Anyone do acrobatics/tumbling?

[Backstreet]

I have really been wanting to incorporate some acrobatics in my dancing. I have a really neat idea for a dance I want to make and there is one part in it that requires a flip. Personally, I have never done any acrobatics/tumbling before. I do plan on asking some members at my studio tomorrow about it (Although I am too large for the classes they have there... it is mostly for the juniors). However, please feel free to answer my questions.

My idea in my dance is to include a backflip. I think this would be really neat and fits the part of the song. Thus, my questions are going to be centered around flips:

1) Is a back flip or a forward flip harder to perform? (Or are they about the same)

2) Is it possible to learn to do a back flip (Without a spot or any kind of support) or do I need to work my way up a progression? In other words, do I need to learn a back hand spring (I think that is what they are called where your hands touch the ground) before learning a flip? etc. (NOTE: The back hand spring is just an example, there might be something else)

3) What would you say is the hardest part about doing a backflip?

4) If the answer to question 2 was I would need to learn some basics, (Not sure what this is called but I'll describe) is the "flip" where someone stands behind you (Your back is to their back) and you wrap your arms around their waste and their hands across your shoulders and then you flip something I would need to practice?

NOTE: When I say a backflip I mean where your entire body leaves the ground and only your feet touch the ground at the end.

[Medira]

Okay, this has the potential to get really long...consider this your warning. ;) :tongue:

1) Is a back flip or a forward flip harder to perform? (Or are they about the same)
For somebody with no previous tumbling experience, a front tuck (the gymnastics terminology - a front flip with your legs bent up toward your chest) is harder to perform than a back tuck, simply because you're working with a blind landing (i.e. you can't see where the floor is) and it can be very disorienting to know what part of the rotation your body is in at any given point in time. Typically, progressions for backward tumbling are taught before forward progressions.

2) Is it possible to learn to do a back flip (Without a spot or any kind of support) or do I need to work my way up a progression? In other words, do I need to learn a back hand spring (I think that is what they are called where your hands touch the ground) before learning a flip? etc. (NOTE: The back hand spring is just an example, there might be something else)
It's possible, but it's VERY dangerous. I would suggest back handsprings first and maybe even back walkovers prior to that in order to figure out where your body needs to be...and to help make sure that your abs are strong enough to perform the moves properly. When you're getting started out, make sure that you *always* practice on proper mats with somebody qualified to spot you. There's just way too much potential for injury here...

3) What would you say is the hardest part about doing a backflip?
Knowing when to pull into the tuck from the rise at the beginning, as well as how hard to pull into the proper position so that you rotate fast enough that you won't bail out and land on your face.

4) If the answer to question 2 was I would need to learn some basics, (Not sure what this is called but I'll describe) is the "flip" where someone stands behind you (Your back is to their back) and you wrap your arms around their waste and their hands across your shoulders and then you flip something I would need to practice?
Yes, you will definitely need to learn basics, but no, that move won't help the way you will need it to. You'll need progressions that will help you get spring off of the floor, teach you the right way to use your own body and your own power to carry you through the move and to figure out how much you're rotating and how fast.

For reference: http://cheerleading.about.com/library/graphics/faq/roundoff_bhs_tuck.gif

The funky little animation above shows a roundoff, back handspring, back tuck.

I'd suggest looking into tumbling classes at a gymnastics or cheerleading gym. There are a lot of all-star cheerleading gyms popping up all over the place these days and they usually offer tumbling classes for teenagers and adults. You might find more of what you're looking for there than a traditional gymnastics gym. Either location will have the proper mats and qualified instructors who can teach you the right way to tumble without getting hurt.

If there was anything I missed, or if I wasn't clear, or even if you have more questions, ask away. :)

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[africana]

i'm taking a beginning gymnastics class and we're learning basics for doing backflips, tumbling, cartwheels, etc today was my first real trial so I can't offer much help except suggesting a similar class to sfely learn that stuff

[Boynextdoor]

I never thought of a cheerleading gym! Grrrreat idea!

[kk32493]

this topic also helped me. i need more help though. i have to learn a back tuck in a month. i need to know the fastest way to. i already have all the basics. i just absolutely need this. please emial me. barn_bum@msn.com im new at this site i dont know exactly how to operate it. ill be really happy if you could please email me asap. thank you...p.s thats a _ between the barn and bum. bi

[Backstreet]

this topic also helped me. i need more help though. i have to learn a back tuck in a month. i need to know the fastest way to. i already have all the basics. i just absolutely need this. please emial me. barn_bum@msn.com im new at this site i dont know exactly how to operate it. ill be really happy if you could please email me asap. thank you...p.s thats a _ between the barn and bum. bi

Wow this thread is old haha but I can somewhat help you:

This is for a back hand spring which you need to learn before a back tuck. I'd highly advise a spotter before attempting back tucks.

Hey, I don't say much here at breakdance.com. I just read all the nice guides and practice for dances. This summer I went away to a Physical Fitness camp. I'm not lieing about this, they actually taught me to do backflips in like 10 minutes. I'll give you step by step of how to work up the balls to do this.
-Step 1-

A) Stand up tall
B) Lean back and try and look behind you. (Further you look the better)
C) Hold this position for about 20 seconds.

Repeat this step until you feel your compfortable to move on. Also the longer you hold this the better.

-Step 2-

A) Sit on the grass with for feet pulled up to your chest.
B) Roll yourself backwards (Backwards summersault)
C) First few times roll once. After compfortable roll 2. 3 times is pointless.

This step is just to prepare you for the next step and so when you do your back flip you to them right and not twist your body and break a bone.

-Step 3-

A) Stand Tall
B) Bend Knees
C) Sit down and once your close to the ground do a backwards summer sault
D) When your almost done of the summersault, use your hands to help push you up and land back on your feet and stand tall. Hold that pose for a few seconds

REPEAT this step many times also!!

-Step 4-

A) Lay down facing up
B) Get on all fours still facing up. Now make sure your hands are in the right position, like your half way done of a backflip. Meaning wrist towards your feet and fingers towards your head.
C) Kick up with your feet and land on flat feet.

This step took me a few tries to get compfortable.

At this point you must realize in your head that when you do attemp this backflip everything will feel natural and you will not mess up. Unless you rushed too fast pass one of the steps. So please make sure your comportable with all of them before moving on.

-Step 5-

A) Stand Tall
B) Hands out in front and swing down and back up over your head.
C) Look behind like in !!Step 1!! Then land on your hands. You do not have to jump in the stage. Just put yourself in the position like the start of step 4
D)Kick feet up like in step !!4!!
E) roll yourself flat to your feet like in !!Step 3!!

Now your completly used to doing a backflip!! Now as you practice it you can perfect it and jump and land on your hands and everything. I wish you the best of luck. I have no camera to make a video of each step but its all common sense anyways, Peace...

If you run into trouble please post here and i'll answer them ASAP. Also if your trouble is your scared. Then I can't help you. Just do 1-4 steps over and over.

[reb]

For reference: http://cheerleading.about.com/library/graphics/faq/roundoff_bhs_tuck.gif

Very nice!
A picture is worth a thousand words,
and moving pictures even more . . .