Q&A for How to Do a Backbend Kickover

Practice going half-way up until you feel confident going all the way. If you need to (highly recommended), have a friend lift your leg up slowly half way up, then slowly put it down so you just have the job of balancing. Wear comfy clothing and have a mat for soft landings. Don't think of failing, be positive! If you don't think about failure, you are less likely to fail.

The most important thing is to try to really push all of your weight onto your hands. I had the same problem as you. But I followed this bit of advice and I completed a backbend kickover.

Try doing squats, and practice other tumbling skills that will increase leg muscle. Eventually your legs will gain enough muscle to master the skill completely. Repetition is key.

You can try kicking a ball with one foot, and the foot that you are most comfortable kicking with is your kickover foot. You have to kick with your dominant leg.

It is possible to not be that flexible but it will take a lot practice. Make sure you can do a backbend before trying this and that you have good arm strength. However, it is advisable to do plenty of stretches beforehand. Talk to a coach or person experienced in doing backbends, to get proper advice for your situation.

Improve your flexibility first. See How to Become Flexible for help. Then keep trying hard using the suggestions in this article.

The only way you could land on your head is if your arms bend and you fall from that. Make sure your arms are locked straight and that will prevent them from bending.

When you attempt the kick over, try to keep your body tight and keep it straight.

A kickover is a walkover but split into two parts: the backbend and the kickover. In a walkover, you do the whole thing without stopping.

You must lean/put all your weight on your hands, and keep lifting your leg up. Once you feel you can balance, then you can try it.

A good way for you to get your kickover is to get into a headstand position and cup your hands around your head, then fall into a bridge and kickover. Practice that 10 times a day, then go on to attempting it in a backbend.

A bridge is when your feet are firmly planted on the ground and your back is arched with your hands holding you up (demonstrated above). A kickover is when you kick out of your bridge into a standing position.

Get a mat and put it underneath you and keep trying until you get it. With plenty of practice and a spotter to help you, you will get it eventually. Expecting it to happen in a short time is not reasonable -- give yourself a lot of time to learn it.

Try to start kicking over on a raised surfaced like a couch, pillows, or something similar.

This can happen because you have either paused too long in your handstand or your kick wasn't powerful enough. To avoid this kick over quickly and with more power.

Try working on your flexibility some more, and if that doesn't work, then maybe try practicing your handstands against a wall.

You should be able to do a handstand before a kickover. This is because in a back bend-kickover, you pass through a handstand.

Try doing handstands against a wall. Once you've mastered that, move away from the wall.

You need to try again and be more powerful this time. A tip that you need is to pull your head up when you just started to kick.

Maybe. Just be careful not to overdo it and hurt yourself. Give yourself time to rest and recover if your body starts to get tired.

Try squeezing your body. Tighten your muscles to help keep your body straight. Also, keep your legs nice and straight and point your toes. If that doesn’t help, try just the beginning of the kick and get the feel for that first, then try kicking over.

Get a supporter to help you hold your handstand, and then try it by yourself. Then try the split handstand with a supporter and then without, then try your kickover.

It will hurt a bit, however, don't be afraid of making a mistake. If you are, use a mat (or some other form of protection like a mattress or pillows) and practice until you are confident on ground.

Keep making the higher surface shorter and shorter until you are eventually on the ground.

Try doing leg exercises that will strengthen your muscles. You need to be able to push off harder. Just keep practicing!

Do squats, run, and/or jump rope. All of these will help with leg strength. What I did was 15 squats, ran down my hill and back up 3 times, and then did 3 minutes of jumping rope. Do a routine like this for a few weeks and you'll notice a difference.

Do it off a tilted hill, this absolutely helps! Also, have someone spot you. They'll put one hand under your back and push it a bit upwards, then when you kick with your stronger leg they will push it over then you'll have done it! Keep practicing and you'll get it. Make sure your core (abs) can support your body when you're up in the air.

After doing it on a trampoline, do it on something soft like a bed, then carefully try it on the floor.

You can use grass, but most people like to use a mat so you can land softer. The grass is much preferred over the hard floor in case of falling.

Try to push all of your weight on to your hands and do a split handstand. Just remember, don't bend your arms! Get your friend, mom, dad, etc. to help you. They can grab your pushing leg and kick it over. It might still take a while to get it right, so be patient and keep trying!