Horizontal Bar Release Moves: Tkachev, Kovacs & Rybalko Explained

In men's artistic gymnastics, release moves on the horizontal bar are among the most spectacular and technically demanding skills a gymnast can perform. They carry enormous weight in determining a routine's D-score (difficulty score), and three skills stand out as particularly iconic at the elite level: the Tkachev, the Kovacs, and the Rybalko. While all three are staples of world-class horizontal bar routines, they differ fundamentally in their mechanics, direction of rotation, skill group classification, and difficulty value under the current Code of Points.

This article breaks down each skill from the ground up — covering the biomechanics, historical origins, difficulty ratings, notable variations, and the key changes introduced in the 2025-2028 FIG Code of Points — so that gymnasts, coaches, and fans alike can gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of these defining horizontal bar elements.

Release Moves on Horizontal Bar: Role in Scoring and Skill Group Classification

Men's artistic gymnastics is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), whose Code of Points dictates how every routine is evaluated. Each routine receives two scores: a D-score (difficulty score), which reflects the cumulative value of the skills performed and bonus points earned, and an E-score (execution score), which reflects the quality and precision of performance (see our guide to D-scores and E-scores). Maximizing the D-score requires selecting high-value skills and combining them strategically.

Horizontal bar skills are divided into four groups under the Code of Points:

• Group I: Swings, kips, giants, and turns (non-release swinging elements)
• Group II: Release moves over the bar (flight elements)
• Group III: Release moves passing through handstand
• Group IV: Dismounts

Group II release moves — in which the gymnast fully releases the bar, travels over or around it while performing rotations, and re-grasps — are the category most associated with crowd-pleasing aerial drama. Because the bar disappears from the gymnast's field of vision during the flight phase, these skills demand extraordinary spatial awareness, timing, and bar awareness. The Code of Points requires at least one Group II element to fulfill compositional requirements (CR), and most elite gymnasts include multiple release moves to maximize their D-score.

Understanding which group a skill belongs to is essential, because different groups fulfill different compositional requirements and interact differently with combination bonus (Connection Value, or C.V.) rules. As we will see, this distinction is especially important when comparing the Tkachev and Kovacs — both Group II elements — with the Rybalko, which belongs to an entirely different group.

The Tkachev — The Bar's Signature Forward Release Move at C Difficulty

The Tkachev (known in some countries, including Japan, as the "Katche") is one of the most recognized skills in gymnastics. It was first performed in international competition in 1977 by Soviet gymnast Alexander Tkachev, and in the nearly five decades since its debut, it has become arguably the most widely performed release move on horizontal bar at all competitive levels worldwide.

The base Tkachev is formally described as a straddle back salto over the bar in hang. From a forward swing, the gymnast releases the bar, straddles the legs wide, passes backward over the bar in a laid-out or slightly piked position, and re-grasps in a regular hang on the opposite side. The defining feature is the forward direction of the swing that initiates the release: the gymnast travels over the bar moving backward relative to the direction of the swing, which is the opposite of the Kovacs.

Under the 2025-2028 Code of Points, the base Tkachev is rated C difficulty (0.3 points). While this may seem modest for a release move, its true power lies in an exceptionally rich family of variations, each carrying progressively higher difficulty values:

• Tkachev (straddle): C difficulty (0.3 pts) — the original base skill
• Piatti (pike Tkachev): D difficulty (0.4 pts) — legs together in a pike position over the bar
• Lynch (Tkachev with ½ twist to handstand): D difficulty (0.4 pts)
• Moznik (layout Tkachev with ½ twist to handstand): E difficulty (0.5 pts) — first performed by Croatian gymnast Robert Moznik in 2007
• Liukin (layout Tkachev with full twist in hang): G difficulty (0.7 pts) — upgraded from F to G difficulty in the 2025-2028 Code of Points

One of the most significant updates in the 2025-2028 Code of Points for the Tkachev family is the upgrading of the Liukin from F to G difficulty. Named after Valeri Liukin of the Soviet Union (and later Kazakhstan), who first performed the layout Tkachev with a full twist in the 1980s, this upgrade substantially increases the incentive for elite gymnasts to include it in competition routines. At 0.7 points, the Liukin now rivals some of the more accessible Kovacs variations in difficulty value.

The Tkachev's family of skills also benefits strongly from combination bonus (C.V.) rules. Connecting a Tkachev (C difficulty) directly into a higher-rated release move — or combining two release moves in sequence — earns additional tenths that can meaningfully boost a routine's D-score. As a result, gymnasts often use the base Tkachev as a connection tool rather than a standalone skill, pairing it with more difficult releases to unlock bonus points.

The Kovacs — A Backward Double Salto Release and Its High-Difficulty Variations

The Kovacs is the horizontal bar skill that most dramatically illustrates the potential of release moves to push difficulty scores to their absolute limits. It was first performed in international competition in 1979 by Hungarian gymnast Péter Kovács, and it fundamentally changed what was thought possible on the horizontal bar.

