Feb/100
One Arm Handstand Lead-Up Stunt
The One Arm Handstand
Today I’ll be giving you a tip towards working on a one arm handstand. I’ve been doing this hand balancing skill a lot lately.
Professor Orlick lists it as one of the lead-up stunts to the one arm handstand. And this one utilizes both arms. What is it? It’s the handstand done on the fists.
Now how does this help with the one arm handstand? As explained in How to do the One Hand Handstand:
Handstand on Fists
“Now, lean forward and very carefully kick your feet up into the handstand position. Do this easily and gently because your base will be even smaller than before and you won’t have the use of your fingertips to help hold you up. If you kick too hard you are liable to topple right over. At first, the weight of your body resting on your knuckles will probably hurt but just grin and bear it for soon you will get used to it. Once again be sure to stretch up as high as you can and lock-out at the elbows and shoulders and point your toes up toward the ceiling. The position is shown quite clearly to the right in No. 22. Like the others, this too is a fine lead-up stunt so keep it up until you master it.”
The reason this can help move you toward the one arm handstand is that you’ll get use to balancing on a smaller base of support. You just can’t apply the hand pressure you can in a normal handstand when you’re on your fists. A small amount of wrist pressure can be used but you must learn to keep your body stable and balance from the shoulders.
Mixed with other lead-up stunts and the proper progression this will help you eventually reach the one arm handstand. For much more check out the Hand Balancing Mastery Course.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher
Jan/100
Planche Progression Video
The planche is one of hand balancing’s most advanced moves. In this video you’ll discover one tip on planche progression.
This is just one of four methods that is included in the Hand Balancing Mastery Course. Be sure to check that out for many more details on not just planche progression but so much more.
Even beginners can get started working on the tuck planche. Once that’s stable its just a matter of opening up the hips more and more each time.
But don’t think you’ll master this skill overnight. It takes tremendous strength all across the body.
For more details on this be sure to check out this other post on planche progression.
Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher
Jan/101
Wrist Flexibility Report
A simple wrist stretch
I’ve shared a couple videos with you in the past week and today’s a little different. Instead of a video I’m giving you a report that covers what is many would-be hand balancer’s biggest obstacle. And that is wrist pain and flexibility.
Wrist Flexibility Report
(right click and choose save-as)
This is something I personally battle with. So instead of giving you a little tip you can have all of what I do to help out my wrists. The simple truth is without doing this stuff regularly I can’t do a handstand, but with it I can.
Perhaps you’ve already realized it, or you surely will after reading the report and seeing the references. Soon I’ll be releasing a new product. What you’ve seen is just small bits and pieces of the whole thing. And let me tell you it’s BIG.
This is the biggest and best compilation of hand balancing material ever released in the world.
It’s been called the Hand Balancing Bible.
You could call it the Holy Grail of Hand Balancing.
But I’ve done away the religious references and simply called it the Hand Balancing Mastery Course.
Tomorrow I’ll fill you in on more details on why this course is a must-have for anyone who wants success beyond the handstand.
Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher
P.S. If this report helps you out please comment below.
Jan/102
Gymnastic Handstand
The gymnastic handstand or straight handstand is a more difficult move then the natural or curved handstand. For that reason I believe a beginner should work on the curved handstand first and once they become proficient at that then they can move onto the straight handstand.
Working on the straight handstand will take a good bit of dedication as you must learn to maintain a straight body while upside-down, something that certainly doesn’t come natural. As with any move its best to learn it in the easiest possible way first. For that reason we go to the wall.
When working on the gymnastic handstand it is better to face the wall with your body rather then have your back to it. This makes it easier to get into the straight body position. You can cartwheel into position or walk your feet up the wall.
Once you are in the handstand get your hands as close to the wall as possible. Stick your head through your arms. This alone will help your back to stop curving. While keeping the arms locked push through with your chest to open up the shoulders. If this is difficult you may need to work on shoulder flexibility.
Another key part is the lower body. You want to maintain what is known in gymnastics as a hollow body position. That is you tuck your pelvis in. Think as if you were trying to reach your tail bone to your navel and shorten that distance. You may need to practice this position while not in a handstand if it is unfamiliar to you.
Once you have a good position hold for time against the wall. Work up to 2 minutes for multiple sets. If you can do this you have good endurance not just to hold the handstand but to keep your position while you do it. At that point the gymnastic handstand should feel natural to you.
The next step is to transition to freestanding. Instead of just kicking up out in the open start in the straight handstand against the wall and come off a little bit to find your balance. But that will have to be an article for another time…
Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher
Nov/091
Planche Progression
Here you’ll find tips on planche progression.
“I’m 21 years ( physically strong ) I do need to get into Planche. Can you advice me on something to start with ???”
Kenji
I have not built myself up to doing the planche. Haven’t really worked on it much.
But I can give you a variety of drills and methods to build it up, proven by a number of other people who have had success. The basic planche progression is to increase the leverage of the movement little bit by little bit.
That is going from a tucked position to a straddle and finally a complete planche. When you get good at one position, building the strength and skill to do it, you move onto the next.
I first learned about this method from Coach Sommer. In his article below you’ll get many more details on this planche progression. Plus it also covers the front lever.
Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher
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