Cartwheels, Handstands, F

Chatterbox: Down to Earth

Cartwheels, Handstands, F

Cartwheels, Handstands, Flips etc. 

So who can do one of the above or something totally different. I'm asking because I'm trying to teach myself how to cartwheel and do handstands, but it's not working. :) I can't keep my legs straight. So is there a secret to doing this? :D  

submitted by Elizabeth M., age 13, Germany
(May 29, 2012 - 3:20 am)

I can do cartweels. That's it. I'm tall so if I fall during a handstand it will hurt. And summersaults have always been super painful.

Anyway, for cartwheels just propel yoursel forward and the laws of gravity should take over. And to guarantee straight legs, just start with straight legs (though knees should be a bit bended so if you land with a lot of force you won't hurt them ;)). I haven't tried to do a handstand in a while, but a way to practice is in the water, so you can get used to it. And landing is slow and not painful. ;)

For a front walkover, I think it's just like a cartwheel- trust gravity- but it would be a good idea to be able to bend into and out of a bridge before attempting.

submitted by Olive
(May 29, 2012 - 3:39 pm)

I can do cartwheels. The only secret for me was watching people do them and practicing for a long time, but that happens to me a lot. There might be.

submitted by Tiffany W.
(May 29, 2012 - 4:34 pm)

Top! :D

submitted by Elizabeth M., age 13, Germany
(May 30, 2012 - 4:08 am)

I can do cartwheels and handstands. I don't really know a trick; for me they come naturally.

submitted by Maple
(May 30, 2012 - 10:52 am)

I'm gymnastically challenged- can't do any of these.  My sister is a veritable rubber band, though- she can do all of them.

submitted by Mattie, District 12, Panem
(May 30, 2012 - 5:04 pm)

I have absolutely no idea how to do any of these.  I've been trying to cartwheel since I watched an episode of Dragon Tales where they cartwheeled when I was five, and I still can't do one.  I've been trying the others for about as long.  I can't even somersault!  I can do all those (except for the cartwheel) underwater.  I'm really good at doing stuff underwater!  I don't think cartwheels are even possible underwater, though.  My brother and I can do really cool stunts.  Since he's tiny, I 'm always either the base or stuck spotting.   

submitted by Melody, age 13, Just being awesome
(May 31, 2012 - 8:12 pm)

I can do cartwheels usually, I learned in gymnastics. I can't do a handstand, but I can do a wall stand. Have you learned how to do one of those?

submitted by Emily L.
(June 8, 2012 - 2:01 am)

I can do a cartwheel, front flip, backbend, handstand, and somersault.

The backbend is also known as a bridge. The handstand I can only hold for 1-3 seconds. And I used to be able to do a somersault easily, but now when I land my back thumps on the ground.

I learned all of these from my gymnastics place.

submitted by Butterfly
(March 3, 2013 - 1:00 pm)

I learned backbends as starting from standing up and bending backward and bridges as pushing up from the floor.  It's probably different at different places, though.

submitted by Melody, age 14, Neverland
(March 4, 2013 - 4:31 pm)

I can't do a cartwheel. Never have been able to. I too, Melody, tried to after seeing that episode of Dragon Tales. I can do a headstand, sort of. And I learned how to do a foward role on pavement WITHOUT *note that* hurting myself! That, I consider, for me, a grand achievement in the gymnastics world. I found the hard way I CAN'T do a split! I tried to be Kim Possible, and jump up and land in a split while wearing socks on hard wood. I won't go into details of how I felt after that, other than, rather uncomfortable. So, no, I'm not really a gymnast, and am not very flexible. But, oh yeah, I can do a bridge!

submitted by Blonde Heroines Rule, age 9 Lives, Attempting Gymnastic
(March 4, 2013 - 5:12 pm)

TOP!!! PLEASE!!

submitted by TOP!!
(March 4, 2013 - 1:33 pm)

I can do cartwheels. I wish I could do at least a back walkover as well, though.

Try 'falling' forward, your arms in line with your ears. Do NOT let your arms drop as your body goes down. It will make it harder for you to get your body over. When your hands hit the ground, try to make sure your hands are on the same line as your feet. Again, to make it easier to push yourself over. When your hands have hit the ground, your back leg should be up. You might want to just do that for a while so you get used to the position. And then just push yourself over. It's kind of hard to explain. Sometimes taking a few steps or even running can help get momentum to kick over. Try to land in a lunge at first.

I have trouble with keeping my legs straight, too, so I don't know any tricks for that. Just try to point your toes, that's what I do ;)

And as for flips or back walkovers, I practice pushing into a bridge and then putting one leg up at a time. To be able to do a walk over or even a hand stand, you have to push your armpits forward. It's a weird concept, and I haven't totally gotten it yet. I still need to build up strength.

Or you could put the top of your head on the ground your arms bent by your ears and try putting your knees on your elbows and try balancing there. After you've got that, you can try extending your legs up over yourself. I used to be able to get it, but I'm really out of shape.

submitted by Hannah, age 17, A Futuristic Chicago
(March 4, 2013 - 5:02 pm)

Oh, and youtubing is great, too, to actually see people doing this stuff.

submitted by Hannah, age 17, A Futuristic Chicago
(March 4, 2013 - 5:04 pm)

I can do a somersault.  And am trying a cartwheel.

It's not going very well.

submitted by Gollum
(March 4, 2013 - 5:25 pm)

I can't do any of those. My cartwheels are more like flops.

submitted by Theo W., age 12, Late Start!!!
(March 5, 2013 - 10:05 am)