[Fitness] That was a first

[digitaldiscipline]

Managed to do my very first full handstand (against a wall) pushup - from scalp on the floor to full extension - at lunch today. Triceps seemed the least happy about it, rather than the shoulders.

I'm working on various gymnastic holds to try and address core and upper-arm/upper-body strength as well. Also, being able to do the flag just looks cool.

Front lever: http://beastskills.com/FrontLever.htm

Handstand stuff: http://beastskills.com/Handstand.htm (scroll down to the "training" part)

Planche holds: http://www.dragondoor.com/articler/mode3/229/

Up to 2x1 minute tucked front levers; on the ground, I'm only able to maintain a frog planche for about ten seconds right now, because my balance sucks, and I have an aversion to falling on my face.

Comments

[etcet.livejournal.com]

I typically fall back onto my toes, being substantially low-body heavy and actively countering too much forward rotation. I need to work on finding the right arm angle and hand placement, methinks.

I don't think I've walked on my hands since I was a kid, and even then, not for very long.

[sskipstress.livejournal.com]

I took gymnastics lessons at a training gym when I was little. I had to quit when the coaches wanted me to start training for a team. I practiced and competed at school a few years longer than that. I haven't walked on my hands much since then, but I did use the skill for diving and still use it to wow Pilates instructors when doing their version of the frog planche.

When working on arm angle and hand placement, also play around with head/neck angle. Where you're looking has a huge impact on balance and can affect the rest of body position. As a wee little gymnast, I looked pretty much at the floor between my hands (http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5977038/2/istockphoto_5977038-gymnast-hand-stand.jpg) in a handstand, but I also had the wee little gymnast swayback to help balance like that. If you look straight ahead (http://www.gymtidemedia.com/images/00PhotoAlbums/bigpage63/03.Mari_hits_a_nice_undercast_to_lowbar_handstand.jpg), you can maintain a more neutral body position in the handstand.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

I think I was doing the "look 'up' at the hands" thing when I would do them as a wee little sprat. I foresee spending a lot of time falling over on the lawn behind my office (and hopefully not on any fire ants) while I practice.