Started by Cole Dano, April 7, 2014 · 23 Replies · 13,689 Views
We are pleased to announce the first product in the new GymnasticBodies Gear line. Take your training to the next level with these carefully crafted Handstand Blocks.
These blocks are currently only available for shipping within the USA, however, please let us know if you have interest in seeing these brought to your area in the future .
Checkout the blocks here.
Awesome. Had been considering making these for a while just hadn't found the time to do it.
Wow, talk about foreshadowing H3 exercises!
What is it exactly? What's in this boxes?
Talal said:What is it exactly? What's in this boxes?
Nothing. I believe you are supposed to stack them on top of each other while balancing on them in a handstand.
This is so cool, I feel like the hand balancing/ gymnastics community got a level up today!
As the description says on the product page, they are commonly used for hand balancing. They allow greater balancing control by gripping around the sides of the block rather than just balancing through fingertips. They are also used for one armed handstand drills to learn weight shifts.
So GB is also expanding to the handbalancing discipline now?
I think we've always been there, we already have two courses on the topic, with a third on the way. Long before that the forums have had some of the best info available on handstanding, with Mikael Kristiansen aka Handbalancer being a key contributor, that's him in the one arm L photo.
Not to mention that handstands are an integral part of gymnastics, both men's and women's.
So these allow you to do more volume, essentially? It is still my traps/shoulders that give out before the hands though.
Are they also suited for us mortals who are still in the early phase of developing two-handed handstands?
Yes they are good for working two handed HS.
On more volume, I think that's an individual thing. Being able to grip the block can help hold the HS.
For myself, it's more of a variety of the same thing which helps to build a better picture of HS.
I personally like to go between blocks, parallettes and floor, and find they act very synergistically. Being up on something tends to help one feel where the balance point is more easily than the floor, and it takes just that little bit more to get up there. The carry over for me has been being the little bit higher up, makes working off the floor seem easier.
I find being on the blocks forces you to open the shoulders more and being adamant on having the balance point closer to the lower part of the palm like you should.
Would love to see them being shipped to Europe in the future...
B1214N said:So GB is also expanding to the handbalancing discipline now?
Expanding?!?
Once you progress beyond the most basic of the beginning levels, Gymnastic Strength Training™ has always had a very strong handstand component.
For example; How can you do free standing HSPU without a handstand? A hollowback press without a handstand? A press handstand without a handstand? Or an inverted cross without a handstand?
Yours in Fitness,
Coach Sommer
Coach Sommer said:Expanding?!?
Once you progress beyond the most basic of the beginning levels, Gymnastic Strength Training™ has always had a very strong handstand component.
For example; How can you do free standing HSPU without a handstand? A hollowback press without a handstand? A press handstand without a handstand? Or an inverted cross without a handstand?
Yours in Fitness,
Coach Sommer
I was referring to circus handbalancing like what Mikael Kristiansen does such as the one arm L-sit. Those handstand blocks remind me of the blocks that circus handbalancers use when do this stunt where they unstack them while still in a HS.
My original question is nothing now that I know that there are other purposes for those handstand blocks.
B1214N said:I was referring to circus handbalancing like what Mikael Kristiansen does such as the one arm L-sit. Those handstand blocks remind me of the blocks that circus handbalancers use when do this stunt where they unstack them while still in a HS.
My original question is nothing now that I know that there are other purposes for those handstand blocks.
Alex, or was it coach I can't remember, has stated before that it isn't uncommon to see one arm handstands trained in gymnastics. Some gymnast had like a 45 seconds straddle oahs
I would like to place an order for a pair, please ship to Europe 
Quick question for coach. Are these the same size as the ones we used at the seminar last may?
Yes, I believe that these are approximately the same size.
Yours in Fitness,
Coach Sommer
Since the blocks helps to reduce the stress on wrist to train longer, will that be a crutch? For example, would the reduced stress mean there might be less conditioning down the line? (kind of like reduced stress on elbow in rings)
Blocks shouldnt change anything for your handstand except the grip. Placement of weight, alignment, etc. should be exactly the same as on floor. Since you can grip around the block you can use the force from your fingers more effectively, but the difference is not major. There are mainly 2 different grips people use with either 2 or 3 fingers in front of the block. 2 fingers(index and middle) in front are the most common.
For some, the blocks are a bit easier on the wrists since your tendons are in a less stretched position. Also it offers variation and you benefit a lot from being solid on blocks down the line for more advanced balances.
I believe blocks first were used for tricks in handbalancing acts and later became a training tool, but Im not 100% sure of this. In circus school its used by most teachers to develop advanced balancing.
They will in no way function as a crutch. Most people who are used to floor will need to readjust when learning on blocks and will probably have a harder time on them until accustomed. I suggest being able to tuck/straddle jump to handstand on floor before doing serious freestanding block work. The reason is that lunge to handstand can be kind of inconvenient because the blocks might slide. You can do a kick up with hands already on the block, but it needs to be done well since this kick up has a tendency for some to arch up.
For everyone who is not in America, you can make a pair or entire set for next to nothing. They won't look as pretty (unless you're good at woodwork) but do the exact same thing. I got the dimensions from this thread https://www.gymnasticbodies.com/forum/topic/3034-what-are-blocks-for/?hl=%2Bhandstand+%2Bblocks#entry24890
jamesters measured his and posted it in his handbalancing work thread. He said his are, in inches, 3.5 width, 5 length, and 2.5 inches high
Handstand Blocks – Pieces of wood used in handstand training, with dimensions approximately 160mm x 85mm x 60mm. Handstand blocks can also be stacked on top of one another and used in handstand acts.
Spphysio said:Would love to see them being shipped to Europe in the future...
germany would be great!!!
What about using these for planche progressions?