Fixing my Circles

so here's a video of me doing circles on a mushroom. My 1st set of circles were the ones I usually did in practice. On the last 2 sets, I tried to use Blairbob and Deljosque's advice to arch my body more in the front. Honestly, I can feel the difference in my circles.

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I think the last ones were the best.

I know I have a couple of issues:

-my lower body seems a bit loose, but I have a gap between my legs when I put my ankles together.

-I don't know why, but my arms always look slgihtly bent.

But anyways, critique it please.

You have learned the critical sideways lean and hand placement rhythm for the beginning of the circle.

To get more extension, you will have to lean backwards more in the front part of the circle.

If you have access to a bucket circle machine, I would suggest working them on your forearms. You place your forearms on the mushroom like a yoga forearm balance stand.

I think you may need to counterturn your hips more in the circle, but the above drill should teach you this as well.

my lower body seems a bit loose, but I have a gap between my legs when I put my ankles together.

Some people's arms round in naturally while others are naturally hyperextended. Such is life.

Hmm...so I still need to lean more backwards... :/

Is it okay to just hold the static position with my feet elavated? My school has a bucket circle machine, but it's broken right now.

Yes, that's the word. (bowlegged)

I'm kinda worried about my slightly bent arms because my mushroom work doesn't translate to the horse yet. My coach wants me to put circles in my routine in about 2~3 weeks.

arch!! and your left arm is crashing on the mushroom this means that you lift up that shoulder to high keep them low and move them from left to the back to the right and to the front and keep them at the same level all the time

Fix the bucket circle machine or build a new one.

Painter's bucket and some rope hanging off the rings. Done. You can make them more fancy and use a caribiner and swivel but that's all you need.

To get more extension, you will have to lean backwards more in the front part of the circle.

Well, here's a video of Morgan Hamm (he's about the same height as me), and in my opinion, his backwards lean looks similar to mine's, but I really shouldn't compare circles until I can actually do it on the horse.

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Also, like delj said, I think my primary problem is with my left arm. I'll need to fix that.

Hmm, Xiao Qin is currently the gold standard for pommel circle.

The view point of your circles is weird. It could be not enough lean on the left arm. Pretty common with beginners learning circles as they will tend to not lean enough on the 2nd arm.

I'lll take a new video in practice.

Also, it seems that I'm having a hard time jumping into the circles (on a horse). Any tips?

Wow. I broke through today! I did 4 circles on the buck for the first time today! I was getting a little frustrated since I need circles before May, but there is hope.

is correct say that the circles are made by the hips/torso (for a big part of the circles) and not by the legs?

You never use your legs except in scissors, alex.

I fail in doing any circles whatsoever. I use my homemade circle-machine, which exists of a weightlifting belt hanging from my rings. Anyway, i can't ever manage to get one circle...

You never use your legs except in scissors, alex.

Well, you still need to keep your legs tight while not allowing them to cross one foot over the other and not forgetting to keep the heels going while turning in circles such as spindle and stockli.

I guess. I had some problems with crossing my legs before.

Philipp, it takes about a year to fully master it. You can do it!