The 3 Best Handstand Shapes For a Beginner To Learn First

How they benefit you and in which order I generally recommend learning them.

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#1 Straight shape

What most people think of when they hear the word  handstand.

It is the most difficult  basic two arm shape to balance because of the high centre of gravity.

But starting with this has benefits.

Mainly that the kick up entry we use to enter it is one of the easiest.

It can be done from standing which generates momentum. This means stacking the hips over the shoulders and hands requires less power and strength.

Also check out how one leg can be placed over the hands before the other. Which also decreases the physical difficulty..

Tuck up and straddle up don’t have this advantage and require more power and flexibility.

You can sort of kick up into straddle and tuck, but it is awkward and not as straight forward for a beginner.

Because of the high centre of gravity. Once straight is solid, Any other basic two arm shape you learn will be easier to balance.

Broadly speaking it is a good Idea to begin with Straight. And I personally consider it the two arm foundation.

#2 Tuck shape

Requires significantly more shoulder strength and mobility than straight handstand.

This is why I recommend not starting with it for complete beginners.

The the bulk of the lower body is no longer aligned over the hands, so the shoulders and upper back have to push up harder to compensate for this.

Therefore working on the tuck shape benefits all other positions to a high degree by developing an increased ability to push and open the shoulders under load.

On top of that, It is a doorway to plenty of other nice variations and more difficult positions

Such as half seven shape, seven shape and yogi tuck shape.

Luckily it has a lower centre of gravity so is easier to balance than straight shape

When you can hold a 30s freestanding straight handstand start on tuck. Though some chest to wall tuck handstands for conditioning can begin earlier than this. But make sure you can hold for at least a 1 min on the wall in straight handstand first.

#3 Straddle shape

The most forgiving shape out of the three.

You have the lower centre of gravity of the tuck but without the added shoulder load.

It is very easy to pickup once the other two are solid.

And just at the right time to begin working on more advanced moves that are based on straddle such as Straddle press to handstand.

It also is a popular shape to begin one arm handstand development with.

And a great shape to start learning flags with too. When your ready.

We love Straddle.

And there it is. 3 Shapes that provide the most bang for your buck. And lay the foundation for so much more.

This exact order obviously won’t apply to every single person on earth but is a good starting point.

If anything don’t try to learn a whole bunch of different shapes at once if you can’t even yet hold your handstand away from the wall. And prioritise mastering these 3 shapes before others.

That’s all friend!

=)

Sundi

PS. For online handstand coaching inquiries Click Here

sundi pereira

Handstand Classes, Workshops and Short Courses Melbourne

For all things related to the wonderful world of hand balancing and handstands, handstand classes, handstand workshops and handstand short courses Suby Handstands has got you covered in Melbourne.

Whether you want to work in a group setting with Melbourne based handstand classes or Melbourne based handstand short courses or on a one to one basis with private handstand lessons you are going to experience growth in your practice.

Many people believe that the best way to progress their handstand is to repeat the same thing over and over again thinking that one day it will lead to some sort of miracle and finally click. I can tell you best way to progress is in fact to practice, but to practice the RIGHT things for your specific level, awareness and body. This is the way forward in your handstand training.

Participating in handstand classes or private handstand lessons is the best way to find the keys to unlock the gates to progress and stop experiencing frustration and fear in your handstand practice.

So you’ve mastered handstand at the wall and are ready to take it to the middle of the room? But every time you hop up, it feels like you can only hold the pose for a nanosecond. What gives? How can you learn to stick your balance in the center of the room?

If you’re looking to move your handstand away from the wall, odds are you’re already familiar with kicking up into the pose. Even so, starting with a solid, well-aligned foundation and kicking up with confidence can strongly increase your chances of balancing in handstand.

Press handstands are one of the coolest gymnastics/acrobatic skills out there

They are a demonstration of control, power and body awareness that can be done virtually anywhere.

Press handstand is a beautiful skill but one that is made up of many physical attributes. Flexibility, core strength, shoulder strength, skill and technique all equally play an important role. Having coaching to assess which area's you individually need to develop is vital to learn press to handstand safely and efficiently. I can help you put together a training plan to achieve your inversion, arm balance and hand balancing goals.

Tuck handstand is another awesome skill to work on.

As the name implies, a Tuck handstand is a bent leg position where the knees are pulling towards the chest, versus a handstand where the legs are fully extended with toes pointing directly towards the sky.

It helps to develop correct should alignment, shoulder strength, shoulder flexibility and is the gateway to many other cool handstand shapes. There is 2-3 amazing handstand drills that drastically help develop tuck handstand.

What about handstand pushups? A brilliant display of body control and raw power.

Just like you wouldn’t want someone performing a ton of kipping pull-ups when they don’t have the strength to do one strict pull-up, we don’t want someone doing a ton of kipping handstand push-ups if they don’t have the strength to do a strict handstand push-up. The shoulder strength required to complete a handstand push-up is great, and some may not have that strength just yet. Have no fear, I have created a simple training program to help you build your upper body strength to reach the goal of obtaining a strict handstand push-up. With dedication, patience and hard work, you too can successfully attain the handstand pushup.

As soon as you’re able to balance a handstand by the wall for just a few seconds without using the wall for support, it’s time to start adding some freestanding handstand exercises to your practice. BUT don’t leave the wall behind entirely just yet, it will still be one of the most useful tools for awhile to help maintain your conditioning and continue developing sound balance mechanics.

It can seem both terrifying and impossible to move your handstand practice away from the wall. Because what’s gonna happen if you fall? Some parts of the fear of falling out of a handstand are rational, others are entirely irrational.

let me help you address and overcome the rational fear of falling when you practice the freestanding handstand.

Learn how to handstand by learning :

How to fall

The benefits of going upside down

The muscles worked in a handstand

How to warm up before doing a handstand

Step-by-step directions for doing a handstand

Common handstand mistakes to avoid

As for how long it'll take you to master a handstand? It's pretty individual. Some will get it right away, while it takes a lot longer for others. Remember that it’s as much a mental discipline as a physical one and keep trying, knowing that you will get there.

So let get started. Click on the Handstand classes Melbourne page and take your practice to the next level whilst cultivating discipline and self understanding.