Pole sports

Pole sports is a competitive athletic discipline in which performers combine strength, flexibility, and acrobatic movements on a vertical pole in judged routines.

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Static pole: A pole fixed against rotation, requiring performers to generate movement through their own force. Static-pole routines test strength and control without a rotating apparatus.
International Pole Sports Federation: The international organization that governs and promotes pole sports competitions. It publishes rules and organizes major events for the sport.
Chinese pole: A circus apparatus consisting of a vertical pole used for climbing, balancing, and acrobatic performance. Its acrobatic tradition is a distinct historical influence on modern pole performance.
Exotic dance: A dance style associated with sensual movement, often performed using heels and pole-based choreography. Its performance conventions differ from the athletic presentation typical of pole-sports competition.
Spinning pole: A pole that rotates around its vertical axis when a performer applies force or shifts weight. Its rotation changes momentum and allows routines to build sustained circular movement.
Pole Sports World Championship: An international competition in which athletes perform pole-sports routines under federation rules. It is the flagship event associated with the sport's governing federation.
Mallakhamb: An Indian practice of performing gymnastic and yogic movements on a wooden pole or rope. It is an established pole-based athletic tradition with a history separate from modern competition.
Rhythmic gymnastics: A judged gymnastics discipline combining dance and apparatus manipulation, commonly with rope, hoop, ball, clubs, or ribbon. Both combine athletic skill and presentation, but rhythmic gymnastics uses handheld apparatus rather than a fixed pole.
Inversion (acrobatic technique): An acrobatic position or movement in which the body turns upside down. Inversions are foundational transitions into many suspended pole poses and combinations.
Code of Points: A rulebook that assigns values to elements and specifies how judged routines are evaluated. Its criteria translate pole-sports skills into difficulty and execution scores.