How to teach yourself to do a backflip?

Question

Im athletic and work out 3 times a week. So i feel i could do it if i just had done it once.

Answer 1

do it into a foam pit, once you've master'd the full vertical 360 degree rotation try on padded floors, or wrestling mats. pretty much like anything else, practice makes perfect, so get out there and practice practice pratice...

The way I learned was standing at the edge of a swimming pool and doing a backflip there, but I dont reccomend it, I had a friend that tried to copy me he did it and hit his shin and ankle on the conrete, he did it wrong.

Answer 2

The easiest way, swing from a rope, backflip n land in water. Spring board or trampoline come next.
The trick is to jump up as high as, look strait ahead and once you feel u're at ur highest point, bring ur knees up towards ur face while pulling your head back in one clear motion. The rest is easy as you look for ur landing place.

Answer 3

Do NOT try it by yourself.
Have an experienced backflipper(?) spot you.
Keep on trying and remember to follow through.
Don't get scared in the mid air and stop.

Answer 4

backflips/backtucks are fairly easy to do i think a main problem in doing one its fear. I think people get freaked out then bail out of it causing them to fall and get hurt.

my friend did this a few years ago on his tramopline i told him it was easy and did it so he tried and it was like in a cartoon he was going around looks like he was gonna make it then he just stopped halfway through and went straight down on his head(hes very lucky he was on a trampoline.)

oh before i tell you this i must suggest you get a qualified spotter to assit u.

one you have to learn how to jump properly. yea i know sounds stupid but its true in case you dont know in gymnastics you arms assists greatly with everything you do. when u jump you have to make a circular motion with your hands when you start to jump ur hands are up when you squat down in preparation for the jump ur arms make a circular back the you jump up and your arms keep circuling till the get back to you orginal position of above your head. this will give you a lot more lift then just jumping straight up.

if you are really strong in your legs you dont need ur arms im like this enough power to flip without arms aiding you but for learning purposes you need to learn this first

i would suggest just standing still jumping to see the difference in just jumping and jumping and using your arms to help you lift up. u should notice a great deal of difference in height. get good enough to feel in control of the jump being able to get good height but also good control by landing in the spot you jumped from(straight up then right back down)

when ur jumping DO NOT look down if gonna mess up everything if you can find a fixed postition in front of you above eye level to keep you focused.

another DO NOT try to jump and lean straight back ur gonna kill you height and most likely throw ur head into the ground.

remember when i told you to practice being in total control of your jump? good cause you need to know the highest part of your jump thats when your turn starts.

when you reach this high point you start leaning back. what gives you the momentum to flip completely over is the "tuck"ing of ur body pretty much rolling into a ball you bring your knees to your chest and ur arms that were up in the air above you come in too. so people like to grab their knees with their hands to make sure they are bringing in their arms.

now i cant really explain it but its kinda a feeling you have to tell when you've made about a 3/4 rotation then thats when you relax and untuck bringing out your legs to get ready to land.

I suggest you do this on a trampoling 1st if you have access. practice on the technique without having to balance on the trampoline too much because you will get height that you're not gonna get on the ground.

when ur ready to go the the groung on nonelasitc surface: flipping from a slightly higher surface(few inches or so) to a lower(perferably soft padded)surface practice getting the rotation

also keep practicing just the jump this will build up you legs(polyometrics)

and google or youtube some people doing backflips and look at their techniques to get an idea what to expect
http://trickstutorials.com/index.php?page=content/t_backflip
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KlEhSfwFhTM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=521NIVPIxWs

good luck try to go to a gymnastics place if not definitely get a spotter and be careful