THE HANDSPRING PROGRESSION : Page 74

IMPORTANT: Remember this rule for the handspring, snap down, round off, and back handspring:

THE ARMS SHOULD BE OVERHEAD THROUGHOUT THE PERFORMANCE

OF THE STUNT

(except for the landing position of the handsprings).

STRAIGHT-ARM HANDSPRING

Fig. 65

START WITH A SHORT RUN AND USE SKIP OR SCUFF ON LAST STEP (a);

FLEXING AT HIPS, BRING HANDS DOWN CLOSE TO TAKE-OFF FOOT (b);

KICK BACK LEG UP VIGOROUSLY AS HANDS ARE GOING DOWN (b);

KEEP ELBOWS STRAIGHT AND LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD (b

and c);

PUSH HARD WITH SHOULDERS AS LEGS SNAP OVER INTO ARCH (c and d);

LAND BY BENDING AT KNEES, NOT HIPS (e).

NOTE: Hereafter, the word "handspring" will refer to the straight-arm handspring unless otherwise designated.