Gummi-Gumi is an excellent way to develop motor skills, coordination of movements and strengthen muscles. This dynamic game requires the activation of the whole body and involves cognitive effort through the counting machines used during the game. Its diversity and numerous possibilities make it extremely interesting and dynamic. There are many variations, but the game usually involved at least three girls, two of whom hold the gummi tight while the third performs a series of movements that gradually become more complicated. It is interesting that gummi gummi has a really long tradition. Namely, this game originated in the early seventh century in China, and gained worldwide popularity in the sixties in America and Europe.
Required: an elastic band, one to two centimeters thick and at least four meters long.
Goal: to perform the entire game, with all steps from low-level tasks (at ankle height) to those with raised hands.
Rules: Each variation of the Gummi-Gumi game is played through several levels of gum height. The gum is placed from the ankles to the height of the palms with the arms outstretched above the head. The player performs movements at each level and moves on to the next only after successfully completing the previous one without making a mistake. If he makes a mistake, he is out of the game and is replaced by one of those holding the gum. The winner is the one who successfully completes all levels first. The game is often played with counters that determine the rhythm and tempo of the tasks. Among the counter games, the most famous are English, Belgian/Dutch, German, American and Japanese school. In each school there are “classes” with certain tasks that must be completed. And of course, just like in a real school, each new level is harder and more complicated than the previous one. For beginners, Belgian school is an excellent choice. It is relatively easy to perform and has eight classes, i.e. eight tasks that must be completed to win.
1st grade: the player stands sideways to the placed tire and jumps over the edge of the closer tire with one foot. Then jumps and returns to the starting position.
2nd grade: the player stands sideways to the placed tire and jumps over the edge of the tire further away with one foot. Then jumps and returns to the starting position.
3rd grade: the first and second are connected – from the side position, jump to the first, return to the starting position, jump to the second, further tire and return to the starting position.
4th grade: jumps sideways with both feet at once inside the tires and returns to the first position with the same movement.
Grade 5: Jump with your feet apart, each on one side of the tire. Return to the starting position from one jump.
6th grade: from a side position, jump so that both feet land on the tires with their full length, and then jump to the starting position.
7th grade: the player repeats all the actions listed in tasks 4, 5, and 6 without returning to the starting position between tasks.
Grade 8: The last exercise requires a bit more skill. In the jump, the player grabs the rubber band between their legs with their feet so that the heel of the front foot touches the toes of the back foot and returns to the starting position.
