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Which Handstand Style should you do?

By admin on January 8, 2008 in Handstands

Another article has been added to the site. If you have ever wondered what style of handstand you should do, whether arched or straight, this one is for you – Different Styles of Handstands.

Be sure to check it out but before you do I wanted to mention something that might be on your mind.

I have received a number of questions about the monthly newsletter that’s one of the bonuses with the Hand Balancing Mastery Course.

For one, if you have ordered a course and not received it its because the first issue has not yet shipped. But don’t worry yours will go out when its ready.

Most people are visual learners so I figured sending a monthly DVD, along with the newsletter, would be the best way to teach hand balancing and related arts.

The camera I had for the job just wasn’t going to cut it so I just got a brand new camcorder which arrived today. As soon as it stops raining I will be shooting film outside.

Depending on the learning curve and how fast I edit will determine how soon it’s finished and ready to go.

If you’re interested in getting on board, but haven’t bought the course yet, no worries because you’ll be able to sign up in other ways soon. More details to come on that when its ready.

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

P.S. Don’t forget about that new handstand article. Feel free to send any feedback you have.

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Bridge Exercises

By admin on January 5, 2008 in Bridging, Flexibility & Contortion

This picture was taken over a year ago of this bridge exercise. I’m the guy on the bottom in the wrestler’s bridge, while my friend, Tyler, is doing a hand bridge on top. I call it the Double Bridge.

Double Bridge Stunt

You might wonder what possessed us to try this stunt. The answer is just for fun and to see if we could pull it off.

The motivation was in seeing a couple of pictures in The True Are and Science of Hand Balancing. Bridging and hand balancing have always gone together because they both take strength, flexibility, and skill.

I pulled a couple more pictures out from the Inspirational Photo Section displaying some bridging stunts. In the book there are over 130 pictures in this section alone giving you all kinds of trick you could shoot for. That’s not counting the photos which show you how to perform all manner of hand balancing stunts throughout the rest of the book.

Bridging Stunts

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, the pictures in this book alone are worth the price.

Since doing this stunt, I have wanted to give it another shot because I think we could make it look better. But it is one of those one time things, at least for now.

Bridging of all kinds is something you must work up to, especially pulling off feats like this. There will be more on this topic in the future as I believe I am one of a handful of people pushing the envelope on this skill set, just like some of the old time strongmen.

If you’ve never done anything like this, get started slowly.

Good Luck and Good Bridging,
Logan Christopher

P.S. To get much more on bridging exercises check out the Advanced Bridging Course

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Handstands and Hand/Grip Positions

By admin on January 3, 2008 in Handstands

First off I want to remind you that the New Year’s Sale is still going. Check Hand Balancing New Year’s Sale to see how you can save 20.08% off of everything. It ends Saturday so if you’re putting it off you better do it now before you forget.For today I’ll dig into the question bag and answer another one.

When I think of how handstands are done with flat palms, I think of how pushups are also done with flat palms. Similarly, both have been done on a bar (pronated grip) or on a set of parallel bars (neutral grip). I have seen variant pushups done with a reversed grip (supinated) and indeed, I think this is the position people take for doing planches. There are also pushups done on fists, on the back of the hand instead of the palm (wrists flexed instead of extended as usual) and on fingertips. While I did hear of some shaolin master doing a supported handstand (with wall) on two fingers, I have never seen these variations addressed in any guides. Are you familiar with anything like that, attempted any of the difficult variations, or have ideas about them?
-Tyciol

This is more than one question so I will break it apart.

Handstands can be done with a variety of grips. Of course you have the standard extended wrist position. But every other way you can move your hands is a way you can do handstands.

Parallel bars do add extra dimensions, and having something to grip can help you be stronger, but similar positions can be taken on the floor if you make your hands into fist.

The supinated grip, where your fingers are pointed back the opposite way of normal, makes a handstand much harder to do. Planches could be done like this, but more often you just turn them slightly out from the normal straightforward location.

Fingertip handstands is a big subject that I will cover in some more detail soon.

As far as do any of the books cover training for this stuff, the answer is absolutely.

In Hand Balancing Made Easy, Professor Orlick covers all of the various hand positions you can do in a handstand. In total I counted 35 exercises covering different positions for the fingers and hands.

When you master all these you can balance from just about any position. If you can do a normal handstand try turning your hands. Just a few attempts at doing a handstand with your hands backwards and you will understand the benefits. Great for flexibility too.

You can get this book alone at or as part of the Hand Balancing Mastery Course.And in The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing, Bob Jones brings you through the progressions he used to master his famous Thumb Stand.But don’t order any of these from the page itself. Get your discount at the Hand Balancing New Year’s Sale

. The sale ends on Saturday.Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

P.S. I dug up and old picture I had forgotten about of an interesting feat my friend and I performed. You’ll get to see it next time.

