Author Topic: So frustrating (Handstand Help) (Read 6821 times)

Altus Gerhardt · « **on:** October 20, 2008, 06:35:54 PM »

I've been wanting to get handstands for so long and have practiced for so long, but still I can't get up in a handstand and balance...Also when I'm up in the handstand and after a few my wrists start to kill me. How can I actually make progress on a handstand and actually be able to handstand for at least like 15 seconds?

Matthew Wang · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2008, 06:50:14 PM »

I know you don't want to hear this but, just try over and over, you'll slowly strengthen your shoulders, arms and wrists to withstand your weight.

You can also do other wrist exercises. I don't know any specific ones but search around and you'll find some.

Jake Vigil · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2008, 06:53:13 PM »

I have a similar issue. I try probably 20-30 handstands a day, and I just cant seem to balance for longer than a few seconds. I can hold myself fine, but I cant find my balance

Adam McC · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2008, 10:06:34 PM »

Keep tryin, guys. It took me a few years, and I still mess up and gotta change fiddle around to find my balance.

Jereme Sanders · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2008, 03:58:40 AM »

Use a wall to gain the strength necessary first, then as you progress you can move away from it. If you are experiencing a lot of pain though you should work wrist strengthening exercises.

Tai · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2008, 05:22:50 AM »

I know what you mean with the wrists, I definitely would say use a wall, but make sure you are at least six inches away from it, you only want to use the wall if you fall back to far. Also i have loose shoulders so i had to do a lot of strength training to get to the point where i could hold the handstand for more than 15 seconds, inclined push ups were the most effective for me cause that way i could get used to having more weight on my arms and the angle at a slower pace.

Jake Vigil · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2008, 06:42:49 AM »

See, as for me, I can hold a handstand against a wall for about 45 seconds, and my wrists have sufficiently strengthened, but I cant seem to get balancing down. I start to fall, and I cant figure out how to shift myself to stay up. It is rather aggravating. And even most of the times I fall off the wall are just me falling from losing balance, even off a wall.

Adam McC · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2008, 07:03:03 AM »

Nothing magic is going to instantly change that, bro. Just keep working at it. It's like precisions on rails. Finding that balance happens some times, doesn't happen other times, but it takes just repetition and sensitivity to master it. Just don't do so much repetition that you hurt your wrists. Mind you, handstands are not the most useful skill in Parkour or even freerunning, and you need your wrists for most other movements out there.

Kyle Ryan · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2008, 11:03:53 AM »

Alright I have a question. I was wondering if it was easier to do handstands on the ground or using a pair of paralettes. I am using the paralettes because I like to have something to hold onto, and I thought that once I could throw myself up on those, doing it on the ground would be easier.

Is this wrong?

Chris Salvato · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2008, 01:10:26 PM »

Parallettes are different...

its not harder or easier...its just different.

you also need to make sure you are in good form...too many people here throw up handstands and their legs are all over the place flailing around and such.

Lock your ankles together, point your toes, squeeze your ass and your abs and PUSH against the ground. When you have good form it will all fall into place from there.

Also work on HSPU against a wall. The full ROM dynamic strength will help your static ability greatly.

Kyle Ryan · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2008, 02:08:30 PM »

Alright thanks Chris. I do have decent form, but I am lacking in one aspect. I cant do a HSPU, let alone push up into a full handstand, do you have any advice??? I can hold it, when I start straight armed for about 30 seconds. But when I try and push up into it. It doesnt work...

Also, how are you so educated? Just obsessed with fitness and health(no offense at all)? Or are you going to school for it?

Julian Vazquez (954-FR) · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2008, 04:16:36 PM »

As for Chris - hes probly just an experienced Traceur. More so than you or I.

What I do?
Go up to a wall, and about 2 feet away from it, try and go up into a handstand without having anything touch the wall, one leg up first with the other immediately and fluently following. Balance without having to lean on the wall as long as you can, and when you have to lean on the wall, only stay on for a few seconds and then push back off again, trying to stay as straight as possible and still without falling out of the hand stand or having to lean on the wall again.

