OAHS critique
Started by BMJD, November 29, 2013 · 22 Replies · 6,755 Views
Its not bad, but you have some work to do. FIrst off your regular handstand needs to stay more hollow and this is probably your most important issue. Look at your first handstand from the side and you can see a slight shoulder angle and your ass is too much over when you straddle. You do however look pretty free in your handstand which is good. How are your block walks?
For the 1 arm: In straddle you need to angle your hips a bit more, your lower leg needs to go more down. Where it is now it will easily push you back towards 2 arms. You also open your chest a bit more than on 2 arms when you move over. You need to stay hollow and allowing your straddle to pike(though very slightly) while staying 100% stacked on your shoulders can help with that. Compare your hs at 1.00 with the video attached and notice the differences both in leg and shoulder position. Notice how i stay hollow all the time even when i make a mess at 0.08. Straddle flex is something you should work more on as well.
Along with fixing your alignment issues, to progress your 1 arm, you need to start to work on balancing on 1 arm in straddle as this is by far the biggest step. That partially means starting to make all the mistakes so you learn how to deal with them. Working long endurance sets with support is fine, but it is not the same at all as balancing from 1 palm. They way you remove your fingers now is fine, but be aware to not let your free shoulder move at all. Keep working the different positions, but keep your focus on straddle. Many who can not balance yet often get the sensation that legs together will be easier because it feels more locked when in finger support, but do not let this fool you. Stable legs together on floor is at least 1-2 years of practice harder than 10+ sec straddle.
If this was a class I would have you work on canes blocks and floor. Canes are a great tool that are significantly underestimated outside the circus community. If you can, make yourself some and get some block walking done as well.
Hi thanks for the reply.
I just started some block walking and getting the hang of it. I'm able to do 2 max (up down is 1) at this moment.
I'll go construct a pair of canes but i'll stick to block walking for now, need to find the materials
I've never really worked on specifically on my alignment (just the point toes, lock knees, squeeze bum, push from shoulders) and only started doing so more recently, I use some of the alignment drills in H1 (Going to take a while).
Sorry but what's the difference between blocks and canes?
What's straddle flex?
Here are some of the corrections I tried to implement with the straddle:
With straddle flex, i mean flexibillity. The handstands you did there are better. Keep the work going.
Canes move a bit so its easier to balance on them because you need to stabilize less. About 20% easier I would say. Some people think its better to only work floor because its harder, but its good to do both since you can work on more advanced things on the canes at earlier stages in the process. This goes especially for positions. Once its solid on canes you bring it to the floor.
Thank you for all the critique so far, it has helped me a lot!
This is my current state with walking down blocks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0-UzglkRJk&feature=youtu.be
Not exactly hard physically but finding that correct position before lifting my hand of the cubes can be a challenge
For now I do 5 times (up down is 1) for 3 days a week
Please keep updating us. Watching your progress is fascinating
My current progress with my OAHS practice (and some other stuff which are more touch and go):
Focused more on the straddle position (can hold an average of 2 - 3 seconds on the right hand rather consistently now), straddle flex and the confounding hollow position. Still working on bringing the butt in.
Looking for critique
Better. Your straddle 1 arm is on its way. You still have some funky stuff with your hip/leg on the left arm. Its a bit the same on the right, but acceptable. You still stay a bit arched when on 2 arms which you need to fix. You are losing position in half straddle and legs together and the way you are doing it now will be counterproductive. You should take a step back on those(get your 2 arms straight as aligned as an arrow). It will either way be a long time until you will be able to balance them and you will need good position to get anywhere close.
Very good press hs and nice press from planche to hs though a bit piked. Toe touch is also not bad. Work on repping those.
So just straddle and diamond OAHS and work on eliminating arch.
I've kind of not done much specific presswork (80-90% into OAHS training), only once a week I do a set of 2 planche, stal, pike, tuck straddle press. My hspu has also dopped.
For presses, what is a number to work towards to? I'm able to go 15+ for straddle/tuck, 10+ for pike, 5+ for stalder, 3+ for planche individually.
The numbers on those presses are great. What is your weight and height? 10+ pikes and +5 stalders is respectable and your form is good. With this amount, that kind of work isnt necessary to focus too much on. What you do need is to clean your handstand so you straighten better, work on your technique for your 1 arms and block walking. At your level it would be best to have a coach or attend specific seminars on balancing as hands on teaching would give you a lot.
Current form with OAHS, haven't got the hollow completely down yet:
Good work. Lots of improvement. I will mainly critique your straddle. Good that you practice the others too, but they are currently much further away than the straddle.(the diamond will come shortly after though)
Right arm is doing pretty well. Your leg positioning in straddle there is pretty decent, thats how you should try to look also on the left. In general your alignment is improving and you look more stable. You are starting to get the rough shape of it down and are starting to balance it. Most important thing now is consistency and practice to build more strength and stability. There are details to work on, but the general picture is moving in the right direction
I think I need to clarify my question about the hollow thing I've been trying to ask.
Ok to keep it straightforward, only on the midsection area.
Bring the stomach in, squeeze the bum. My legs tend to become a bit piked (behind the hands). It looked similar to your video you showed me in your first reply.
My question is for 2 arm hs and 1 arm (full) where we want to work towards a straight handstand, can you stack your legs in a line maintaining the hollow engagement without bringing in an arch in the lumbar area (resulting in the butt sticking out)?
When you are in straddle, it is fine that your legs are in front of your hands. This does require good alignment to be possible without having the shoulders compensate. If you look again at the video i posted, notice that my ass is in the same place when legs together and when i straddle. Back stays straight.
As for straight, yes you can and you should. For straight 2 arms you can hold with legs together with sub optimal form while doing the same on 1 arm is near impossible for someone inexperienced with it. Legs should be in same line as the arms on top of the hips. What you are doing around 5.30-40 is fine. You have a bit more to work on but it isnt bad. There is no real arch to talk about there. The real challenge of that position comes in balancing it as it is probably 5-10 times more sensitive than straddle and even the slightest twist will be almost impossible to save unless your balance is very developed and you are very strong.
Ok this is just the straddle oahs so far:
Better. Clear improvement on your right arm. You must get your straddle when doing left to stay like it does on your right. You are now actually balancing on your right arm, so keep working up strength to hold longer and get it consistent.
You twist a little as is visible from the side, but you are able to deal with it. Do work on straightening it though. When doing longer holds and as you get tired you need to be as well placed as possible from the start because your position will by default deteriorate. You need to become capable of dealing with bringing yourself back from bad position so always have the mindset to fight.
Thanks for the reply. With regards to this twisting, I've been doing as much as I can to not twist. I can't really tell sometimes that I twist especially when I go into position. I've been practicing the positions against the wall to stop the twisting.
Here are the rest of the positions which I've been practicing (not as good), start from 1:11:
For full pike presses, I've been working to do it with my hands on the floor. How else can I improve the compression particularly when transiting the L sit to HS portion?
My progress so far, still working on minimising twist. Can feel it more in straddle position
Right arm is ok in straddle and decent in half split. Left still has that straddle thing i mentioned earlier. You are dealing with the twist decently but it still needs some work. For consistency it is mostly about a lot of practice now as it is pretty good. You should put in some work on flags to build some capacity to get yourself back from falling out sideways. Straddle flag first of course. Otherwise pretty good work.
My practice so far, still minimising the twist as best I can
Also did some assisted flag work you mentioned
My current progress so far
Looking for feedback, thanks!
Awesome improvement, I’m just starting the journey, grettings from Costa Rica! 
Would love to see current progress! Hope you're still active. The improvement is amazing to watch!