Locomotor and nonlocomotor

Bend

Non locomotor: a flex of a body part at a joint

Wiggle

Non locomotor: a small or big, fast or slow curvy movement of a body part or the whole body.

Stretch

Non locomotor: extending a body part or the whole body

Rock or Sway

Non locomotor: shift of the body weight forward, backward, side to side or in a circular pathway.

Turn

Nonlocomotor: a full rotation of the body around a vertical or horizontal axis. Full, half or quarter turns

Twist

Nonlocomotor: a partial rotation of body parts around an axis

Swing

Nonlocomotor: a pendular motion of a body part that can move forward and backward or side to side.

Shake

Nonlocomotor: a short quick vibrating movement in a body part or the whole body.

Non Locomotor Movement

These are movements that occur in the body parts or the whole body and do not cause the body to travel to another space. However, non locomotor movements can be combined with locomotor movements such as a walk and arm swing.

Locomotor movement

These are movements where the body travels through space from one location to another. These movements primarily use the feet for support however, the body can travel on other parts such as the hands and feet.

Uneven Rhythm

This is the type of locomotor movement: irregular recurrence or pattern in time; long -short movements or vice versa.

Even Rhythm

This is the type of locomotor movement: regular recurrence or pattern in time; long-long or short-short movements

Run

Type of Even Rhythm: a transfer of weight from one foot to the other however, the body is propelled into the air and suspended between run steps.

Walk

Type of Even Rhythm: a transfer of weight from one foot to the other. Usually the heel touches first.

Leap

Type of Even Rhythm: performed by pushing off from one foot and landing on the other foot. The body is suspended in the and between the push off and the landing. Can be combined with a run or walk.

Jump

Type of Even Rhythm: required the body to push off from one or both feet. Most common is a two foot take off and two foot landing. A jump can take off on one foot and land on two or take off from two feet and land on one foot.

Hop

Type of Even Rhythm: requires a push-off from one foot and landing on the same foot.

Skip

Type of Uneven Rhythm: A combination of a step and a hop on the same foot followed by a step and hop on the other foot. The rhythm is uneven long -short. Long (the step) and short (the hop).

Gallop

Type of Uneven Rhythm: A forward movement where one foot leads while the other foot follows. The lead footsteps with a bent knee and pushes off into the air and landing on the trailing foot. The rhythm is uneven, long -short. Long (the step) and short (the landing).

Slide

Type of Uneven Rhythm: Is similar to a gallop performed with the right or left foot leading. The rhythm is uneven, long -short. Long (the step) and short (the landing).