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Ichiske Ishikawa's One Hand Handstand Stunt

By admin on December 29, 2007 in One Hand, Walking & Jumping

Here comes yet another story from Ray Van Cleef.

Some of the greatest foreign acrobatic performers to tour this continent come from the “land of the rising sun”. The Ishikawa Brothers left a mark that will long endure in the acrobatics’ hall of fame.

This Japanese troupe consisted of four remarkably skilled equilibrists. The caliber of their act can be gauged from this sole stunt Ichiske Ishikawa regularly performed.

It would start with a one hand stand at the tip of a triangular staircase prop. After mounting into this balance, Ichiske would do a series of one hand hops descending the stairs.

From here he would continue performing the jumping steps in this one hand stand balance position until he approached the outlights. Then he would stop and lower his body into a side planche position.

From here he would shift back to the erect one hand stand position, without touching his other hand to the floor, to conclude this prodigious routine.

Ichiske Ishikawa

If you can replicate this routine then you deserve to have your story told 50 years from now as well.

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

P.S. I’ve decided to kick off the New Year with a special event that could make a big difference in what you accomplish in 2008. Stay tuned.

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Achieving Handbalancing Success in 2008

By admin on December 26, 2007 in Uncategorized

If you celebrate Christmas then I hope you had a wonderful time yesterday. If not, well then I still hope you had a great day. But Christmas means one thing is coming.

That’s right, the end of the year is fast approaching. I have always found the new year is a reflective time for myself. But it is also a time for forward thinking.I spend a full day, and sometimes more, reviewing the past year and planning the next.This goes way beyond a simple New Year’s Resolution which is almost destined to fail. Instead it is more like a dissertation on the major components of my life and a long list of goals.Every year my system gets better and I expect this time to be no different.

Of course hand balancing and all aspects of my physical training make up one of those sections.

It starts with going over my results from the last year. Since I keep a training journal I can look over the various workouts I have done. What worked best and what didn’t. Which ways of training really made the biggest gains.

The second step is to figure out what I really want to accomplish. Since I have so many goals and dreams I have to pick out the ones I have a burning desire for and work toward those first.

Others get completed without much effort and some just fall away. In the future I can always reset my priorities to complete any goal. But its important to focus on just a few at a time.

The third step is smart planning. What you need to do is break down a big goal into small and simple steps and plan when you will complete those steps. Just follow your formula and the goal becomes a matter of time.

This applies to all aspects of life whether its business, relationships, nutrition, or training.

But since you are here for the hand balancing I will take an example from there. You need a plan in order reach a goal. Instead of creating one yourself, why not just follow one that is already complete.

All you have to do is select your goal from the Hand Balancing Mastery Course then keep to the steps Prof. Orlick lays out.

If your goal is to be able to perform a handstand for one minute then just work backwards from that point. If you can hold the handstand for only 5 seconds right now then all you have to do is add second by second until you get there.

Perhaps give yourself two months to reach your goal. Figure out where you should be week by week then go after it.

The birth of a new year is a powerful time. Instead of just celebrating it, use it to accelerate into 2008 with fury.

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

P.S. 2008 will be a big year for the Lost Art of Hand Balancing website. It will be incredible as this year has been and I want to thank you for being along for the ride.

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Death Defying Handstands

By admin on December 22, 2007 in Uncategorized

Here comes another story from Acro-chat magazine. This one was written by Ray Van Cleef.

The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing

Flirting with death yielded the “Open Sesame” to Inguar Anderson’s zealous desire to become a circus performer. His efforts to secure an opportunity were repulsed until he resorted to death defying stunts to gain recognition.

This daring 27 year old gymnast performed a series of hazardous feats, including a handstand on a tight rope suspended 800 feet above a rocky terrain. The risks he assumed were rewarded with offers by several circus managers who witnessed this perilous display. “Where there is a will there is a way” is an apropos summary of this plucky Swede’s success.

Inguar Andersson Handstand

Sure its a good way to grab attention but don’t be trying this one out when you’re just starting out. In fact wait until you have at least 10 years of experience under your belt.

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

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Weightlifting and Hand Balancing

By admin on December 20, 2007 in Uncategorized

Does lifting weights help to hand balance? The answer is yes and no.

Let me qualify all the following by saying there are many different ways to lift weights. Whether you are doing power lifting, Olympic lifting, bodybuilding, or just good old fashioned strength training with barbells and dumbbells. How you lift matters as much as anything.

Certain exercises are going to help you out. And others won’t do much for you.

Specifically for pressing movements. It requires a tremendous amount of strength to be able to push your bodyweight overhead. You need strong triceps and shoulders.

Since many presses take you through different planes of movement, not strictly overhead work, such as a press from half planche to handstand or the frogstand press you will also need strong pectoral muscles. Of course your back and abdominals are used to keep you stabilized.

If you use weights to make these muscles stronger than you will be able to do these stunts easier.

