My Handstand Journey: What I wish I knew when I began

[pete_martinez]

@jesusloverr Thank you for sharing this! I just started a couple of weeks ago, and the wall is my best friend at the moment.

 

[jesusloverr]

@pete_martinez Good luck! #thewallismyfriend

 

[pete_martinez]

@jesusloverr Thank you so much! All the best with your future training!

 

[justiceisblind]

@jesusloverr What are some actual exercises to start for a beginner?

 

[jesusloverr]

@justiceisblind For VERY VERY beginners?

Well, I started by literally holding myself up against the wall. I did this until I could hold 30-60s. This made sure I had enough strength and endurance in my wrists and shoulders.

I then started experimenting with frogstands to get used to hand balancing and train my wrists, and Headstands to practice holding my body upside down. Hollow holds are also encouraged in this community but I found I personally didn’t need them.

Stick with these for a couple of months, then start practicing bringing your feet off the wall when upside down, alongside how to safely bail from a handstand (cartwheeling away)

 

[rsimmons1]

@justiceisblind for the chest to wall Hs, the closer to the wall ur hands are the harder it is (keeping hollow body to avoid resting too much on the wall tho) but u can try L handstands against the wall which is way easier, the one that Gabo Saturno demonstrates in his beginner handstand follow along routine

 

[docmrm]

@jesusloverr Find a spotter, to help spend more productive time upside down.

Falling and having to get back up again quickly becomes exhausting.

 

[jesusloverr]

@docmrm Yes especially in the early days. Wish I had had a spotter!

 

[lsouza]

@jesusloverr Excellent advice! I agree with all of it especially the long-haul. Ironically my patient students progress the fastest

 

[jesusloverr]

@lsouza You’re right, the long-haul applies more to those of us who don’t/didn’t have coaches.

If people are lucky enough to be able to afford coaching then I hands down think it’s achievable in far less time.

 

[mylordisfaithful]

@jesusloverr I have stopped trying to do them years ago. My wrists are too weak, push ups get them in pain already. Sucks :/

 

[marysroses]

@mylordisfaithful Wrist Prep Routine - Handstand Warm-Up for Strong, Flexible Wrists - YouTube

This could be of some help

 

[jesusloverr]

@mylordisfaithful Sorry to hear that. What helped me was Antranik’s wrist strengthening exercises. Do these multiple times a day and slowly build up the strength and flexibility. Definitely worth a shot.

 

[bryan2033]

@mylordisfaithful It used to be too painful for me to do pushups due to my wrists but I was able to fix this in a few months. Now I can do handstands and clapping pushups. Here’s what I did to resolve the wrist pain:

• Took time off climbing.
• 3x8-12 reverse wrist curls twice a week. If you climb, this trains the antagonists and corrects muscle imbalance.
• 3x8-12 pushups on knees. Pushups on knees were still painful, but bearable. I did this a few times each week.
• Get in a pushup position (on knees is fine) and lean as far as forward as you can. Hold this stretch for 30s. Do 2-3 sets of this, ideally every day.

Once I was doing handstand practice, I didn’t have to do the stuff above anymore.

 

[onlythroughjesus]

@mylordisfaithful Try making an account at https://www.handstandfactory.com/ they have a free grip program, to prepare your wrists to handstand.

 

[dearlord]

@onlythroughjesus This shit got me going, addressed some weaknesses i had

 

[john76]

@jesusloverr Thanks for sharing! Great tips indeed. I've practiced HS at my crossfit classes quite often, and to have somebody comment and correct your form is indeed super helpful.

 

[dawn16]

@jesusloverr This is a really nice write up. I've felt my progress has completely stalled out recently so this was useful to read.

 

[jesusloverr]

@dawn16 Hope it gave you some inspiration. Stick to it and you’ll get there eventually

 

[eminem4life]

@jesusloverr Very good tips