Started by Marlon, September 27, 2013 · 4 Replies · 3,947 Views
Hey Gymnasticbodies folks!
This is the current state of my Handbalancing practice I'd love to get some feedback on it.
Also a related question, does anyone have an opinion about optimal weight for a handbalancing?
Right now I'm 6ft tall and around 187lbs, which makes me quite big for a hand balancer. I'm already fairly lean probably no more than 10% bf. Could it benefit me to try to drop weight?
Looking good!
Seems like you're on the right track and have a good idea of what you are doing. My main suggestion since you are taller is to try to go more upright, leaning over the side less in your straight body one arm. Leaning over the side puts a lot more strain on the position for tall guys.
Don't sweat about your height/weight. One of the best hand balancers I have trained with is 6'2"
I am personally shorter but have big legs and glutes which doesn't help my case. I would say that unless you want to be a true handstand specialist don't worry so much about things you have less control over and focus more on training and technique.
Also block walking/stacking is invaluable if you are not doing those yet.
For me this looks pretty good. From my perspective Im fine with your lean as of now. You are diagonal enough but you dont break in the side which is good. In your legs together 1 arm and maybe also in your half straddle ÿou might be a bit too much over but otherwise its ok. You look stable and free enough on your arms to be fine with building variation into your 1 arm training.
As for technique it would be good to learn get control over your free arm without having it throw you off your position, so work on lifting it all the way up, place it behind your back, etc. Keep the trapezius shrugged so the scapula doesnt make unneccesary movement when lifting the arm. Also work on moving your legs when on 1 arm. Bending your top leg(left leg on right arm) is the easiest, then into diamond(toes touching), tuck, straight, etc.
For conditioning and stability, block walks like Yuri mentioned is great stuff. At your level of balance you should be doing 5 easily, so build up to 10 or beyond. For 1 arms, do some sessions where you always do 2 1 arms on each arm so you go right-left-right-left or so to build consistency and strength. This should eventually lead into endurance sets of changing arms. Work also on repping those presses.
As for weight and length, you are doing great so just keep going! Moraru is very tall and one of the absolute best in the business. For you these ratios are not gonna affect you significantly more than anyone else unless we are talking very heavy things like 1 arm pressing, full flag, etc. Most people will have a very hard time to reach your level so its already very good and you are past the most frustrating part(except the figa and 1 arm press haha)
Thanks you both for getting back to me!
I'll definitely be putting more work into the endurance side of this from here on out.
When you both mention getting the straight One arm to have less lean, is that mostly a function of using more shoulder extension?
It is to a certain degree dependent of shoulder extension, but also of just being aware of how far out you let your toes go. But be careful not to let your legs shift back towards 2 arms when you lean less. I misread Yuris post and thought he talked about your lean in general, thats why i phrased it like i did.
But in general this is quality stuff and I would like to see more. Keep working on flag variations and side flexions on 2 arms and to eventually release the arm.