THE BACK-HANDSPRING PROGRESSION : Page 150

BACK HANDSPRING

SIT DOWN AS YOU WOULD ON A CHAIR, BACK STRAIGHT, HEELS ON FLOOR (a);

AS YOU FALL OFF BALANCE, EXTEND LEGS AND SWING ARMS VIGOROUSLY UP AND BACKWARD (b);

THROW HIPS TOWARD CEILING—PUSH OFF TOES, DRAGGING KNEES (b);

THROW HEAD BACK HARD WITH ARMS—WATCH FINGERS ALL THE WAY BACK (b);

LAND ON HANDS WITH ELBOWS LOCKED AND STRAIGHT

(c and d);

NOW, FLEX HIPS AND SNAP DOWN TO WHERE HANDS WERE (c);

LAND FLAT-FOOTED, KNEES SLIGHTLY BENT, AND ARMS

UP (f).

BACK HANDSPRING

IMPORTANT: The beginner should be started out on this stunt by the instructor only. After he gets the feel of the stunt, only the most dependable safety men should be allowed to help him. The next page describes in detail the method of assisting the performer to learn the back handspring. This stunt should be learned before the back somersaults are tried.