The aim of this study is to investigate the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of backward and forward giant circle on high bar by utilizing a simulation model. Five former national gymnasts were voluntarily included in this study as subjects by performing backward and forward giant circles on high bar. The performances were recorded by using a high speed camera, operating at a speed of 500 frames per second. In order to identify body segments on the images, reflective markers were placed on each joint of interest. Prior to subjects performing giant circles, a calibration structure comprising 8 calibration points placed in known locations was video recorded for each subject. Positionsof the points were obtained by digitizing the recorded video images. Digitized data was smoothed by local regression using weighted linear least squares and a 2nd degree polynomial model. The span of the method was set to 0.1. Body segments were defined from smoothed position data of the points and joint and segment angles, angular velocities and angular accelerations were calculated. In order to create body geometry, segment lengths and segment circumferences of the subjects were measured. In the study, a seven segment mechanical model of the human body was designed on sagittal plane. This model was built using SimMechanics (version 4.4) libraries in SIMULINK (version 8.3). The model was driven using kinematic data of the segments and joints. Joint torques was calculated from the simulation model using the method of inverse dynamics. Kinetic and kinematic characteristics of the backward and forward giant circles were interpreted by comparing each other. It is found that, since the angular velocity of the body’s center of mass is lower during forward giant circle than it is during backward giant circle, backward giant circle is completed faster and also the torques acting on the joints are higher during the backward giant circle.