Of course hand balancing takes a huge degree balance. While weightlifting can help your coordination, it is nothing compared to what you need to stand on your hands.

Being able to press a heavy barbell overhead has no carryover to being able to hold a handstand.

A handstand is a skill and needs to be practiced in order for you to get good at it.

These days many people are moving away from weights because they think they are not functional. To that I have to say it all depends on how you use them.

Whether you decide to build you upper body strength with barbell presses or with handstand pushups is up to you. They both build strength.

Spend some time using both and see how well they work for you.

Professor Orlick outlines a full on course of barbell, dumbbell, bodyweight and other exercises in Hand Balancing Made Easy. If an accomplished hand balancer like him believed in them, than there surely is value in the exercises.

In addition, in the interview I did with Jim Bathurst he talks about his favorite weightlifting exercises and which ones carryover to his hand balancing best.

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,

Logan Christopher

P.S. Professor Orlick even has some very creative weightlifting exercises to help with the one hand handstand. Now you can get How to do the One-Hand Handstand by itself.

Hand Balancing and Weightlifting Combined

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Professor Orlick's Books Available Now

By admin on December 18, 2007 in Uncategorized

Your education is the one thing you should pay more for than anything else.

If you really want to become a master at the art of hand balancing or any other than you should expect to pay for the greats to teach you in one way or another.

Professor Orlick, Paulinetti and Robert Jones are no longer with us but their teachings live on in the form of their books.

It is their legacy.

If you choose to, you can pave your own way but who has the time or energy to go through all the mistakes on their own. Why not take the shortcuts if they are available to you?

Still, I realized that the Hand Balancing Mastery Course being over one hundred dollars may be too steep of a price for some people to pay for any number of reasons.

That being the case I have decided to release each of Professor Orlick’s books by themselves.

Now you can get Hand Balancing Made Easy for just $29.95

You can buy Walking and Jumping on Your Hands for only $29.95

And you can learn How to do the One Hand Handstand for $29.95

Each book will guide you through what you need to know step by step to perfect these incredible stunts.

I just watched a video of one of my subscribers doing a show in Brazil. He can pull off tricks that most people would think impossible. Even at this level, he bought everything I’m offering because he wants to be even better.

This is someone who will accomplish a lot because he is investing in his success.

How about you?

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

P.S. Don’t think that the Hand Balancing Mastery Course is gone. It still is the greatest program available to become a great hand balancer and I highly suggest you grab yourself a copy.

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Close Encounter of the Bull Kind

By admin on December 15, 2007 in Uncategorized

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXkI8fvFayY]

My friend located this video from Pamplona, Spain when I was doing the Runninng of the Bulls. Someone in the stands just happened to be shooting the video.

About halfway through you can see my closest encounter with a bull on that day. I know the quality isn’t very good but it certainly is me. Just look for the long haired guy.

I was being pushed back while I grabbed onto his horns. Luckily, I got by relatively unscathed.

Nothing to do with hand balancing except that I want to go back and do a handstand on top of a bull horn’s or maybe just a handspring off of its back. Perhaps next year.

I highly recommend participating if you get a chance. It’s the thrill of a lifetime.

This is just for fun, but I got another big annoucement coming in the next couple of days.

Keep up the hand balancing,
Logan Christopher

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Handstand Balancing, Positions and More

By admin on December 12, 2007 in Handstands

Here’s another question from John in England.

Hello Logan, I’ve just received your manual which I ordered, thanks for sending it so prompt. I’m just approaching 40 years old and have become determined to do handstands and a few other basic gymnastic exercises. I’ve been practicing against a wall for a few months and can hold a wall handstand for just under a minute but I’m having a lot of trouble transferring that skill away from the wall. I’m trying to concentrate on my fingers and wrists to balance without much luck. Any tips. Also how long should you be looking to hold a stationary free handstand before moving on to the next section of your course and handstands with unusual leg positions.

Well John first off I want to commend you for going after these skills at an age where most men are content with doing zero physical activity.

There are a few questions here so I will tackle them one at a time.

The article I wrote last week may help with the balancing aspect. You can read that here: Handstands and Scientific Balancing

Some of the lead-up stunts described in the Hand Balancing Mastery Course are a big help in teaching you the balance.Still it takes practice to get the ‘feel’ of the handstand.

There will be more on this subject soon since it seems to be everyone’s mind judging from the number of questions I‘m getting.

As for how long should you hold each position? This is up to you. At a bare minimum I would say 15 seconds. But 30 seconds would probably be better.

I can remember my first half minute handstand. It was quite exciting and perhaps I will share that story with you another time.

Once you move onto the variations found in the course you don’t need to set a record with each one. Just master the position. I personally like to move from one position to the next and so on but holding them works just as well.

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

P.S. The new Ask A Question section of the site seems to be a hit. While I may not reply personally to your question it will let me know what you want covered here.

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