Q&A for How to Do a Roundoff Back Handspring

You have to lean back because it will help your legs power up and push off the surface you're doing the handspring on.

One tip is to fall back on something soft to practice falling and your fear of going over. A back walkover can help you go over in a back handspring.

That's how everyone starts out. Once you're more confident, you can throw it by yourself.

It is perfectly safe to do a round off on the grass if you have enough experience, but it's best to start with a mat or springy surface.

No, but it is one step forward. Back handsprings require jump and swing, while back ends don't require lots of momentum.

Try doing a handstand, kick down with your feet together, then do a back handspring.

As soon as you land, just reach straight back. Your hands will land on the ground; then, just lift through your shoulders.

You do not step out when doing a regular back handspring.

Imagine you're an unbreakable wooden board! This visualization trick can help keep your body stiff and tight.

Everything! A full body stretching routine would be ideal. You can find plenty of videos online that will walk you through varying routines; you could also try some online yoga videos to help get you flexible and limber for your back handspring.

Try to do a roundoff, wait a few seconds, then do the back handspring. Each time you practice doing it, go a little bit sooner.

Your coach will test you and put you in a suitable group with people of your same age and ability.

Try having your coach spot you and gradually have you do it by yourself again.

It depends on who you ask. It took me a long time to get over my fear of doing a roundoff back handspring, while it took some of my teammates no time at all.

Usually, you get to decide. A rebound is useful when the next skill you learn is a roundoff back handspring back tuck because you are already used to the feel of jumping up immediately after. If you intend to learn this skill, you should do a rebound after the roundoff back handspring.

Try to realize why you were injured to avoid it again and don't work out until you are completely healed.

Try going to a gym's "open gym" times and see if they can help you out! They might be able to spot you for it, then you can do it by yourself.

It's not safe to do handsprings on any kind of furniture. Practice in an open area, such as a large, fairly empty room or outside.

You can, but it would be a lot safer if the first time that you try you have a spotter. A walkover is a lot different from a handspring.

Don't overthink the move. You will be capable of doing it, although it is very easy to think too much about it and stop yourself from doing it. It may be useful to use positive statements to help you such as, "Okay, I can do it."

Make sure your hands are by your ears and that you are jumping backwards and not straight up.

If you're doing it for the first time, you might want to try it on a trampoline first. Stand with your feet together at the front of the trampoline and swing your arms back. You then want to start to lower yourself into a seated position while you swing your arms to where they're by your ears. Make sure not to bend your knees too much or you will bottom out. As you get lower you want to push yourself to the back wall or something behind you like a wall. Make sure not to arch your back too much because you can hurt it. Push your hands off the ground while your head looks at your feet through your arms to spot your landing. Try to land with your feet together and straight legs.

You can try to do a quick one faster than before. If you need to, have someone to help you.

You need to jump up a little, but it is effective to focus on jumping back, as it will lengthen your handspring and give you a proper rebound, then you'll be able to connect it with other skills.

Many people have gotten injured or broken things while doing back handsprings on a bed (it's all over the internet). If you're going to try it on a bed, make sure that it's long enough to do a back walkover and then step back several times. Make sure there are no light fixtures hanging above the bed, and make sure the bed isn't high off the ground. Lastly, make sure the bed is fixed to the ground and won't roll when you jump on it.

You should always keep your feet together and your hands "locked" to your head.

Try landing with your feet together out of your roundoff. If this doesn't work, try using a scrunchie around your feet or put a stuffed animal between your legs and do standing back handsprings. This will help you keep your feet together in your roundoff back handspring.

Try going for it on a really soft mat. I had my back handspring for a few weeks and then I lost it because I was ill and couldn't go to practice. I got it again after trying it on a slope (a mat over two wedge mats), then on a thick mat, then on a thin mat, and then on the ground.

It depends on how much you practice and if you have a good teacher, but on average, probably a few weeks.

It is, generally. Try doing it downhill on a hill. Make sure you constantly stretch your wrists, ankles, shoulders and back.