The base Kovacs is described as a backward piked double salto over the bar in hang. From a powerful backward giant swing, the gymnast releases the bar, completes two full backward somersaults over the bar, and re-grasps. Unlike the Tkachev, which involves only a single rotation in a back-over direction, the Kovacs requires two complete revolutions — meaning the bar passes completely out of the gymnast's field of vision not once but twice during the flight phase. This greatly amplifies both the difficulty and the risk, which is reflected in its higher base difficulty value of D difficulty (0.4 points).

The distinction between the Tkachev and the Kovacs in terms of direction is important: the Tkachev is initiated from a forward swing and travels over the bar backward, while the Kovacs is initiated from a backward swing and travels over the bar forward. Both are Group II release moves, but they represent opposing directions of travel relative to the bar.

Where the Kovacs truly dominates is in the breadth and difficulty of its variation family, which reaches the very top of the difficulty scale:

• Kovacs (piked): D difficulty (0.4 pts) — the original base skill
• Layout Kovacs: E difficulty (0.5 pts) — fully extended body position during the double salto
• Kolman (piked Kovacs with full twist): E difficulty (0.5 pts) — first performed by American gymnast Jair Lynch and later named after Czech gymnast Jan Kolman around 1990
• Cassina (layout Kovacs with full twist): G difficulty (0.7 pts) — first performed by Italian gymnast Igor Cassina, who won the horizontal bar gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics with this skill as the cornerstone of his routine
• Bretschneider (piked Kovacs with double twist): H difficulty (0.8 pts)
• Miyachi (layout Kovacs with double twist): I difficulty (0.9 pts) — one of the highest-rated skills in the current Code of Points on any apparatus

The progression within the Kovacs family follows a clear and logical structure: difficulty increases by moving from piked to layout body position, and by adding half-twist increments. This systematic escalation has made the Kovacs family the most powerful driver of D-scores on horizontal bar at the elite level.

The Cassina (G difficulty, 0.7 pts) has become the most widely performed of the high-difficulty Kovacs variations, offering a compelling balance between difficulty and relative accessibility. Igor Cassina's 2004 Olympic gold medal, won largely on the strength of this skill, cemented its status as a landmark in gymnastics history. The Miyachi (I difficulty, 0.9 pts), named after Japanese gymnast Kohei Miyachi who debuted it in competition, represents the current pinnacle of the Kovacs family and remains one of the rarest and most awe-inspiring skills performed at the world level.

For gymnasts competing at the highest level, integrating one or more Kovacs-family skills — particularly the Cassina or above — into a horizontal bar routine is virtually essential for achieving a competitive D-score in the modern era.

The Rybalko — A Group I Giant Swing Skill, Not a Release Move

The Rybalko is frequently mentioned alongside the Tkachev and Kovacs in discussions of advanced horizontal bar skills, but it differs from both in a fundamental way: it is not a release move at all.

While the Tkachev and Kovacs are both Group II elements — skills that require the gymnast to fully release the bar — the Rybalko belongs to Group I (swings, giants, and turns). The gymnast maintains contact with the bar throughout the entire skill. This distinction is critical for understanding how the Rybalko fits into routine construction and scoring strategy.

The Rybalko is formally described as a backward giant swing with 1½ turns (270°) to an eagle grip (reverse grip). During a backward giant swing, the gymnast executes one and a half twists around the bar's axis, transitioning from a regular grip into an eagle (reverse or dorsal) grip — a grip in which the hands are rotated so the palms face away from the gymnast. The entire movement is performed while maintaining contact with the bar; the twisting and grip change happen as an integrated component of the giant swing.

The Rybalko is rated at D difficulty (0.4 points) — the same base value as the Kovacs — which reflects the high technical demand of performing 1½ twists with a grip change during a high-speed giant swing. The eagle grip that results from the Rybalko also serves as a launching position for certain other advanced skills, making it a valuable connective element within a routine's construction.

Under the 2025-2028 Code of Points, the interaction between Group I swinging elements and Group II release moves in the context of combination bonus (C.V.) rules has been refined, and skilled coaches use Group I skills like the Rybalko to strategically sequence a routine and set up combination bonuses. The Rybalko's role is therefore not simply that of an isolated difficult skill, but as part of a broader compositional architecture designed to maximize D-score efficiently.

Named after Ukrainian gymnast Mykola Rybalko, the skill exemplifies a category of advanced horizontal bar elements that demand elite-level body control and bar awareness without ever leaving contact with the apparatus — a different kind of mastery than that required by flight elements, but no less impressive technically.

Comparing the Three Skills: Difficulty, Group, and Characteristics

Placing the Tkachev, Kovacs, and Rybalko side by side reveals a clear picture of how fundamentally different they are, despite all being associated with high-level horizontal bar gymnastics.

