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.
http://c1403192.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/player.swf
… I’d still recommend the walking course be backwards and sidewards only.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 