Tag Archives | Acrobatics

How to Perform a Front Flip

By admin on September 11, 2014 in Acrobatics, Tumbling

To get started with a front flip, you should find yourself a soft surface like sand, grass or just use an old mattress to prevent injuries while practicing the front flip. According to Ronnie Shalvis, three main steps for achieving the front flip are momentum, blocking and set.

If you’re just starting out you’ll have to use momentum to help you with the front flip. Doing it while standing still is very cool, but it’s harder so you should not attempt it before you learn how to do it with momentum. As you get some speed by running, you’re going to go into a block. The block is basically the point where you jump with both feet of the ground and bounce upward. Note that you’re not supposed to jump low in the block, but merely bend your knees and jump upward.

The third stage of the front flip (while you’re in the air) is called the set, which is essential for getting to the proper height. Most people who are just starting out with the front flip believe they should lean forward and jump in that position, which almost guarantees bad landing. Instead, you need to keep your body upright, with chest up and throw your arms in the air as you jump. So, during the set you’ll go up and back to the tuck before opening and landing safely.

Make sure to watch the entire video to fully understand how to perform the front flip and also pick up additional tips from Ronnie.

Interested in more complete tutorials for flips, tumbling and more? Check this out.

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Handstand Dance

By Bac on July 18, 2012 in Uncategorized

Do you want to learn how to handstand dance? This article and videos will show you how.

First we’ll start with a small section from Professor Orlick’s Walking and Jumping On Your Hands:

There are few things which go over better with the average audience than seeing someone dancing on his hands. Spectators invariably conclude that you must be terrific to be so good on your hands that you can not only stand, and walk, and run, but even dance on them. Yet dancing on your hands is not difficult, if you learn everything we have covered so far. In fact, you will already have done just about everything you will do when dancing.

The important thing now is to put it to music, or at least to a rhythmic beat. To start with, just turn on some dance music with a good strong beat to it, kick up into a handstand, and then try to move your hands in time with the beat.

Next, try taking little steps forwards, backwards, and sidewards, always keeping in time with the beat. Then, do some of the turns we covered above, but again do them in time with the music. By now you will actually be dancing on your hands, and even if you did little more than this it would still be enough to get a hand from any appreciative audience.

This video blends elements of dance with hand balancing and other acrobatics. You especially have to admire the flow from one move to the next.

Have you seen some great videos of handstand dances? If you do be sure to share them with me.

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Damien Walters 2011

By admin on November 11, 2011 in Parkour

This video was just released today. It features Damien Walters, one of the greatest acrobats and free runners alive today.

Want to see more? Check out these two videos as well.

The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing

Damien Walters 2010
Damien Walters 2009

To get to this level you’ll need lots of practice. Having a facility like his wouldn’t hurt either. And professional coaching would be best.

But to get you started I’d recommend this Tumbling book and Parkour Crash Course.

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Air Force Crew

By admin on November 3, 2011 in Handstands

Check out this video of break dancers Air Force Crew.

I had the opportunity to see these guys perform live at a conference. I’ve never worked on breakdancing moves specifically but probably will some day. There is lots of similarities between this and other acrobatic arts.

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How to Roll After a Jump

By Ismar on October 28, 2011 in Parkour

If you have ever jumped in your life, you may have noticed that it is only the beginning of your journey. Depending on the length of your jump in the air you might need to change balance or reposition yourself. Once gravity starts pulling you down, you need to think about how you want to land.

If you are performing a long or high jump, landing is the most important part because executing it properly will keep you safe from injuries. In the video, you are able to see one of the Parkour pioneers David Belle, perform some of his jumps and effectively executing the roll.

The important thing to notice is that after landing on his feet, he rolls over his shoulder. This way, he effectively transfers the momentum and the energy that was used for his jump transfers to the roll.

By landing only only on his feet, he would risk injuring his ankles, feet and legs. The roll allows for flexibility that keeps him safe.

Try practicing on flat land, then from higher platforms and ultimately from a wall. Also work up to harder surfaces but start on something soft.

Even with these simple moves you can move up to a huge level of master. For more Parkour Training info click here.

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How to do a Wallrun

By Ismar on October 24, 2011 in Parkour

No matter if you have seen it in movies, video games or on other videos, wallruns are always quite astonishing to look at. For a moment it appears as if though you are defying the laws of gravity, and anything that unnatural is certain to impress anyone.

The best way to go with this is to start off slowly by using only one foot and simply walking on the wall, pushing yourself away from it. Start off with the side you feel most comfortable with, and later as you progress you can practice both legs.

Once you have done a few tries with only one step, try incorporating the second one as shown on the video. This time you will need to gain more momentum. To do this, you need to start thinking of a Wallrun as a long jump, so the more speed you get the higher you go, and the longer your Wallrun will be.

However, be sure to start off slowly and only progress as you become comfortable with the way you are going. This is a pretty easy skill to learn with just a little practice.

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How to do a Wall Climbup

By Ismar on October 4, 2011 in Parkour

While Parkour and acrobatic tricks may seem difficult, all of the people doing it had to start somewhere. By starting out with simple tricks and advancing later on, you build up confidence, skill and acquire a decent amount of tricks up your sleeve.

In the video, you are able to see that wall climbups are not that difficult to perform, and while looking cool are actually also quite functional. Even if you do not want to show off your skills, you might find yourself facing a wall that you would need to climb, by learning how to do it, you will be able to.

While climbing up, try to keep your hands straight, because by bending them you lose all the power you had. While performing 180s you should be kick yourself in the opposite direction only when you’re high enough. It’s rather simple, just needs a little bit of practice. Fun thing about is, you can go outside and practice right now.

For more parkour skills like these check out this DVD or the online course.

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Awesome Free Running Video

By admin on August 22, 2011 in Parkour, Tumbling

You can spend a lot of time on Youtube looking around at videos on many cool things. Parkour and Free running are two such things.

But instead of you looking I’ll highlight a few of the best in the coming weeks here on the blog. This first one is long but has tons of great tricks as it s a compilation of the best.

You’ll find all kinds of acrobatics as well as a little bit of hand balancing and strength moves, like the human flag, thrown in.

And if you want to get started learning Parkour and many of these skills yourself I recommend you check out the Parkour Crash Course.

This is put out by the Tapp Brothers of which I recommended their Backflip program and it was hugely popular.

Good Luck and Good Free Running,
Logan Christopher

P.S. If you know of any great videos I should check out either enter them in the comments below or shoot me an email. Thanks!

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Intro to Capoeira

By admin on April 13, 2011 in Uncategorized

I was at a competition this past weekend and met Adrian who had previous years of experience in Capoeira. I asked him to demonstrate just a few basic moves and he obliged. Enjoy!

There are many different arts that incorporate hand balancing and acrobatics into them and each one is unique. If you’d like to see more about Capoeira here on this site leave a comment below.

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Flexibility Survey

By admin on January 28, 2010 in Flexibility & Contortion

A number of people at the site have expressed an interest in building flexibility.

Hand balancing, acrobatics and flexibility all go hand in hand. Yet this is one area that I haven’t covered too much… that is until now.

But before I go and tell you all about it I want to know what you’d like to know.

Click here for the flexibility survey.

I have plans for a free report that’ll share with you the common misconceptions about stretching and much more. But that only scratches the surface of what I know.

Tell me what else you’d like to know.

It’s a short survey filled with multiple choice questions. Shouldn’t take more than a minute or two to fill out.

In the words of Jerry Maguire ‘Help me, help you.’

Click here for the flexibility survey.

Good Luck and Good Stretching.
Logan Christopher

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