MAG Saluting/Bowing

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Men's Artistic Gymnastics

skschlag

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So, I see all of this at meets. At the end of a routine, the boys stick (hopefully), finish, then they either salute or bow (and some of them do both!) Is there a reasoning behind the differences? Is one preferred over the other? What does your team do?

Our boys salute with one raised arm to the judge. That is the end of their routine.
 
Someone please answer. I was wondering this too when I was watching a boys meet last week.
 
Both arms up signals the end of the routine. After that, the bow or one-arm raise is an option to acknowledge the judge, but it is not required. Usually it is whatever the coach has taught you. (and what his coach taught him) If your coach's coach was amazed by the Japanese teams of the mid seventies - then your kid may end up bowing to the judge. But, even though my coach idolized the '72 team, we all saluted with one-arm. He felt that the cultural significance of the bow (to the Japanese) was to important for us to appropriate and copy.
 
Our boys bow. I vividly remember last year when the program director devoted about 45 minutes of one practice to refining the boys' saluting and bowing technique.
 
When my DS was on team, they did one arm salute and one arm at the end of the routine.
 
My son bows. I feel like he use to do the one are salute but not sure. I will have to look at old videos.
 
Our gym does a manly version of the girls salute because she have a new coach but before that we did one hand! (In Australia)
 
Our rabbi, with whom DH and I are FB friends, made a pretty snarky comment about the one-arm salute common on the podium, LOL . . .
 


In my opinion....
1. Prior to routine; Raise one arm for permission from superior judge to step onto the "event podium" (the FX/PH-M/SR/PB/HB matted area and V runway. Stay off the mats until signaled by judge with a green flag/light or a definite signal.

2. Interruption during routine (a fall) - You have 30 seconds to chalk and resume. Again - request permission to resume (you may speak with your coach during this period).

3. Conclusion; at landing come to a complete stand with BOTH arms up. Lower the arms to a standing posture - then you should step and turn (NOT wiggle around on your closed feet while standing - OR WORSE, only twist the head around while raising the arm(s)) to again face the judge. It's personal preference to raise one, or both hands/arms - or to slightly bow (the Japanese men of the late 60s and 70s - and the Russians too followed the example) did this with such grace and respect - this is the one that I favor). Here is a 2004 Athens Olympics video of Alexi Nemov on HB that shows a typical finish (if not a perfect stick)...
 
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My son says that he salutes (one arm).

It was funny, at a recent competition a little boy was doing his first competition. Before that he had only been to his sister's competitions. So on the podium he did the 2 armed salute for his first award. After that he swapped to one arm. :p
 
It was funny, at a recent competition a little boy was doing his first competition. Before that he had only been to his sister's competitions. So on the podium he did the 2 armed salute for his first award. After that he swapped to one arm. :p

Good job his sister wasn't a rhythmic gymnast!
 

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