Question

CW, I'm sorry to bother you again, but I'm becoming either a groupie or an addict of your web site!!

I have gone to clinics and have learned 2 different hand placements for the roundoff, I would like your version please.

And if you have the time: tips for side aerials. I have done them off of panel mats, but what else is there to do? They cannot get them, I believe due to flight.

What is the next video you are making about??? We have purchased the backhandspring video and within one night of doing standing backhandsprings they all looked better!! Thank you for everything!

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Answer

I'm comfortable teaching these two hand-placement options for the round-off. Assume a right leg-lunge.

1) First hand (right) is slightly LEFT of the center line and turned so that the index finger is 90 degrees... perpendicular to the center line... LEFT (second hand) is placed on the RIGHT side of center line, about 1 hand length PAST the first hand... and the index finger PARALLEL with the center line

2) Both hands are placed almost simultaneously... upon the center line. The tips of the thumbs are almost touching each other and the tips of the index fingers are almost touching each other... making an open-diamond shape with the hands. I do NOT like a dragging second hand or a hop 1/2 twist onto the hands.

For the aerial...have them step with ONLY the lunge leg ONTO the folded panel mat... and attempt to land in almost the same spot ON the mat... reducing horizontal travel to virtually ZERO (or no more than 1 foot) so that all the power of the lunge leg (& rear leg kick) is directed STRAIGHT up and around, respectively. NO forward motion. ALSO... don't allow a run or a step.. Have your students lunge-step and HOLD the lunge position with the lunge-foot ON the panel mat. A slower exercise is to STAND in a NEEDLE scale (scissor split with one leg on the floor and one leg pointing to the ceiling... BEND the support knee... and JUMP ... pushing the hips and foot towards the ceiling. For confidence... have them push off the springy end of a spring-board instead of the panel-mat (push a panel mat to the very edge of the board's springy end for landing on. Once they develop the timing and sensitivity to CASTING the body UPWARDS while swinging the legs in a split overhead.. the aerial cartwheel (& walkover) should come gracefully.

Oversplits? They are wonderful... MAXIMIZE strength, flexibility AND coordination in ALL joints for MAXIMUM achievement.

The new video is a basic handstand position.
It's out, and available for purchase now!

Have fun, be safe, push hard!
~CW