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What types of skills are performed on the horizontal bar?

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The horizontal bar is a men's artistic gymnastics apparatus that requires significant strength and coordination. Routines typically last between 15 and 30 seconds and feature a variety of technical skills:1

  • Upstarts: Movements where the gymnast swings from a hang to a support position above the bar.1
  • Giant circles: Rotations performed around the bar with the arms fully extended, often incorporating inverted or dislocated grips and changes in direction.1
  • Release moves: Skills involving vaulting over the bar, releasing the grip, and regrasping the bar.1
  • Body movements: Various maneuvers requiring turns and changes in body position while on the apparatus.1
  • Finishes: The routine concludes with dismounts, such as straddles over the bar or forward and backward somersaults.1

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