Time to answer some of your questions again. What with the new site and new releases I’ve let some of these pile up.
Here’s two asking the same thing.
“How do you do a lever up handstand. Starting feet on floor in straddle. Used to be able to do it when I was training 10 years ago-but even then it was a struggle & a skill I lost quickly. There’s got to be a technique I’m missing. can lever down but not up from feet on floor. Wait to hear…”
Chrissie
“I would like to learn how to go into a handstand the way gymnasts usually do by leaning over the hands with legs straight until the feet lift off and the legs hang then lifting up the legs into a sort of planche then straight up. Can you do this and what would be the stages in learning it? Surprisingly, I couldn’t find any information on this on the site.”
Ross
Thanks for asking. With a bit of different language both these questions are asking about the same thing. And that is the straight arm press.
It will be easier if the legs are straddled, but once that becomes easy you can keep them together in the pike position.
This move not only takes strength in the arms, shoulders and abs but a big degree of flexibility as well. You have to get the center of you mass over your hands if you want to have any chance of succeeding. This means your shoulders will come far over your hands.
Chrissie was on to something when she said she could lower down. Work the negative, staying under control and soon you’ll be able to lift up into the handstand.
Another way is to hold a Jack-Knife handstand. When you can hold this position low pressing up into the handstand should be no problem.
Some people have no problem doing this move. Others will have to do tons of work to get it based on there body leverages. If you fall into the later group just keep at it. A bunch of negatives, holds, and isometrics will get you there faster.
Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher