Maltese and protraction

Hi, i'm going to start learning maltese on floor. I'm not sure how much protraction is needed to achieve this skill. When i look at pictures it looks like most of the gymnast do not protract as much as they do in a full planche. And their body looks a little bit arched in lower back, it doesn't have to be 100% hollow or?

before you start training the maltese you should master the full planche...

straight body position it's the ultimate goal but at first time hollow it's a must. chen ybing does not arch on floor maltese and he is pretty hollowed also it rings planche and maltese.

If you can manage iron cross easily (with easily i'm talking about 15-20 seconds while smiling to your friends) you can start the approach to maltese. if not, there is no reason to move over maltese work.

You don't have straddle planche yet. Your time should be spent developing basic straight arm strength and not jumping ahead.

Yeah it is early, but i'm just interested in proper form, i'm holding maltese tuck twice a week. Thanks for feedback.

If proper form is truely what your interested in. Learn to hold a full planche and develop greater straight arm strength first.

You should master straddle planche (10+ second perfect form) at the minimum before starting any work on maltese. The only maltese exercises that maybe safe for you to play around are arm supported malteses. Ideally you want full protraction just like in planche for the maltese. I have maltese on floor and I find that it is much harder to maintain full protraction here than in full planche.