Works for me.
Ive gone from 1 seconds, to like 4 seconds in the past week trying that since its kinda all I can really do safely with a messed up foot.

Chris Salvato · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2008, 10:20:29 PM »

Quote from: Kyle Ryan on November 03, 2008, 02:08:30 PM

Alright thanks Chris. I do have decent form, but I am lacking in one aspect. I cant do a HSPU, let alone push up into a full handstand, do you have any advice??? I can hold it, when I start straight armed for about 30 seconds. But when I try and push up into it. It doesnt work...

When I said PUSH against the ground I meant once you are fully into a handstand you need to make sure you are activly shrugging your shoulders towards your ears as if you are pushing against the ground. Practice this against a wall first. Get in good form with your face towards the wall and away from it then you can likely move away....

For HSPU, go into a HS against the wall. Assume proper form but lean your weight against the wall so that you don't need to focus on balance. Then lower yourself all the way down slow and controlled. Do this on parallettes and go ALL the way down. When you're done, kick back up into an extended HS and then do it again a few more times. These are HSPU negatives. This will help build the strength necessary for full HSPUs.

Quote from: Kyle Ryan on November 03, 2008, 02:08:30 PM

Also, how are you so educated? Just obsessed with fitness and health(no offense at all)? Or are you going to school for it?

Obsessed with fitness, health, parkour and training....and i took some courses when I was still in school....in exercise physiology, anatomy and physiology and electrophysiology, to name a few...

Most of what I learned is from the internet and talking to the right people who know what they are talking about like Steve Low and people on a bunch of other forums.

Quote from: Julian Vazquez (954-FR) on November 03, 2008, 04:16:36 PM

As for Chris - hes probly just an experienced Traceur. More so than you or I.

More experienced in training/nutrition/getting strong maybe...but when it comes to parkour skills I have a bit of a ways to go

Shae Perkins · « **Reply #13 on:** November 08, 2008, 08:39:19 PM »

I don't think there is any secret to this dude. I have found that doing them over and over and over and over again is the best way to get better. Good luck man.

hfksla · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2011, 05:59:14 PM »

Havent cared about handstands in a while (besides HSPU and for time (wall assisted)) so I just tried a few and realized I now suck at them... Like I can only hold for no more than 5 seconds
So i searched, found this thread, and now we're here

ALo9 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2011, 10:33:50 AM »

So would you say that its not realistic to have a pretty solid handstand down in 2-3 weeks? I plan on practicing them for about 45 minutes-1 hour 2x a day (one in morning/one in evening). Also, this is the first time that I've really tried to tackle a handstand. I''m pretty sure I've got the strength for it, but just can't find the balance like other people... I'm uploading some vids on youtube right now to try and get tips and advice on my handstands, so I'll make a post here when they're done...

Brian O'Neil · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:25:35 AM »

Enjoy

http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Hoffman/YorkHandBalance/yorkhb.htm

(livewire used these when he was injured and got nasty on his hands)

steve dahlin · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2011, 09:13:07 PM »

Handstands come with time and practice, over time practicing hanstands, you get better at balancing, and your wrists and core get stronger and are able to resist falling more.

Alan · « **Reply #18 on:** May 25, 2011, 09:25:22 AM »

Just keep doing handstands against a wall. Eventually you get to the point that you can hold freestanding handstands for 3-4 seconds, then 5-6...
If your wrists get sore, get a 10-15lb dumbbell. Hold it in one hand and rest your whole arm on a solid surface. Now, JUST USING YOUR WRIST, raise and lower the dumbbell until you get tired. Rinse and repeat.
It took me about two months to get to a solid handstand that I felt comfortable doing in public. If you do more upper-body conditioning (pull-ups, push-ups, etc.) you can probably cut that time down.

mnugghuhx · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2011, 06:45:11 PM »

I am SUPER frustrated with handstands. I am not used to not being able to pick up a new skill nearly instantly. Driving me nuts.

Back to practice!

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Author Topic: So frustrating (Handstand Help) (Read 6821 times)