Abduction: Hip abduction is pushing the knees outward. Shoulder abduction is raising the arms overhead by moving the hands out to the side.

       Adduction: Hip adduction is bringing the knees together. Shoulder adduction is pressing the arms downward while out to the side.

       Aerial
A stunt in which the gymnast turns completely over in the air without touching the apparatus with his or her hands.

       All-Around
A category of gymnastics that includes all of the events. The all-around champion of an event earns the highest total score from all events combined.

       Amplitude
The height or degree of execution of a movement. In general, the higher the salto or the more breathtaking the movement, the better the amplitude and the score.

       Apparatus
One of the various pieces of equipment used in gymnastics competitions.

       Arabesque  Similar to a scale, except with the chest up 

       Arch Position
The body is curved backwards.

       Back-in, Full-out
A double salto with a full twist (the complete twist performed during the second salto).

       Block: The term "block" in gymnastics is typically used to describe a rapid rebounding off of the floor or apparatus with the arms. The block comes from the shoulders exploding towards extension.

       Bridge  Holding the body in an arched-back position 

       Center of Gravity/COG: The center of gravity is the point around which a body will rotate assuming no external forces are currently being applied. The location of the COG in a person varies depending on several factors. Typically a male's COG is a bit higher than a female's COG.

       Code of Points
The official FIG rulebook for judging gymnastics skills.

       Compulsories
Pre-designed routines designating specific movements required of all gymnasts.

       Composition
The structure of a gymnastics routine. Each individual movement or skill is a building block; the arrangement of the moves in the exercise is called the composition of the routine.

     Concentric muscle contraction: A concentric contraction is when a muscle shortens while contracting. Pushing up to handstand from a headstand is an example.
 

     Counter Turn: Counter turn is most often used to describe the turning of the hips against the direction of a double leg circle. When a gymnast is in the 12:00 position (legs straight in front of them) their hips should be turned in the opposite direction of their circle. Eg for a clockwise circle their right hip will be higher than their left. This enables the gymnast to extend and drive their heels for the completion of the circle. It enables a much stronger circle, and allows for spindles to be performed dynamically.
 

       Deduction
Points taken off a gymnast's score for errors. Most deductions are pre-determined, such as a 0.5 deduction for a fall from an apparatus or a 0.1 deduction for stepping out of bounds on the floor exercise.

       Dismount
To leave an apparatus at the end of a routine; usually done with a difficult twist or salto.

     Eagle Grip/L Grip: In an eagle grip a gymnasts hands are turned 180 degrees outward from an over grip. Thumbs are turned out, but in the opposite direction of an under grip. This position requires flexible shoulders to swing comfortably.
 

     Eccentric muscle contraction: An eccentric contraction is when a contracting muscle lengthens. An example is lowering into a straddle L from a handstand.
 

     Events: The 4 women's events in gymnastcs are Floor, Uneven Bars, Beam, Vault. The 6 mens events are Floor, Pommel Horse, Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, High Bar.
 

       Execution
The performance of a routine. Form, style, and technique used to complete the skills constitute the level of execution of an exercise. Bent knees, poor toe point and an arched or loosely-held body position are all examples of poor execution.

       Extension/Flexion: Extension of a joint is moving toward straightness. Flexion is the opposite. Eg total flexion of your knee is when your heels are in contact with your rear. In the case of the shoulders, extension is pushing your arm away from your torso as when doing a handstand and pushing your feet as high as possible.
 

       FIG
The International Federation of Gymnastics is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and is responsible for the governance of the sport of gymnastics on the international level.

       Flexibility
The range of motion through which a body part can move without feeling pain.

       Flic-Flac
Also known as a flip-flop or back handspring. Take off on one or two feet, jump backwards onto hands and land on feet. This element is used in a majority of tumbling passes on the floor exercise. It's also used a great deal on the balance beam.

       Full-in, Back-out
A double salto with a full twist (the complete twist performed during the first salto).

       Gaylord
On high bar, a front giant into a one-and-one-half front salto over the bar to regrasp. First done by U.S. gymnast Mitch Gaylord.

       Giant
A swing in which the body is fully extended and moving through a 360 degree rotation around the bar.

       Half-in, Half-out
A double salto with a half twist on the first salto and a half twist on the second salto.

       Handspring
Springing off the hands by putting the weight on the arms and using a strong push from the shoulders; can be done either forward or backward; usually a linking movement.

       Kip
Movement from a position below the equipment to a position above, usually on the uneven bars, parallel bars or high bar.

       Layout position
A stretched body position, straight or slightly arched.

       Olympic order
The international competition order that is decided by the FIG. Olympic order for women is vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.
Men compete in the following order: floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. Olympic order for rhythmic gymnasts is rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon.

       Optionals
Personally-designed routines which show the gymnast to the best advantage.

       Pike Position
Body bent forward more than 90 degrees at the hips while the legs are kept straight.

       Pirouettes
Changing direction or moving in a circular motion by twisting in the handstand position.

       Possé Standing on one foot, the other leg is bent, toes on the knee 

       Release
Leaving the bar to perform a move before re-grasping it.

       Relevé Standing on high toe 

       Round-off
A dynamic turning movement, with a push-off on one leg, while swinging the legs upward in a fast cartwheel motion into a 90 degree turn. The lead-off to a number of skills.

       Routine
A combination of stunts displaying a full range of skills on one apparatus.

       Salto
Flip or somersault, with the feet coming up over the head and the body rotating around the axis of the waist.

       Scissors
A combination requirement in a competitive routine on the pommel horse which combines cuts and undercuts. It begins in a stride support and ends in an opposite stride support.

       Sequence
Two or more positions or skills which are performed together creating a different skill or activity.

       "Stick" landing
Slang term used for when a gymnast executes a landing with correct technique and no movement of the feet.

       Tuck
A position in which the knees and hips are bent and drawn into the chest; the body is folded at the waist.

       Twist
Not to be confused with a salto, a twist occurs when the gymnast rotates around the body's longitudinal axis, defined by the spine.

       Virtuosity
The artistry, or the degree of rhythm and harmony, displayed while a movement is executed. In general, the more flowing and seamless a series of skills appears to be, the greater the virtuosity and the higher the score.

       Yurchenko Vault
Round-off entry onto the board, flic-flac onto the horse and one of the following off the horse: layout, full twist, one-and-a-half twist or double twist.