International Terminology of Acrobatic Gymnastics
II. Balance
3. Footstands
- Footstand are balance elements in which the top is standing on and is held by the base on two feet or on one foot. Based on the orientation of the body in the footstand, there are different categories of footstands:
- Category A: Regular stand(s) on two feet.
- Category B: Standing Backbends/Arch on two feet.
- Category C: Stands on one leg but with no splits: Front Scales, Backscales and Arabesques.
- Category D: “Scorpions”: Standing Splits, standing on the front leg (like in a “Needle”), in which the back leg is held up backwards in extension, either by strength or by gripping the leg while the upper body is held upwards; it is like a split on the floor with the back bend backwards to the back leg, just in a standing position, so that the back leg points up like the sting of a Scorpion.
- Category E: Standing Splits, standing on the back leg, in which the front leg is held up sideways, either passively with gripping it or actively held up by sheer strength.
- Category F: “Needles” are another form of standing splits standing on the front leg, in which the back leg is held up actively; but opposite to the Scorpion the upper body is not arched back, but in a front-fold, pike position; which makes it much easier to keep the back leg up.
- Category G: One footed Backbends/Arches are similar to Scorpions, but held standing on the back leg, then arched backwards looking towards at least the ceiling or the floor.