Flying with a split — this is how the split leap can be described. This is one of main leaps in rhythmic gymnastics. The most important is that an athlete must demonstrate the split in the air.
The element name refers us to the specificity of the move: the pushing moment indeed resembles making the leap with a step but the front leg goes up higher than usually. Landing is made on the same leg.
The step is known in the ballet, which has close ties with the rhythmic gymnastics, as the split value, when a dancer needs to raise the leg in the standing position. That is why another analogy can be drawn — a leap after raising the leg.
This does not always look like the leap. The front leg is straight when making the jump (unlike for the touching element, when it is bent), and so this leap can be made by kicking with two legs from the place. This is known as sissoné.
The split is the base form of the element and such leap does not have a high score in its pure form. It can be made more complex by jumping with one leg at head height, with the body bent back, en tournant and with alternating legs.
The arched jump off two feet is one of proprietary elements of Lala Kramarenko, the winner of the Sky Grace tournament. The element made from one leg is the specialty of Alina Festival participant Alexandra Soldatova (by the way, she made it a bit unusually, raising the leg forward through a bent position). En tournant with the change of legs is made by Irina Annenkova, who is also the Festival participant.
Several simple leaps can be made in a series. The landing leg becomes the jumping one and the next leap is made from it to another split. For example, winner of World University Games 2017 Yulia Bravikova, who practiced in the Academy training camp in spring, did it this way.