If I try doing a cart wheel over and over again, for like 3 hours, would that build my strength into being able to do one? Becasue I cant seem to manage to get my feet off the ground!
2007-07-20 11:23:39 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Dancing
No no no! There's no need to try it for three hours! Cartwheels are not strength skills if you do it right.
When you do a proper cartwheel, it is nearly impossible to not be able to lift your legs up. Assuming you're doing a cartwheel on your right side (if you do it on your left, just reverse everything), start in a lunge with your right foot forward (right foot about a foot in front of the left. Right leg is slightly bent and your weight is on your right foot.
Even though cartwheels are done sideways, you still have to tip over forwards. In your lunge, tip forward and keep your body straight. While tipping, your back foot (left) should come up with it keeping a straight plane from the tips of your fingers to your back foot. Point your back toe and keep your back leg straight, it will be so much easier in the end! Keep your right leg bent for now.
When you are almost touching the ground, twist your upper body so your fingertips are facing right. Practice doing a cartwheel on a line (don't worry about getting landing your feet on the line yet). This will help you get your hands in line with your feet. It's easiest this way and will help your feet get over. As soon as your first hand touches the ground, you should straighten your leg and sort of press off of it like you were jumping, although don't actually jump. \ Your left leg should be almost straight up now, with your right leg following it. KEEP YOUR LEGS STRAIGHT!! You do not know how much this will help you!
Practicing handstands against a wall will help you get the feel for being upside down.
When you are finally upside down, your feet shouldn't ever be together. Continue moving your left foot over yourself like a rainbow and having your right foot follow it. Your left foot should come down like you would coming out of a handstand. Follow with your right foot behind in a lunge.
That was a REALLY long way of describing how to do a handstand... But it should help.
If you are too scared to try this or don't think you can get your legs over, try this:
Crouch down and put your hands on a pillow as if you were going to do a cartwheel over it. Do "mini-cartwheels" over the pillow. They don't have to be in a full handstand. Try to get them higher and higher until you can do them in a full handstand.
Good luck!!
2007-07-20 12:30:03 · answer #1 · answered by Dancer~Gymnast 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nooo dont do it for three hours! you'll over work yourself. just do a few everyday (AFTER stretching first of course, stretching not only increases your flexibility, it prevents injury) and they will get higher and higher. I used to assist an acrobatics class and the biggest problem people tend to have with cartwheels is bringing their hips up so just keep in your mind to bring your hips up and over and try and straighten your legs. Gymnastics is mostly mental so once you get the feel of it, it will be soo easy. =]
2007-07-21 00:20:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will get your feet off the ground - if you keep trying for that long all you will end up with is being dizzy as heck.
Ask a gymnastics instructor for help.
2007-07-20 18:31:37 · answer #3 · answered by terri c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, just keep practicing...but don't do it for three hours straight...just do it for 30-45 mins maybe then take a break and try again. You'll get it in no time!! =)
2007-07-20 18:41:27 · answer #4 · answered by Leah♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stretch daily, especially those straddles. Do a few dozen cartwheels every day.
Eventually they will improve. :^)
2007-07-21 09:42:36 · answer #5 · answered by Coach ~Jen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