3.Build up your confidence and learn to fall

If you lack an option to exit your handstand, when you find yourself falling over. Then this is for you my friend.

 

First a demonstration - The step fall

Ok lets break it down with the drills below!

Some preparation - Hand placement 1 x 20

Before doing any of the drills below its important to practice the action your hand takes when falling.

Generally you will “Step” your dominant hand.

1. Step dominant hand forward 1 hand distance and a little bit in towards the stationary hand.

2. Before touching the ground again, rotate your hand inwards 45 degree's.

Do at least 20 of these as preparation before moving on.

Practicing with a safety net - Back to wall fall 4 x 5

Whilst not completely the same as a true “fall”. This lets you practice getting the movement of the hand and legs in order. While having the assurance of the wall behind you.

Prerequisites :

  • Solid kick up to the wall

  • 60s chest to wall handstand at least 2 hands distance away

1. Kick-up back facing the wall around 1.5-2 hands distance away. Let your legs rest into the wall.

2. If your right handed split your right leg towards the floor and step your right hand. In the same way you practiced the previous drill. Twist your body to the right. For lefties just do the reverse.

3. Make sure to bend your knee's when you land to absorb the fall.

TOP TIP : Make sure your wall is free of protruding objects and that you have room to fall to the side safely. I have kicked tables, chairs and oven doors ( don’t ask why I was practicing in the kitchen! ) It doesn’t feel great. Trust me.

Are you loving these lessons? Wanna chat about handstands and share your progress? Great! Hit the button below to schedule in a free 15 minute chat with me

The real deal - Chest to wall fall 4 x 5

Now it is time for some true falling action. Its a step below a freestanding fall because you have time to anticipate your descent to the floor. Unlike a kick up to fall in the middle of the room.

Only try this when you are confident and proficient with the previous drills. And have no feelings of “panic” present.

It greatly helps to have a knowledgeable coach there to physically guide you if possible.

Safety first. Always. Don’t try this if you do not feel ready.


Prerequisites :

  • 40-60s chest to wall hold 1 hand distance away.

  • Mastery of the previous drill.

  • Confidence. No panic.


1. Walk into a close chest to wall handstand around 1 hand distance away from the wall.

2. Like before, split the working leg over and to the side (diagonally) and step your dominant hand just like in the hand placement drill.

3. Make sure to bend your knee's when you land to absorb the fall.


TOP TIP : In the beginning you may fall more to the side. As your confidence grows aim to go “over” more.

If you are stuck with this, don’t fret too much. It is so common.

One of the very best ways to solve this problem is in person with a competent spotter.

I have actually taught online students training partners, and friends how to spot (physically guide) them through a fall. The next best thing to having me there to do it myself hehe!

Fill out the form below to get in touch. Id love to help.

Or to find out more about online handstand coaching hit the button below

 

Keep an eye out for your final lesson. “Kick-up” technique!

Handstand Classes, Workshops and Short Courses Melbourne

For all things related to the wonderful world of hand balancing and handstands, handstand classes, handstand workshops and handstand short courses Suby Handstands has got you covered in Melbourne.

Whether you want to work in a group setting with Melbourne based handstand classes or Melbourne based handstand short courses or on a one to one basis with private handstand lessons you are going to experience growth in your practice.

Many people believe that the best way to progress their handstand is to repeat the same thing over and over again thinking that one day it will lead to some sort of miracle and finally click. I can tell you best way to progress is in fact to practice, but to practice the RIGHT things for your specific level, awareness and body. This is the way forward in your handstand training.

Participating in handstand classes or private handstand lessons is the best way to find the keys to unlock the gates to progress and stop experiencing frustration and fear in your handstand practice.

So you’ve mastered handstand at the wall and are ready to take it to the middle of the room? But every time you hop up, it feels like you can only hold the pose for a nanosecond. What gives? How can you learn to stick your balance in the center of the room?

If you’re looking to move your handstand away from the wall, odds are you’re already familiar with kicking up into the pose. Even so, starting with a solid, well-aligned foundation and kicking up with confidence can strongly increase your chances of balancing in handstand.

Press handstands are one of the coolest gymnastics/acrobatic skills out there

They are a demonstration of control, power and body awareness that can be done virtually anywhere.

Press handstand is a beautiful skill but one that is made up of many physical attributes. Flexibility, core strength, shoulder strength, skill and technique all equally play an important role. Having coaching to assess which area's you individually need to develop is vital to learn press to handstand safely and efficiently. I can help you put together a training plan to achieve your inversion, arm balance and hand balancing goals.

Tuck handstand is another awesome skill to work on.

As the name implies, a Tuck handstand is a bent leg position where the knees are pulling towards the chest, versus a handstand where the legs are fully extended with toes pointing directly towards the sky.

It helps to develop correct should alignment, shoulder strength, shoulder flexibility and is the gateway to many other cool handstand shapes. There is 2-3 amazing handstand drills that drastically help develop tuck handstand.

What about handstand pushups? A brilliant display of body control and raw power.

Just like you wouldn’t want someone performing a ton of kipping pull-ups when they don’t have the strength to do one strict pull-up, we don’t want someone doing a ton of kipping handstand push-ups if they don’t have the strength to do a strict handstand push-up. The shoulder strength required to complete a handstand push-up is great, and some may not have that strength just yet. Have no fear, I have created a simple training program to help you build your upper body strength to reach the goal of obtaining a strict handstand push-up. With dedication, patience and hard work, you too can successfully attain the handstand pushup.

As soon as you’re able to balance a handstand by the wall for just a few seconds without using the wall for support, it’s time to start adding some freestanding handstand exercises to your practice. BUT don’t leave the wall behind entirely just yet, it will still be one of the most useful tools for awhile to help maintain your conditioning and continue developing sound balance mechanics.

It can seem both terrifying and impossible to move your handstand practice away from the wall. Because what’s gonna happen if you fall? Some parts of the fear of falling out of a handstand are rational, others are entirely irrational.

let me help you address and overcome the rational fear of falling when you practice the freestanding handstand.

Learn how to handstand by learning :

How to fall

The benefits of going upside down

The muscles worked in a handstand

How to warm up before doing a handstand

Step-by-step directions for doing a handstand

Common handstand mistakes to avoid

As for how long it'll take you to master a handstand? It's pretty individual. Some will get it right away, while it takes a lot longer for others. Remember that it’s as much a mental discipline as a physical one and keep trying, knowing that you will get there.

So let get started. Click on the Handstand classes Melbourne page and take your practice to the next level whilst cultivating discipline and self understanding.