These two gymnasts are quite good at handstand walking.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
But I don’t like gymnasts doing these contests. It’s a pet peeve of mine.
Why?
Handstand walking teaches many bad habits. (bad line, bad form)
Kids learn to maintain balance by moving the hands (base of support) forward underneath them. This is bad preparation for many skills, particularly handstand on Parallel Bars.
My personal philsophy is to allow handstand walking backward and sideward, but almost never forwards.
… These girls are great tumblers, despite my concerns.
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Update: JO and K send us a related link, gymnasts from Capital Gymnastics in Texas doing handstand drills, including some handstand walking. (better form, still poor “line”)
Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.
… I’d still recommend the walking course be backwards and sidewards only.
11 comments ↓
I could walk on my hands pretty good and although I don’t keep perfect form, and I think it did mess up my handstand form altogether – I still enjoy it very much.
I have seen, though, people handstand walking with perfect forms – so I believe it all depends on whether the person has a good base of how to do a proper handstand, then the walking itself messes up good form to begin with.
True. About 1% of the gymnasts I’ve seen can hold good form and technique while walking.
Interesting ideas. Something I hadn’t thought of before.
Anyone who lets their kids walk on their hands in those positions is not doing their job!
Handstand walking is just like anything else…done correctly it can help gymnasts understand how to continue to squeeze and hold a straight body position even through motion. This can be important.
The problem is that most coaches are too concerned about the outcome of a skill, and don’t focus on the technique enough to REQUIRE it.
Doing it or not doing it is exactly the same as 99% of all skills in gymnastics. If you are going to do it, then do it correctly!
I thought I saw a training video once on Gymnastike of Capital gymnasts improving shoulder strength by doing a similar handstand-walking obstacle course – but with nice lines and good form. Anyone have a link to that?
K, here you go:
http://www.gymnastike.org/videos/coverage/view_video/235023-capital-gymnastics/188668-uneven-bars-shoulder-endurance-exercises
I do a version of this with my camp kids levels 4-5. They handstand pop up a panel mat and then walk across it. They think it is a great time, but they have to maintain proper body alignment.
Thanks K. Thanks JO.
I added a that video to the original post.
Amen, Troy.
Look at the WAG and MAG programs in the US. Boys have to learn how to 1/2 pirouette very early on floor, in L5. While the girls are learning a 1/4 pirouette and turn off, it is not exactly the same as a floor or bar pirouette.
HS walking helps learning floor pirouettes. It’s easier to walk forwards than backwards or sideways.
Let’s face it, at lower levels, most kids look like this which is why you still need to reinforce static HS bodyline positions, free or off the wall/balance spot.
I don’t have much problem with kids starting off handstand walking without the best of form – once they get confident in it you make them do more than just straight line – a “C” or a “J” or an “S” shape. Then to pirouette, backwards, etc. I think it’s fun for kids to do and you can make them think about their body shape without having to repeat yourself a gazillion times.
After about a year or so of team gymnastics (depending on age/maturity) you should expect them to be able to walk on their hands with straight arms – really helps keep a near perfect to perfect shape. Onto mats, off of mats, in split, straddle, etc. It’s all good!
Form is not just about legs.
What I see when I watch both Videos. Head out and an arch in the Low back. Think of the pressure on the low back in those shapes.
You see that shape on allot of giants, unfortunately the deductions are not significant enough in the USA JO program for coaches to worry about fixing it.
Coaches Need to spend more time thinking about longevity and teach their gymnasts how to use The transverse abdominal to stabilize the handstand shape.
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