What is Wheel Gymnastics?
At the German Wheel Club we teach German and Cyr Wheel gymnastics.
But what are German and Cyr Wheel?
German and Cyr Wheel acts are used in circus and theatre performances all around the world. Both wheels will develop your balance, core and body strength, build your confidence and challenge you, teach teamwork whilst having fun.
German Wheel - Rhoenrad
The German Wheel (also known as Rhoenrad) is made up of two huge metal hoops held together with crossbars.
The size of the hoops depend on the gymnast’s height. Performers can roll in a straight line, spin on the spot and jump on and off the wheel. Imagine it like a human sized hamster wheel.
A bit of history, the German Wheel originated in Germany (as the name suggests) and is known there as Rhoenrad. Otto Feick made the first wheel by connecting two iron hoops with crossbars from his grandfather's blacksmith shop and used it to roll down the hill. This was the inspiration for the German Wheel he made and patented as gymnastics and sports equipment in 1925.
Today, wheel gymnastics is a sport that turns the world upside down. World championship are held every year, alternating between individual and team sports.
Cyr Wheel
Cyr is a single metal hoop that a gymnast uses to spin or swirl continuously. It looks like a dance with acrobatic elements.
Cyr Wheel was created by Daniel Cyr (hence the name) as a circus performing device. You can see Cyr acts in circus and theatre performances all around the world, from small productions to Cirque du Soleil.
It also became a sport and is part of the Wheel Gymnastics World Championships. This is quite unique, as normally, sports become performance acts, but things happened in reverse for Cyr Wheel.
Gymnasts compete in technical and artistic competitions.
Cyr Wheel is harder to learn than the German Wheel, but don’t let that put you off, it’s lots of fun
Wheels in Action
German Wheel classes
Cyr Wheel Classes