Tag Archives | Handstand

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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Death Defying Handstands

By admin on December 22, 2007 in Uncategorized

How to do the One Hand Handstand by Professor Orlick

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

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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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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Handstands and Scientific Balancing

By admin on December 6, 2007 in Handstands

It looks like the new Ask A Question section on the site is popular.You can let me know any problems you are having and I will answer them.

Here’s one question from Andres (and he‘s not the only one asking this).

Hi yes, I will get right to the point so you don’t have to waste time. When doing a handstand, is balancing with hands (duh), I’m still kind of new to it, and I’m having a bit of trouble of the balancing in the core part, meaning the hands. I know it is not a strength issue. Can you give more tips, or go more in depth in what the hands should do or what the wrists do to help the hands and so on.

Thank You.
A.

This seems to be the hardest part for anyone to learn. While it doesn’t take much strength to hold a normal handstand the balancing part sure can be difficult.

Though you balance with your hands that is only part of the equation.

I’ve written a new article that just might clear up a few things to help you along.

Handstands and Scientific Balancing

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

P.S. Lost Art of Hand Balancing Courses are now in over 10 different countries across the world. Have you got yours yet?

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A Night at the Circus

By admin on December 4, 2007 in Uncategorized

Circus Chimera had come to town. And I was not going to miss it. Last night, a group of friends and myself went to get in on the fun.

Sure its not Cirque de Soleil, but still, these guys and gals were good.

I knew that among the dancing, clowns, jugglers, acrobats, tap dancers from Argentina, and everything else there was bound to be some hand balancing.

The contortionists did not disappoint.

First up was a guy who started in the splits then moved into positions they probably don’t even have names for.

He crouched down on one arm and lifted up into a one-arm half planche. Now this skill is not very difficult (unlike a normal one-arm planche). Since your body rests on your elbow it does not take a huge amount of strength, just bodily control and balance. What impressed me was how this guy made it look. Perfect and steady as a rock, he got a big round of applause from the crowd.

After he squeezed into a small box as his finale, a Chinese girl came on stage. She went into the super limber back routine. A few kick-overs and turning about in inhuman ways later, she placed her hands on the ground.

She went into a hand balance with here legs spread wide. I can imagine, that doing the splits in air makes it easier to balance, since it lowers your center of gravity.

Bob Jones talks about the degree of bend in your back. Well this girl had her rear hovering just over her head as she balanced. You can find similar pictures in the last chapter of the book. Overall the show was well worth my time. It got me to thinking. What I have described was pretty much the full extent of hand balancing within this show.

If you could put together a nice little routine like the ones outlined in The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing, with your very best skill being a one-arm handstand, you could rightfully run off and join the circus.

I realize that may not be on your list of goals in life.

However, with a decent amount of practice you could be amazing people with your skills just like these performers anywhere you choose.

I suggest to all of you anytime you have an opportunity to see this kind of show you go. It will be sure to entertain and inspire as well.

Until next time,
Logan Christopher

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What a broom can teach you about hand balancing

By admin on December 4, 2007 in Handstands

Everyone has done this at one time or another. A broom is a common item but any long straight object will do just fine.

Put one end on your open palm with the other end straight up in the air and keep it there by balancing.

This is not very difficult and let me tell you why. The broom is straight and solid. Your efforts at balancing it from the bottom translate straight up to the top so it is quite easy to keep it in the air.

Of course, this is related to hand balancing. However, there are some big differences.

Your body is not just one straight long object. You have mobile joints at your elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. And then there’s your spine which has many moving pieces.

This is not an anatomy lesson. My point is that your efforts of balancing on your hands may not directly translate to keeping your feet in the air.

Your target must be keeping your body from wrists to toes unmoving so that you can balance.

Keeping your body tight is the key to holding a quality handstand. Any leak means getting out of proper position and a much tougher time getting back in.

So stay tight, but don’t forget to breathe.

In the beginning all this is not as easy as it appears, especially when you are in the unfamiliar upside down position. But keep practicing.

When you can keep your body rigid then handstands are a piece of cake.

Sincerely,
Logan Christopher

P.S. For in depth instuctions on how to get into position and hold it check out Professor Paulinetti and Bob Jones’ Book

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The Secret to Hand Balancing is…

By admin on December 4, 2007 in Handstands

Some people say that there are no secrets left in the world. If you ask me, that is pure B.S. If you don’t know something then that something is a secret to you. If there were no secrets in hand balancing then no one would be buying The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing.

If you want to get good at anything, learn from the experts. Professor Paulinetti and Bob Jones would certainly fit under that definition.

Actually there are many secrets to hand balancing. Today, I want to cover just one of these so here it is.

It is called ‘hand balancing’ for a reason. I have watched many people kick up into a handstand only to be on the ground moments latter. One of the major points they lack is the sensitivity in the hands that is required.

Don’t miss a word of this, you must balance by the action of your hands. No flailing of your legs or weaving your body back and forth. Its all in the hands.

Take a moment right now to step away from your computer and kick-up into a handstand. Get a feel for the control in your hands.

This kind of control is why great hand balancers have not only strong and muscled arms, but forearms to match.

When you take this little key and master it, staying in a handstand becomes a simple task. Just imagine that…

This is just one piece of advice that can help you in a big way. To learn many more secrets from true masters of this art get your copy of The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing

Sincerely,
Logan Christopher

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John Grimek Hand-to-Hand Balance

By admin on November 29, 2007 in Uncategorized

John Grimek Hand-to-Hand Balance

Here is John Grimek holding Glenn Marlin in a low hand-to-hand balance. This shot made the cover of the short lived magazine Acro-Chat. Unfortunately this magazine, covering all things acrobatic with writers such as Ray Van Cleef and Bob Jones, caved in due to financial problems.

This comes from an article inside talking about the picture.

“A pleasant renewal was our chance meeting in Chicago with our old friend John Grimek. Grimek the most famous physical specimen of our time is also a very capable acrobat, easily doing handstands, backbends and splits, as well as having a natural ability as an understander. In his youth Grimek spent a great deal of his time practicing acrobatics at Chicago’s North Beach.”

Bodybuilders like Grimek, were much different from the ones of today.

Here is a bit from an interview done with the late Reg Park talking about how Grimek’s posing routine won the 1948 Mr. Universe Contest for him.

“John Grimek won the 1948 Mr. Universe, but in my book, Steve Reeves should have beaten him. When it came down to sheer physical beauty – which was what I thought the Mr. Universe contest was about – Reeves was way ahead of Grimek. John started off with acrobatics and presses from the floor into handstands, that and his muscle control, well, the roof almost caved in from applause he received. But there you are, that is what mass hysteria can do at a muscle contest.”

I’d like to see any of the bodybuilders of today do any of those skills in their contest besides just pose. It would be impressive if one could even hold a handstand, but that’s not likely to happen. Watching bodybuilding contests might become a favorite pastime of mine if they all performed like Grimek did.

A good dose of acrobatics, hand balancing, and weightlifting and you too can build up a physique with the strength to back it up like John Grimek.

Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher

P.S. There will be more coming as far as articles and pictures from Acro-Chat magazine.

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