Bewegungsform

Bewegungsform is a German term that describes the form, pattern, or mode of movement of a person, animal, or object. It emphasizes how a movement is carried out, including aspects such as direction, speed, rhythm, spatial trajectory, and coordination of body segments. The concept is used across several disciplines, from physics and biomechanics to movement education and sport science.

In physics and biomechanics, Bewegungsform denotes the type of motion that a system exhibits. In simple terms it can refer to translational (linear) motion, rotational motion, or combinations thereof; in human movement it is analyzed as kinematic patterns, such as sequence and timing of joint angles and segment motions. This usage helps describe technique, efficiency, and control.

In physical education and sport science, Bewegungsformen are often categorized to support teaching and assessment. Typical groupings include locomotive movements (for example walking, running, jumping, hopping), non-locomotor or axial movements (such as bending, stretching, twisting), and manipulative movements (throwing, catching, kicking). Movement forms may also be described by their spatial and temporal characteristics, such as fast versus slow, or stable versus dynamic balance.

The term is broad and its precise definition depends on the discipline and context. In education, it is primarily a descriptive tool for teaching and practicing movement; in engineering and physics, it is a characterization of how an object or body moves.