Airflare Frustration

[Michael Wilson]

Airflares have been the bane of my existence since I started training it. I've never had as much trouble with getting any other skill. I took up b-boying relatively recently, almost a year and a half ago, and ever since I've had my eyes on getting airflares. I started my journey by mastering flares and windmills and they were pretty straight forward since I have a decent background in gymnastics. But after 9 months of training airflares and I've made almost no progress while my other powermoves have gotten much better. I've been having problems with just about every aspect of the airflare from the timing to swinging my legs and I'm just not sure how to fix any of it. My hips always seem too low and my feet usually hit the ground before I even attempt the hop. Recently, I've started training hand-hops and one arm handstands in hopes of helping my airflares. I've also begun contemplating retraining the move from scratch following the guidance in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWsKFA5Cdfc To my frustration, there aren't a lot of b-boys or gymnasts with the knowledge of airflares where I'm from so I'm pretty much on my own in learning this. I would love to hear any feedback, tips, tricks, or exercises y'all have to offer.

Video of my pathetic attempts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UznyifbI7LU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4uf1HzQ-kQ

 

[Alessandro Mainente]

Airflare should be learned first slowly and controlled then with more swing. for slow and controlled airflare you need:

-shoulder extension and flexion

-sleep on 2 arms handstand 

-splits

as a side note: managing the press to hs dramatically reduces the time needed for learning the airflare.

[Michael Wilson]

Thanks for the fast response! It seems I have everything you listed, including a straight-arm press, for a slow and controlled airflare so I'll start training like this right away. Though I still feel like I'm doing something fundamentally wrong when I attempt it. Do you know of any drills or exercises to help fix my form? Also what are your thoughts on the SOLPM airflare video?

Edited June 1, 2016 by Michael Wilson

[Oussama KHELLADI]

1 hour ago, Alessandro Mainente said:

-sleep on 2 arms handstand 

very helpful 

the sleep word made me laugh XD

[Oussama KHELLADI]

to Michael as they say A chain is only as strong as its weakest link

since u find that you are not making any progress the best thing you can do is to search your weak point in this skill in order to achieve it and preventing the waste of time 

i saw ur video and its almost 360 good luck man

[Alessandro Mainente]

The tutorial video it is an avanced variation where body is held approximately horizontal, i've never reached this variation due to my bodyweight proportion, the variation with butt closer to vertical it is more reasonable in the short period. Personally, one you get the ability to jump from one hand to the other miming the airflare hop without swing you have completed the big problem.

[PAUL DALY]

Dude I'm just serious impressed with your persistence and ability to get back up each time. Seriously. No doubt you'll do it. 

 

[Gabriel Nunez]

I recommend putting your feet in some TRX bands or rings and approximate the rotation first. All my friends that could do it (I could almost do it) we always practiced balancing on both hands with our legs open, then on one hand (the one that launches you); then we practice swinging our legs while in the handstand position. Then when it came time to jump with the hands, we would do Swipes first (using our hands and legs to land), then my friends would hold each others legs and go for it. Then finally, just trying to get one hop. Hope that helps.