Q&A for How to Do an Aerial Cartwheel

That will really depend based on your level of confidence and how quickly you can learn.

When you are running to do your aerial, stay upright. If you lean down as you approach you aerial, then you wont get very much height. So jump up and forward, not down and forward.

It's natural to be a little bit scared of flipping yourself upside down in the air! A good way to quiet your fears is to remember that you can always put your hands down. Removing the pressure of having to perform the aerial perfectly and knowing that you always have a "safety net" should make you feel better.

Yes, it is possible. As long as you can do a strong, quick cartwheel, you should be able to start working on your aerial.

There are many ways. Put an item in your hand so you will be less tempted to touch the ground, hold your arms upright so your hands are by your hips and they won't reach the floor before your feet, or crunch your hands into fists and bend your elbows with your fists resting just underneath your ribs.

The best way to learn fast is to practice as much and as often as you can. Just make sure not to push yourself too hard and do something you're not comfortable attempting, because you could end up getting hurt.

No, experience with splits isn't necessary, but it would certainly help make your cartwheel easier to learn.

Remember that your legs give you momentum when you are doing the aerial. Generate this momentum by whipping your legs over. The energy that you generate with your legs should help you to keep them straight instead of curling them, which will slow you down.

Take a few running steps. Go off a hill if you have one. Try a trampoline to get higher. Practice more, and soon you'll get in the air higher.

Think more about jumping up before you do your aerial rather than going out. It will help if you jump as high as you can and think less about going over.

You do not have to take gymnastic classes, you just have to be able to do a cartwheel. Practice somewhere safe, such as on a soft lawn or over mats.

Yes. It will help you get the momentum to swing your legs over. Just make sure that you jump high.

Place an object in your hands, like a ball. This will help prevent you from putting your hands down.

The best place to practice an aerial is a gym or trampoline. When practicing there, just remember to focus on your legs not your head! If you are scared of hitting your head or getting hurt when you are practicing, It probably means that you aren't ready enough. Go back to cartwheels and one handed cartwheels and master those before going on to an aerial walkover.

Just tell yourself that you can do it. Practice doing cartwheels and one handed cartwheels with a spotter first. Do strength training exercises to get additional power.

Practice every day, and remember to push off your dominate leg and kick over as fast and hard as you possibly can. Splits and stretches will help. Patience and practice will get you there. Don't give up.

Not very quick. You don't want too much force that pushes you when you land. It could cause you to fall.

Put something in your hands such as a rock or a cloth and it will remind you not to put your hand one the ground.

Try balling your hands into fists and squeezing. This should stop you from flattening them and using them in your aerial.

Yes. Like any other gymnastics skill, it will get easier after you get the aerial and practice for a while.

Try running and make a powerful hurdle. Make sure you swing your back leg high enough.

Make sure you bend your knees a considerable amount, and really try to spring up. Also, the faster you whip your legs over your head, the less air you need.

Not very big. Just something you can hold in your hands easily while attempting the aerial.

You're probably nervous and don't trust yourself to flip all the way over. Try to keep your hands off the ground and soon you'll be able to do it.

You are getting scared. Remember to jump up and forward not down and forward. Put socks in your hands so you don't put them down.

You can still do an aerial, but not a one-handed cartwheel. It just depends on what you prefer and what makes you feel comfortable. If you keep practicing, though, you might be able to land that one-handed cartwheel.

It's your natural body reflex to do so. You need to fight this by trusting yourself. Try grabbing your shirt when you go into your side aerial.

Try swinging your arms up by your head before attempting an ariel, then as you go into it, put your hands on your hips or aim for by your ears.

Make sure to gain a lot of speed at the beginning and think of height, not distance.

Just keep trying. It’s not going to happen overnight. Try holding onto something like a stuffed animal or plastic cup so that your hands are occupied. If you still put your hands down, imagine yourself doing a perfect aerial.