Q&A for How to Do a Front Handspring

I recommend doing scapular pull-ups. This exercise strengthens your serratus and intercostal muscles, which benefits handstands. To do this find a bar or pole that you can hang from. Grip it firm, hang freely, and focus on rotating your shoulder blades (scapulae) up and down in a small and controlled motion. It’s about a three-inch movement—lower your body slightly and then lift back up, using your shoulders rather than your arms. Think of it as a mini-pull-up that targets the specific muscles required for stability during a handstand. Incorporating this exercise into your routine can help you build the shoulder strength and control needed for handstands. Pair this with core exercises and regular practice to improve your balance and coordination.

Make sure your legs aren't too close together. It might also be that you need to make your handspring longer.

Practice doing a handspring over pillows and with a spotter until you can confidently complete the move, then practice without the pillows but still use a spotter.

Not necessarily, but you should have your front walkover down, which includes a back bend.

Stretch every day. Start off slowly, doing easier stretches, and stretch harder as you go. For flexibility training suggestions, see: How to Be Flexible .

If you can't do a handstand and flip over, then you have to work on your front walkovers and front limbers before you attempt this skill.

Can you do a front limber? A front handspring is basically a front limber with a hurdle and a block added. Try practicing hurdling into a front limber and pushing off with your shoulders near the end.

Keep your legs close together but still slightly apart, do a run up for lots of power, make the bridge long, and push your chest up.

For about two to three weeks.

There is the term "locking your knees out" used in cheer. Try a couple handstand snapdowns (research if you don't know what they are, they help a lot)and when you go for your front handspring, squeeze your knees and ankles.

Push off the ground so that when you think you are rotated enough, push really hard and flip your hands up.

You can learn to do it step-by-step or you can practice a handstand as stated in the article. Follow its instructions closely.

You may be going too slowly with this skill. Try and make your moves more fluid, and you'll land on your feet with practice.

Try practicing your front limbers. If you can't do it, you can always go back to that.

Yes, using a mattress would work - as long as it is big enough to do a front walkover or front limber.

Yes, because when you do the front handspring, at the end there is a backbend.

When you are pushing off the ground for your front handspring, keep your feet together. This should help you not land in a squat.

It could. It helps you with lifting your pelvis up and getting up.

Try doing a front limber and then just pop off your arms. It's a lot easier!

You're either getting to much momentum when pushing off with your arms, which sends you forward, or you're not getting enough momentum to let you land on your feet.

In order to spring off the ground, you will need to block as soon as your hands hit the ground. Blocking is the motion of pushing through your shoulders rather than your elbows to fly up. Keeping your body as tight as possible through the whole skill will make your front handspring cleaner.

Yes, you can still do a front handspring.

Practice doing straight handstands. Once you feel comfortable, then practice doing front limbers. Then all you have to do is try not to bend your knees -- just fully extend them.

Make sure to reach your arms out very far in the front handspring. Also, getting a good running start is key to stretching it out.

In my opinion, definitely not! Front handsprings are not only easier to learn, but also easier to execute well.

A front handspring is easier because you can see your surroundings.

Yes, but I might not suggest using grass for your first few attempts. It could be painful if you fall.

Yes, you would still be able to do one as long as you practice since the require different skills.

Yes, you definitely need to run fast when starting your front handspring. In order to execute the move correctly, you'll need a lot of momentum, which comes from your running at the beginning. If you run slow or not at all, you are much more likely to run out of momentum and injure yourself.

If you are landing in a squat position, that means your legs aren't straight in your front handspring, so just make your legs straight and you will see a difference (or just push off the ground more).