Bent Arm Half Straddle - Where to start?!?

Hello

I've brought this topic up in Foundations as well and was asked to post form.  Everything has been progressing well on the Planche module until I've hit this mobility test.  My Frog Stand is now at 4x28 and progressing nicely.  I've attached two videos, the first is from the previous level and felt fine but I've come to a complete stop on this one.  Any advice and alternate exercises to build to the mobility on this one would be greatly appreciated.

Video is at - 

Wait what the coaches will suggest for you, but it looks to me like you are not leaning enough forward, and your PPT is not strong enough… 

Suzanne what does PPT mean?

You need to lean forward way more than that, the cue for me is "your hands need to be further back than you think they need to be". You see how your forearms are near vertical and your wrists are a little bit in front of elbows (at 12s mark) ? Your forearms will need to be more at an angle with wrists behind elbows, that's what you are aiming for.

This position will require some pushing strength, so if you haven't mastered HBP/PE3 this will be difficult. If you have mastered HBP/PE3 you should consider revisiting it. Also consider your planche progressions, you really need to have that protraction and depression of the shoulders solid.

Now for the entry, for me the easiest way to enter this element is to go from the planche lean and go down like you are doing a PPP. Make sure you have your shoulders depressed and protracted, don't let yourself sag and don't lose any lean (this is the key part). When you're almost down (like a bent arm planche lean) lean forward more, more. It's complicated to explain but there's a point where you can carefully straddle and bend the legs for the half-straddle and you're floating. I find this entry procedure is easier than trying to go from a tuck and extending. Going from a tuck I always tended to lean too little as you are. I can do it now from a tuck as well but it was easier going from the bottom of the PPP at the beginning.

When you hold the position it should feel like your hovering and your actually using your shoulders to push forward or backward to balance the lean. It doesn't feel like pushing up. Don't forget to breathe :).

This position may take a while to get, but once it clicks for you, you'll wonder why you thought it was hard, just keep at it.

11 hours ago, Philip Bedwell said:

Suzanne what does PPT mean?

Posterior Pelvic Tilt… that you used in all the previous progressions upon this one. 

Hi Philip,

Like Christian mentioned, HBP/PE3 is super important for this iM. How is your HBP training coming along? I first suggest we look to your HBP/PE3 and sPL/PE5 form. Can you please submit form checks for those in the F1 Form Checks section or submit those to video review? Please include iM's. 

Understood, thanks for all the feedback. I'll get on with recording these videos and include iM's too.

Hi Philip, regard the video, the amount of lean required it is the same of the elevated planche lean. in another post for the bent arm planche it is mentioned by me that if necessary you can scale the movement by playing the bent arm tuck planche hold first.