• Tkachev (C difficulty, 0.3 pts): Group II release move. Initiated from a forward swing; gymnast releases the bar and travels backward over it in a straddle position, re-grasping in a regular hang. Variations extend up to G difficulty (Liukin). Valuable for combination bonuses and as a versatile connection skill.
• Kovacs (D difficulty, 0.4 pts): Group II release move. Initiated from a backward swing; gymnast releases the bar and completes a backward double salto over it, re-grasping in hang. Variations extend up to I difficulty (Miyachi). The most powerful family of skills for driving D-scores on horizontal bar at elite level.
• Rybalko (D difficulty, 0.4 pts): Group I swing/turn element. Gymnast maintains bar contact throughout; performs 1½ twists during a backward giant swing to reach an eagle grip. Not a release move. Functions as a technical foundation skill and strategic element within routine construction.

Several key comparisons are worth highlighting:

Direction of travel: The Tkachev and Kovacs are mirror opposites in terms of the swing direction that initiates them. The Tkachev comes off a forward swing; the Kovacs comes off a backward swing. Both travel "over" the bar in the sense that they cross it during the flight phase, but from opposite directions.

Number of rotations: The Tkachev involves a single backward rotation over the bar; the Kovacs requires two full backward somersaults. This accounts for the Kovacs carrying a higher base difficulty value despite both being Group II elements.

Bar contact: The Tkachev and Kovacs require complete release of the bar, making them true flight elements. The Rybalko never involves bar release — the gymnast is in contact with the bar from start to finish. This makes the Rybalko categorically different in terms of the risks involved and the compositional requirements it fulfills.

Difficulty ceiling: The Kovacs family reaches I difficulty (0.9 pts with the Miyachi), the Tkachev family reaches G difficulty (0.7 pts with the Liukin), and the Rybalko itself sits at D difficulty with no comparable variation ladder reaching the same heights. The Kovacs family is therefore the dominant force in elite-level D-score construction.

Strategic role in routine design: All three skills have distinct functions in a well-constructed horizontal bar routine. The Kovacs and its high-value variations anchor the D-score; Tkachev-family skills generate combination bonuses when connected with other releases; the Rybalko and similar Group I skills provide a technical and connective framework that supports the overall routine architecture.

2025-2028 Code of Points: Key Changes and Future Trends

The 2025-2028 FIG Code of Points, which came into effect in January 2025, introduced several significant revisions to horizontal bar scoring that directly affect how the Tkachev, Kovacs, and related skills are used in competition. These changes will shape routine construction all the way through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

• Wholesale difficulty upgrades: Across the horizontal bar, 14 skills received difficulty upgrades in the new Code. The most notable for the skills discussed in this article is the Liukin (layout Tkachev with full twist) being upgraded from F to G difficulty, giving gymnasts significantly more incentive to train and perform this demanding variation.
• Repetition limits for release move families: Under the 2025-2028 Code, gymnasts are limited to a maximum of two skills from the same release move family (e.g., Tkachev family, Kovacs family) per routine. However, an exception applies: if two release moves from the same family are performed in direct connection (consecutively), up to five skills from that family may count toward the D-score. This rule incentivizes connected release sequences while preventing routines from being dominated by repetitions of the same skill type.
• Revised combination value (C.V.) bonuses: The Code now specifies that connecting a C-difficulty + D-difficulty (or higher) release move earns 0.1 points of C.V. bonus, while connecting a D-difficulty (or higher) + E-difficulty (or higher) release move earns 0.2 points. These clearly defined bonuses make skillful combination planning a key differentiator between competitors at the elite level.
• Relaxed angle deductions for handstand-based elements: Skills involving passage through a handstand — including certain grip-change elements like those related to the Rybalko — now carry slightly relaxed angle deviation deductions, lowering the execution risk for gymnasts who include these technically demanding transitions.

The cumulative effect of these changes is to push elite horizontal bar routines toward higher-risk, higher-reward combinations. The upgraded Liukin makes the Tkachev family more relevant than it has been in recent years for high-scoring routines. The Kovacs family's supremacy in raw difficulty value remains unchallenged, with the Cassina firmly established as a near-universal inclusion at the top level and the Miyachi serving as the ultimate differentiator for the world's most technically gifted bar workers. The Rybalko and its Group I counterparts continue to serve as the technical backbone of routines, setting up connection opportunities and fulfilling compositional requirements.

National federations around the world, including the Japan Gymnastics Association, have been actively communicating the new Code to their athletes and coaches, and the redesign of elite horizontal bar routines in response to these changes is ongoing. With the Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, the race to optimize D-scores within the new framework is intensifying across all major gymnastics nations.

A thorough understanding of the Tkachev, Kovacs, and Rybalko — their mechanics, difficulty values, group classifications, and strategic roles — provides a much richer lens through which to appreciate the complexity and athleticism of elite horizontal bar gymnastics. For a broader overview of how artistic gymnastics scoring works, see our introduction to the Code of Points, D-scores, and E-scores.