one handed handstand becomes difficult when tired

Hi all, 

First time posting here. The title pretty much sums it up, but I've noticed one handed handstands get pretty darn difficult when I'm tired or have been practicing them over 2 hours. When I'm fresh, or early on in my practice (1 or 1.5 hours in), I could consistently hit around 17-20 seconds with little to no difficulty. But after practicing for about 3 hours or once exhaustion kicks in, that number goes down to like 11-13 seconds. Why is this? Why is it so difficult when I'm tired? I mean yeah it's common sense, it's a strenuous move so obviously fatigue makes it harder. But the weird thing is, there are times where I could still hit that 17-20 second range even when subjected to major exhaustion. 

In case you're all wondering, I got to the point of holding one handed handstands for 15 seconds plus after about a month of consistent training. I'm now about 2.5 months in and I can hit 25 seconds or so when I'm fresh. 

Hi Sammy,

The answer is simply what you already mentioned: your muscles are fatigued. With such a long session, your body is responding naturally by tiring. Your muscles do not have unlimited ability to perform optimally. They need recovery and that is what you are feeling. A lot of muscles are involved during handstand training and fatigue is inevitable. 

HI Sammy my doubt it is if your body is exerting the effort in the correct directions, I mean that if segments are not aligned correctly the movement cannot be efficient in terms of energy, so, please post a side view of your 2 hands handstand and side view of your one arm handstand.

On April 8, 2017 at 0:21 PM, Everett Carroll said:

Hi Sammy,

The answer is simply what you already mentioned: your muscles are fatigued. With such a long session, your body is responding naturally by tiring. Your muscles do not have unlimited ability to perform optimally. They need recovery and that is what you are feeling. A lot of muscles are involved during handstand training and fatigue is inevitable. 

Thanks for the response.

So it's normal for the ability to hold the one handed handstand to weaken or not be as good as the practice session drags on? 

I guess my second question is, how long do most people usually practice this move? 

I just did some training today, and I was able to consistently hold solid 20 plus second one handed handstands, anywhere between 20-26 seconds for the first hour or so of practice. After that the quality and length of hold went down. Is this just fatigue? 

Personally it is not normal since the one arm handstand must be progressively achieved with a solid basic 2 hands handstand and also, muscles get fatigued soon on a TECHNICAL MOVEMENT  if you have poor technique, the one arm handstand work it is the last part of my handstand workout (usually after 2.5 hours of different handstand work like different grip variations, rings handstand, pressing etc) and I do not feel fatigue when the movement it is technically correct.

So as stated before it is practically impossible here to give you a correct answer without a video review, why? because technique it is too much important in this skill.