Tag Archives | Handstand

Training Differently in Your Routines

By Jon Magno on January 31, 2017 in Hand Balancing, Handstands, Head Balancing, One Hand

Last week I posted about adding weights to your hand balance training. Its a great way to build up the necessary muscles and stimulate the right activation. But, what do you do if you keep training in the same manner but reach a standstill. I can get into processes like autoregulation, but I’m going to make this simple and say just change things up!

There was a time when I would spend about 30 min 5-6 days a week on my hand balancing. Not including the periodic times during the day.

Luckily, I have a nice open floor to train. Although working on the freestanding handstand is great, constantly working on your bailout isn’t. In other words it doesn’t help if you cant keep the hold.

I could have probably tried to power through it. If you quit every time something gets difficult you won’t ever achieve anything great. But I’m more a technical guy than power.

So I decided to test and change things up. I tried variations off the fall, different surfaces, and even stalling from cartwheels.

This creates the dual effect of shocking your body and refreshing your mind. If you ever feel tired and stuck a small or even big change-up is what you may need.

As long as you stay consistent you will get better. All you might need is a little alteration.

There is so much variety in hand balancing, if you stay creative, you’ll never get bored.

If you need some help in getting started, why not check out our Handstand Mastery Course.

Stay Inverted!
-Jonathan Magno

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Hand Balancing and Cross Training with Weights?

By Jon Magno on January 28, 2017 in Flexibility & Contortion, Hand Balancing, Handstands, Head Balancing, Mobility, One Hand, Planche, Presses & Pushup, Walking & Jumping

Will weight-lifting help you with your hand balancing skill? That’s a tricky question, although not too difficult. The answer is YES and NO.

I’m going to expound on the idea. First off, weight-lifting is a ranged term which can involve power lifting, olympic lifts, bodybuilding, or old-fashioned strength training. A big qualifier on your results is in how you lift.

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 own body overhead. You need strong triceps, shoulders, and core.

Since many of the inverted presses take you through different planes of movement; not strictly overhead work, like the frogstand press, you will also need strong pectoral muscles in addition to the core.

So strengthening these muscles will make your stunts easier.

Then again 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. You know what? It just depends on what you’re doing with 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.

So in short, look at what your own goals are and see what will work best for your situation.

If you need some help in getting started, why not check out our Handstand Mastery Course.

The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing

Stay Inverted!
-Jonathan Magno

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1 Min Tip: Acrobatic Attributes – Kickup Coordination and Strength

By Jon Magno on February 29, 2016 in Acrobatics, Gymnastics, Hand Balancing, Handstands, Mobility, Other Skills, Uncategorized

For today’s post, I’ll be showing you a nice way to build up the strength of your kick up into the handstand! Whats great about this move is that its a nice diversion from the usual lead up stunts. It also helps you with your hip-hinging, driving power from the floor, as well as your mindful body feel! The move we’ll be working on is called the Frogger to Banzai Hop from the Gold Medal Bodies Elements Program.

The first thing you want to do is start in a deep squat position and make sure your arms are on the inside of your legs.

Up next, get your arms in a locked position and load them onto the floor. Once you’ve put the load on your hands, drive your hips up and let them fall naturally forward.

Once your legs land, get into an overhead squat position and complete a small hop.

Continue with this combo for about a minute, being mindful about whats happening with your body!

You can catch the action in the video below!

This combo came from the Gold Medal Bodies Elements Program. If you’re interested in delving more into developing your acrobatic foundation go here!

Stay Inverted!
-Coach Jon

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Some Inspiration from 47 year old Freerunner

By Jon Magno on February 27, 2016 in Acrobatics, Flexibility & Contortion, Gymnastics, Hand Balancing, Handstands, Mobility, Other Skills, Parkour, Tumbling, Uncategorized, Walking & Jumping

Hey guys! If you don’t know much about me, know that I started in on movement training at a later age. I’ve always done the martial arts and have trained in combat sports, but working on tying it together into a cohesive art of self expression didn’t happen till later. I’ve still got a long way to go, but its great to see what others have accomplished even later in life!

P.S. No highlights in this one. Just watch the video as it is, you won’t regret it!

Only a couple of days left to pick up the Advanced Bridging Course. You’ve heard us talking about over the past month and you can get it by clicking here!

Stay Inverted!
-Coach Jon

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“1 Min Tip”: Acrobatic Attributes: A-Frame Leadups

By Jon Magno on February 22, 2016 in Acrobatics, Flexibility & Contortion, Hand Balancing, Handstands, Mobility, Uncategorized

Hey Guys! In today’s post, I’m going to be expanding on the A-frame position. Each move in the GMB Elements program works on multiple attributes that one needs to develop for acrobatics.

