Press to Handstand Tutorial

A detailed tutorial explaining the principles and techniques behind the most basic of press to handstands, the straddle press. Using the same techniques and progressions displayed in this tutorial, you can learn a tuck press, pike press, planche press, straddle lever press, L sit press, V sit press and any other press to handstand that you can think of! If you haven't seen my handstand tutorial, or indeed any other handstand tutorial on Youtube and you can't do a controlled handstand for a fair amount of time, I suggest you take a look at a tutorial and learn to do a decent handstand before following this tutorial. My handstand tutorial can be found by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MPS2ftmvBw

If after trying, you are still having trouble with lifting your hips before your legs; follow this link for a really excellent drill which should help you, it focuses solely on the lifting of the hips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BomnNMW9bPQ

My straddle press to handstand is by no means perfect in terms of technique, ideally you should get your hips right over your head before you start to lift your feet. I have enough strength to reach handstand even when my hips are only above my hands. It is not recommended, but if you are strong enough to do so, there is not necessarily anything wrong with doing that.

In the first clip I am wearing ankle weights to make it more difficult, this is a great way of improving the strength needed for this move, even if you use them whilst practicing against a wall, it will make it more difficult, and you will therefore improve more.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• gymnastics
• straddle
• press
• to
• handstand
• strength
• flexibilty
• tutorial
• how
• teaching

[AQasimov1]

Nice tutorial, I am working out the suggested way and it works out fine.

One hint: Put some more time to read the instruction text passages, it is to short to read properly, I always had to stop the video. Apart from that: Great work!!!! Thank You so much!

Alim

[natcomber13]

@AQasimov1 yeah sorry about that, it was the right speed for me but obviously everyone reads at different speeds, I just didn't want the video to drag on any longer than it needed to :)

[carmcharm7]

I am working on getting the headstand to press. You said not to jump, but I don't know how to not jump. I am trying to lift but not having much success. Are there any tips you can give me to help me not jump?

Very helpful video btw :)

[natcomber13]

@carmcharm7 its kind of diffcult to explain, but basically you find your point of balance and use your muscles to get you up, instead of just pushing off the ground with your feet. There should ideally be no contribution at all from your toes

[makrenee]

Great tutorial. Any recommendations for if you lack the strength to even work straddle press against a wall? Atm I've been doing negatives against a wall but at a certain point when lowering the legs I lose control and they just fall to the floor. I never straddle to headstand but my pike to headstand is pretty solid, which I imagine is slightly more difficult than straddle to headstand?

[natcomber13]

@makrenee yep, pike to headstand is more difficult, but let me say again that the headstand presses DO NOT develop the strength you need for this skill, only the technique of the lift. Negatives are a good idea, aside form that just held handstands and anything else which involves leaning of the shoulders in the same way, like tuck planche holds etc. Remember the specific training is often the most effective; i.e. just keep trying!!

[natcomber13]

@bonniebaby1997 I'm afraid you get no sympathy from me for that, every gymnast, no, every sportsperson gets knockbacks and injuries all the time, if you have a true desire to succeed and true love for your sport they will not stop you, you come back stronger. In my opinion, falling off a beam is a poor excuse, but then again not everyone has the same aims and priorities i suppose

[bonniebaby1997]

@natcomber13 yh i got quite angry at that and decided to swim instead. now im an excellent swimmer instead!!!

[finskamuska]

informative...



[JakubGrimstad]

@natcomber13 I thought it was an appropriate speed. Better too fast than too slow, because you can always pause :P Well done tutorial, thanks a log

[XtremeTkatchev]

I got mine yesterday.

[RoseRodent]

That's the most incredible tutorial, you can follow everything there, I know exactly what you mean by each thing which is so rare a skill.