HANDSTAND STRADDLE PRESS EXERCISES

HANDSTAND STRADDLE PRESS EXERCISES Most people start their handstand with a kick-up, when they are trying without a wall. Once you are used to the kick-up handstand, the next stage is the press handstand, where no momentum is used and you get into handstand purely from muscle control of shoulders and core. There are many types of press handstands, like straddle press, tuck press, pike press, stalder press etc. This post covers the straddle press. Depending on your strength, you could start with stationary press lifts, where you have your legs in straddle (open about shoulder width), lean forward, push from the shoulders and try to get on to the tip of your toes. It would feel heavy initially so do it gradually and go for reps of about 10 x 2-3 sets. Once you can get to tip toes, then try to lift the toes off the ground and jump a little if necessary, eventually eliminating the jump entirely. When you can lift your legs off the ground and hover there confidently, then try to bring the legs up into handstand position, moving the legs from the side. As the legs pass about mid way, the shoulder lean needs to correct and become a straight line with bum over shoulders, shoulders over hands. Once up you can balance there and come down with control by maintain your weight on your hands. If you lean backwards, your legs will drop very heavily to the ground, which is not a good habit. If this feel too difficult then try handstand press walks (2nd video), as the momentum of rocking forward makes it a bit easier to move lift the legs, again jumping as necessary and gradually eliminating the jump and lifting pure through shoulder press strength and landing softly. If you lack leg flexibility, this will require much more strength as you would be forced to lean a-lot more forward to lift your body, so do work on your leg flexibility as well. Shoulder mobility comes into play as you won’t be able to straighten the shoulder line if your shoulders are tight, so do the shoulder mobility exercises as well. Robin Chee, WSWCF Certified Trainer Founder, Electrum Fitness #activesg #ageisjustanumber #bodyweight #bodyweighttraining #calisthenics #convictconditioning #fitness #fitnessmotivation #flexibility #getactivesg #over50fitness #progressivecalisthenics #seniorfitness #singaporefitness #handstand #handbalancing #presshandstand #straddlepress