Specifically today, I’ll be talking about how the A-frame teaches one to utilize the hip while either walking up or kicking up while utilizing the wall!

In the first position, drive up from your hips and try to align your hips above your shoulders. This will make it easier to get into the handstand than creating an arc from your feet to the wall.

If you utilize the same hip drive in the reverse wall handstand, you can create an angle where you can fully extend your legs and really stabilize your body.

How to do the One Hand Handstand by Professor Orlick

Check out the full video below!

Also if you are looking to really develop your foundation in any acrobatic endeavor check out the GMB Elements program here: https://lostartofhandbalancing.com/go/elements/

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1 Min Tip: Acrobatic Attributes – The A Frame

By Jon Magno on February 5, 2016 in Acrobatics, Gymnastics, Hand Balancing, Uncategorized

Logan and I are always looking for ways to increase the effectiveness of you training with handbalancing and luckily we’ve found a great resource from our friends at Gold Medal Bodies. This new set of videos that were inspired by the wealth of information in their foundational programs will simultaneously develop your strength, mobility, and biomechanics needed for acrobatics.

Here is the first video in the Acrobatic Attributes Series: The A Frame

The A Frame is a great position to work on in order to build your hip and back strength and mobility. It will teach you how to use your hips for lead up stunts like the kick-up wall handstand or the kick-up in general!

You want to start out in an Athletic Stance and then bring your hands to the floor.

One of the key components you want to pay attention to is the straightening of your legs and back while keeping your biceps by your ears and driving your hip up!

Be sure to check out the full 1 min. tip below.

Also if you are looking to really develop your foundation for anything in your acrobatic skillset check out the GMB Elements program here: https://lostartofhandbalancing.com/go/elements/

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Happy Hump day and what would you like!?

By Jon Magno on January 20, 2016 in Acrobatics, Gymnastics, Hand Balancing, Handstands, Uncategorized

Happy Hump Day everybody! As you all know we have been working hard making Lost Art of Hand Balancing bigger and better! A part of that process is in seeing what you guys are interested in. Which tips you found the most benefits in and also what you would like to see in the future. So, with that said, we’d appreciate it if you send us a shout and let us know what YOU WANT!

Stay Inverted!
-Coach Jon

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Hand Positioning For the Handstand Part 2

By Jon Magno on January 18, 2016 in Hand Balancing, Handstands

Allright! Here is part 2 of the Hand Positioning for the Handstand Post. Here is some great insight on small tweaks you can make to increase your hold time and balance. The basic beginner position if you have good range of motion in the wrists is to try and keep the middle fingers parallel to eachother.

If that becomes difficult and you are even having trouble kicking up, try turning your hands out.

The hand position can cause stress on the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and base of the neck if your range of motion is compromised.

A simple turn of the hand can reduce the restriction in the upper extremities and make hand balancing a whole lot easier!

Check the video below for more detailed info!

Make sure to get the Handstand Mastery Course!

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Advancing the Basics: Frogstand Variation – Using Your Head 1 Min Tip

By Jon Magno on January 8, 2016 in Acrobatics, Hand Balancing, Handstands, Uncategorized

Here is the first official tip post of 2016 for LAOHB! Today we are going over the Frogstand. Specifically, we are going to take a look at a nice regression you can use to help build the stabilizers necessary to keep you balanced, while you are in this position!

First you want to Begin in the Frogstand Position. Make sure that you are gripping the floor tightly with your fingers and that you have as much surface space that you can rest you legs on!

Second, carefully let the crown of your head rest on the floor as you drive your hips up. Reposition your legs if necessary to gain a stronger position.

Finally attempt to hold the position for at least one minute while you keep your back aligned with a posterior tilt.

An added benefit of this modified position is that you can use it to drive up into your headstand!

Look below to see the entire tip!

If you want to delve deeper into your hand balance training, go to Handstand Mastery!

Stay Inverted!
-Coach Jon

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Better Late Than Never: Happy New Year!

By Jon Magno on January 4, 2016 in Acrobatics, Gymnastics, Hand Balancing, Handstands

Its the first full official week of the New Year and we wanted to make sure that we didn’t forget to wish you a Happy and Successful year in all of your endeavors!

If you need any helpful tips or even a pathway to keep you productive on your hand balancing journey pick up the Handstand Mastery Course!

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