Author(s): MURAYAMA, D., Institution: KYOTO UNIVERSITY OF ADVANCED SCIENCE, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 967

INTRODUCTION:
This exploratory study examines movement skill acquisition in gymnastics through the theoretical framework of ecological dynamics, with particular emphasis on the role of functional adaptive variability in achieving consistent performance outcomes. According to Davids et al. (2012), even in highly stable athlete–environment relationships such as gymnastics, performance conditions require a degree of variability in compensatory movement patterns. From this perspective, consistent performance outcomes do not require invariant movement patterns; rather, they depend on the athlete’s capacity to flexibly reorganise movement behaviour in response to subtle perturbations. This adaptive capacity, referred to as functional adaptive variability, has been reported not only in early learning stages but also among advanced performers, where it supports adaptability rather than inconsistency.
METHODS:
Five female university gymnasts performed five consecutive kip-to-handstands on the uneven bars. Successful execution was defined as transitioning from the kip to a stable handstand position; deviations from the handstand position or falls were recorded as failures. Five different uneven bar configurations were implemented: the standard practice bar, increased bar slipperiness, modified bar compliance, modified bar height, and equipment from another venue. Success rates were measured across environmental conditions and after the practice sessions.
In addition to success rates, two experienced coaches assessed functional adaptive variability in terms of situational adaptability and solution diversity. This qualitative assessment was included to provide a descriptive evaluation of movement changes that could not be captured solely by outcome-based success rates.
RESULTS:
The results showed a 16% increase in the success rate of kip-to-handstand compared to before the various environmental changes were introduced, suggesting improvements in situational adaptability and solution diversity. Situational adaptability reflected flexibility in selecting functional movement solutions according to situational constraints rather than reproducing a single correct movement pattern. Solution diversity indicated an increased capacity to employ alternative movement solutions depending on bodily states and environmental conditions.
CONCLUSION:
This study presents practice design examples aimed at enhancing situational adaptability and solution diversity in relatively high-level artistic gymnasts. From an ecological dynamics perspective, consistency is reconceptualised not as sameness of movement but as the ability to achieve stable performance outcomes across varying conditions. This reconceptualisation has important implications for skill acquisition research, coaching study, and the long-term development of gymnasts.