Stepping out...

[George Launchbury]

Hi all,

Spurred on by recent advice, and a general need to bite the bullet eventually, I decided to just go for it and try and twist/step down from an over-balanced handstand - rather than rolling or relying on a wall (or doorway). So off I nervously went to the gym yesterday, found an empty studio, and put a few thick yoga mats down ...just in case.

However ...despite a number of attempts, I could not do it. I either couldn't get myself to go over, saving with a bend of the elbows, or ended up rolling out every time. My reflex actions would not allow it. At least I was unharmed ...and got to practice my handstand rolls

After a small amount of reflecting on this, I tried a new tactic. One that turned out to work very well for me. I kicked up into a handstand, back to wall, and slowly rotated from left to right whilst maintaining balance at the wall. It took a few sets, and felt very strange at first, but I was soon quite comfortable rotating so my hips faced [degrees]90[/degrees] to the left and right. I was toying with the idea of doing it in a corner, to aid with balance until I felt more comfortable with it, but there was not a suitable one available.

I went back to the floor to have another go, and it worked like a charm. I spent about 20 mins playing at them, twisting left and right, eventually with no mats whatsoever. Probably wasn't that graceful, but I certainly felt safe in doing it. I noticed another interesting thing as well. When I am trying to balance a free handstand with no wall, I always underbalance/kick up too weakly. However when I was actively intending to (slowly) overbalance I had some really good hold times. Some of my best, in fact.

Not really advice - just sharing in case it helps someone.

Cheers,

George.

[Coach Sommer]

Well done, George and a great idea!

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

[Blairbob]

To step out, learn how to cartwheel. Follow Roger Harrell's cartwheel guide over at DrillsandSkills.com

Here is a trick to kicking into handstand. Do not get kick to vertical with the second leg but kick short of vertical, squeeze hard and allow momentum to carry and stop you in vertical. If you kick past vertical, you'll be overbalanced and will have to either planche in the shoulders or bend the arms or just roll out.