Topic: I've got to flipping learn how to flipping flip (lol)

[Adam "Echo" C]

Alright. It's time I learned to front flip.
.
I've gotten to this point by doing dive rolls, and I'm saying to myself "Heck, why not go all the way around in midair?" I want to do this safely, efficiently, and correctly. I do not have access to a gym, so no awesomely soft pads in this neighborhood. I have grass, and that's about as soft as it's gonna get.

Tips, instructions, and any help in general would be greatly appreciated. I'm not too partial to the idea of getting my head busted open.

[max eisenberg]

just go to a play ground and f#ck around in the wood chips.

60% of guys try a flip at one point or another in their life in wood chips.

[Patrick Yang]

60% of guys try a flip at one point or another in their life in wood chips.

Citation needed.

[Chris Slater]

Find a sandpit our what I did when i first learned was got all my pillows and stuff and put them out on the front yard. Also I see allot of people learning that they don't stall enough ( stalling means waiting for peak of your jump) Also remember to block by putting your feet a little ahead of you. So keep that in mind hope it helps. Also if you have a video camera post some vids love to help you farther.

[Kyle Gouch 'Triple K']

Lol, I believe if you have an old matress you can take outside and flip on, that's bout as safe as it will get for you. Unless, you can practice some on someone's trampoline, to get the technique down. And remember to watch a lot of tutorials before trying. Hope I helped.

[Brandan Mendenhall]

I myself haven't learned to frontflip, but I'm preeeetty sure mattresses, pillows, woodchips and sandpits aren't going to help at all if he lands on his face or head. He could twist his neck pretty badly if he freaks out and improperly tucks right into a faceplant.

Just sayin'.

[Kyle Gouch 'Triple K']

I myself haven't learned to frontflip, but I'm preeeetty sure mattresses, pillows, woodchips and sandpits aren't going to help at all if he lands on his face or head. He could twist his neck pretty badly if he freaks out and improperly tucks right into a faceplant.

Just sayin'.

Even though that's possible, it's highly unlikely because you, I, and everyone thats not crippled has the capability to tuck into a ball and flip, while even crouched down, onto our backs just by jumping and tucking into ball, without without much effort. So, think of doing that but with 3 times as much power into the flip. And your right about the bailing thing, it can cause injury, but I'm not sure it can be as severely as breaking your neck. Because, most people when they bail in mid-flip, there arms automatically reach over there head to prevent such injuries as this, also, if you bailed during a front flip, you'd be able to see the ground the whole time, so it'd be much easier to have your hands protect you from landing directly on your head. Hope I cleared some stuff up.

[max eisenberg]

heres your citation, LIFE.

growing up i can remember about half the guys i knew (not hung out with but, just knew) had at one point or another at least attempted a flip into said substances like grass, wood chips and sand.

all of them turned out fine, its really not all that dangerous unless you dont think you can do it and you dont commit at all. its all about your mindset.

[Brandan Mendenhall]

I myself haven't learned to frontflip, but I'm preeeetty sure mattresses, pillows, woodchips and sandpits aren't going to help at all if he lands on his face or head. He could twist his neck pretty badly if he freaks out and improperly tucks right into a faceplant.

Just sayin'.

Even though that's possible, it's highly unlikely because you, I, and everyone thats not crippled has the capability to tuck into a ball and flip, while even crouched down, onto our backs just by jumping and tucking into ball, without without much effort. So, think of doing that but with 3 times as much power into the flip. And your right about the bailing thing, it can cause injury, but I'm not sure it can be as severely as breaking your neck. Because, most people when they bail in mid-flip, there arms automatically reach over there head to prevent such injuries as this, also, if you bailed during a front flip, you'd be able to see the ground the whole time, so it'd be much easier to have your hands protect you from landing directly on your head. Hope I cleared some stuff up.

Well played sir 

I wasn't really saying he would break his neck--more just twist it uncomfortably--but I do agree with what you're saying.

heres your citation, LIFE.

Can I get a link to that? 

[Adam "Echo" C]

Alright, these answers are helping a lot along the lines of commitment. Thanks so far guys. 

[RandJordan]

60% of guys try a flip at one point or another in their life in wood chips.

Citation needed.

Patrick Yang you never cease to amaze/humor me.

Fixxed^^

[Patrick Yang]

heres your citation, LIFE.

growing up i can remember about half the guys i knew (not hung out with but, just knew) had at one point or another at least attempted a flip into said substances like grass, wood chips and sand.

all of them turned out fine, its really not all that dangerous unless you dont think you can do it and you dont commit at all. its all about your mindset.

The point of asking for a citation is because your observations could be wildly different from others'.  Conclusions one infers from his daily experiences are subject to sampling error.  This is why scientific studies adhere to rigorous standards of peer review and duplication, often using a single or double blind, as to avoid such pitfalls.

I'm not saying that 60% of those you know didn't try flips.  But this certainly wasn't the case with those I grew up with.  Without a proper citation that in itself adheres to scientific principles, making up statistics like begin myths (like people saying that parkour is dangerous and lots of people get hurt).

[Ryan Thomas]

this really helped me too guys thanks

[Callim105]

you could also look for a local tumbling/gymnastics place and go to a open gym. that is where i learned to do wall flips. which suprisingly aren't that hard

[Adam "Echo" C]

Alright, I tried flipping over in midair and landing in a break fall, and that seemed to work pretty well. My main problem is tucking, and I'm not sure that I can get enough height to flip over in midair without smashing my brains on the ground.
(I'm using a mattress, don't worry  )
Is the flip's momentum thrown more vertical than it is forward? Any more tips are welcomed.

[Kyle Gouch 'Triple K']

While your running of course your momentum is going in a horizontal direction, the key is to transfer that horizontal mom. into vertical(up) mom. To do that, you should work on blocking, which is simply is the 'take off'. You should start blocking with your feet in front of you, so you get less distance but more height. Most people, just try to dive into their flip, but thats just gonna head you straight to the ground. Also, try to block with your hands above your head so your center of gravity gets risen, thus creating a higher axis to flip around. Try to block with your body as straight as it can be, from your toes to the tips of your fingers. This way the vertical momentum, has an easy path up, so to speak. Also, about tucking, all you should think about is tucking as MUCH as you can. Remember, the smaller you are the faster you flip. Well, I hope I helped some.

Key Points:
1. Block with feet in front of you
2. Block with your arms above your head
3. Keeep your body as straight as it can while blocking
4. Tuck as tight as you can

Hope I helped. :]

[Adam "Echo" C]

While your running of course your momentum is going in a horizontal direction, the key is to transfer that horizontal mom. into vertical(up) mom. To do that, you should work on blocking, which is simply is the 'take off'. You should start blocking with your feet in front of you, so you get less distance but more height. Most people, just try to dive into their flip, but thats just gonna head you straight to the ground. Also, try to block with your hands above your head so your center of gravity gets risen, thus creating a higher axis to flip around. Try to block with your body as straight as it can be, from your toes to the tips of your fingers. This way the vertical momentum, has an easy path up, so to speak. Also, about tucking, all you should think about is tucking as MUCH as you can. Remember, the smaller you are the faster you flip. Well, I hope I helped some.

Key Points:
1. Block with feet in front of you
2. Block with your arms above your head
3. Keeep your body as straight as it can while blocking
4. Tuck as tight as you can

Hope I helped. :]

This is the best reply so far! This is going to help immensely. I video taped myself last time I tried, and I noticed that I was basically doing a shoulder roll in midair. Tucking is still a big problem, but these tips are great. Thanks a lot man.

[Callim105]

to practice tucking i think you can just start rolling around in a ball