I was looking at a tricking video by Michael Guthrie and a bunch of tricksters. They are pretty good athletes and their ability to rocket up into the air is amazing. Then, remembering seeing some real gymnasts tumbling at competitions, I started googling tumbling videos.

As good as the tricksters are, those gymnastic tumblers are amazing. I guess the tumblers have some sort of spring loaded floor surface. However, I also admire their overall body control to keep them on that narrow path. Their body flows to where they want it to go.

Tricksters however, do not always have the benefit of a spring loaded floor, but many times they seem to be at the mercy of where their momentum takes them. Their martial arts kicks look more like flailing limbs than as if they can actually nail someone hard or accurately with it.

Wushu at least is gymnastics with martial arts looks, but their moves are much cleaner. Not as good as martial arts, not as good as gymnasts, but better gymnasts than tricking which tries to be too much of both and are neither.

All are equally impressive in terms of athleticism though as it takes a lot to do those moves. The difference I believe is in the discipline, control and the form.

Tumblers above, tricksters below.