females first joined cheerleader squads, and they brought tumbling along with them. In the 1970s, men's tumbling focused on strength and power, and women's routines were judged by their grace and delicate movements. Tumbling has gotten so popular that both women and men exhibit power.