The Gymnastics Handstand
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Phase 1 of 5 · Lunge stance, arms by ears
Setup & Lunge Entry
A handstand begins with a strong lunge, a long body line and a fixed eye target. Get this wrong and the rest of the skill scrambles to compensate.
Phase tutorial · how to drill it
Common mistakes
- Soft front knee or under-bent lunge — no leg drive into the kick-up.
- Arms in front of the head instead of by the ears — kicks off-line and the body folds.
- Eyes searching for the floor instead of fixed on a target — bobbing handstand.
- Bent back leg in the lunge — kills the straight kick path.
- Closed shoulders — they shrink instead of pushing all the way through at the top.
Technique cues
- Front foot pointed forward, knee bent over the toes; back leg locked and long.
- Arms fully extended overhead, biceps brushing the ears, hands open and ready.
- Eyes locked on a fixed target spot 6 inches in front of the lead foot — the hands will land there.
- Body in a long, straight line from back heel through fingertips — no curve through the hips.
- Tight midline brace before any movement begins.
Tip: use ← / → or number keys to walk through the phases.
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