Question about handspring/cartwheel

Sassafrassle · 2009-10-12T18:38:57+00:00

The author asked for a breakdown of handsprings and cartwheels on the pole, specifically a beginner-friendly explanation. They were feeling frustrated and looking for a new move to work on.

Sassafrassle started this discussion · 10/12/2009

Hey guys. I've had a squiz through previous entries about handsprings/cartwheels but what I'm really looking for is something that describes it/them from absolute simplest form, rather than advice for people who can kinda sorta do it and just need a direction to go. There's only 1 person at our Studio who can do the mount and she teaches it ending in a jacknife but it sounds to me through my research that there is a simpler version that would be good as a starting point (to extended butterfly? ending with a foot on the pole sounds about right for me as moves like this are scary!). Any advice on good clips or tips etc would be much appreciated as I'm totally suffering from pole frustration at the moment and would love to start working on a new cool move to add to my repertoire. Thanks in advance:)

11 replies

RoxyPink · 10/12/2009
ok sas! Here is my break down...but first...a cartwheel mount is different from a handspring mount! The biggest piece of advice is to find your correct hand positions and ALWAYS look where your feet are...i'll tell you mine when i'm done..hehe I will describe these with hands as they way I do them..which maybe opposite of you so just switch around the directions.. Cartwheel mount: Left hand is placed face height on the pole. Hips are slightly right of the pole right hand will grab low on the pole about 8-10 inches higher than the ground. Left leg will swing back & up, head looks up to where feet are going and and torso turns towards the pole (all happen at the same time). The top arm (that was at head height) will not be completely straight...bending that arm gives you more control and power in the move and it forces your body to be farther away from the pole. It is best to practice the "entrance" and then move onto doing an ext butterfly...then eventually to aysha, straight edge or jacknife. Everyone is different as to which is easier but I think the aysha is easier with learning your balance and center of gravity! I actually used "frog" legs when I was learning how to get into it...then moved onto aysha... I have an x-pole and once I found where my "best" hand position was I kinda mentally marked it on my pole..my top hand goes about three inches higher than the little holes on the top tube and my bottom hand goes right above the seem of the bottom tube and 250 ml extenstion. Now of course I don't need to visually mark it...but visualization helps with learning new motor skills! Handspring mount: Left arm goes across face and hand is placed slightly above head height. Hips are to the right side of the pole Right hand reaches slightly lower than hip height. right foot placed next to pole on ground as left leg swings forwards and up at the same time eyes look up to where you want your feet and hips rotate towards pole. It's great to practice this into a butterfly as well. top arm is bent as well! I found that the handspring mount uses the most core out of the two... Sorry if this doesen't help...I'm sure there are plenty of tips floating around here...and I think Veena has vids in her lessons for these!
miss fern · 10/13/2009
You can also practice the half forwards handspring mount too, if you find the handspring too difficult. This uses much less core, coz you press your bottom leg on the pole, to take your weight. Do as Roxy said for the first 3 steps (Stand a little to the side and behind the pole, not much just about 2 inches say. Outside arm across your face, grabbing the pole, inside arm straight down and holding the pole below your hips, wrist up.) Now, step forwards on your outside leg, and kick your inside leg up, twist your hip a bit and rest the top of your thigh on the pole (need skin to stick). Immediately after (almost at the same time), bring your outside leg up and lean your torso back, so your top foot goes backwards to hook your heel onto the pole. This will land you in the 'Apprentice' position. I don't know if my instructions make any sense. If you like, you can check out my ext butterfly practice vid on my profile, coz I use this mount to get there. 🙂
Sassafrassle · 10/13/2009
Thanks so much gals:) I had a wee practice last night (my dancing classes are Tuesday and Saturday - one day I will have my own pole, oh yes one day precioussssss), using both your tips and some help from the tutor at our Studio who's the only one who teaches this move. I was basically just practicing the entrance for the cartwheel and I could kinda get my body up into the right tucked position to start but couldn't really stay there - this shall be an ongoing practice challenge I think! I wish I had a camera so I could record my version of the happy dance when I finally get it 'cos I imagine it will be full-on crazy;p
REDKE71 · 10/15/2009
heres my handsprig tutorial, hope it helps!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMyrylJ4_g
Veena · 10/15/2009
Yep...I break down both moves for you in my lessons. Great advice ladies. 👍
Sassafrassle · 10/20/2009
Heh I've lost track of how many times I've watched your tutorial now Karol and also your cartwheel clip Veena! If only I could play them verbatim in my head while I practised at our studio, I'd be set;p I had an almost moment in class tonight but then it was gone again *sigh*. Practise practise practise! I must remind myself that these things take practise!
pole-twista · 10/20/2009
ok have been confused. been mixing up handspring w cartwheel. so anyway doesnt matter bc got closer than ever to "handspring" (actually cartwheel) this morning! yay! so if cartwheel is where you kick your leg back and turn hips than yes i got close today. i was actually able to hook my ankle this time! wasnt able to go into butterfly or anything, but still first time didnt just kick up and come right back down! am going to keep practicing getting ankle hooked til can learn to get the levearge to go into butterfly. so i guess i am doing ok w handspring after all (where you kick up in front and go into butterfly or whatever. can get into butterfly into scorpio flatline combo from half-handspring. just have to keep working at it till can get my body to go into straight edge or whatever. speaking of actually getting comfortable little by little w split grip aysha/straight edge so guess feeling pretty good (esp compared to the other day..even got spinning chopper this morn..had TERRIBLE night/morn at work so came home and took out the aggression wanted to unleash on someone at work and just threw myself to the mercy of the pole 🤸 🥂 . seems to be the only time i can nail spinning chop is when i'm angry! 😈 have web cam so if can figure it out (have taken pics w it, but cant seem to get it so others can see me with it online..hmm..will post my (sometimes pathetic.. 😳 ) attemps at getting into straight edge split, jacknife ect. ok very tired and rambling so ... 🫡
joni1 · 11/8/2009
Any suggestion on how to kick up into the cartwheelmount to the point where the outside leg stays close to the inside kicking leg. Everytime i kick forward and kick backup with my inside leg, my outside leg ends up dragging both legs down. Lately, I got to the point where I can hook the pole high with my inside straight leg then can go into the straight edge from there. But , I don't know if this is a good or bad habit. ❓ Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.Thanks, Joni
amy · 2/11/2010
ok just wanted to say that the advice in this thread has helped me a TON. just reading about grabbing LOW on the pole with your left hand has made a HUGE difference! tried teh handspring again tonight and had a DOH moment. just putting my left hand lower was the key!
Isatoy · 6/26/2010
Cartwheel on Pole- Thanks Roxy Pink. I am going to try this , this week.
emotioncatcher · 11/18/2010
heres my handsprig tutorial, hope it helps!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMyrylJ4_g onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; hey redke71, your video really helped me notice why i´m not able to do the handspring. i immediately try it again and now i´m really close to get it. thx a lot edit: i tried two or three times again and no i´m able to do it. i´m soooooo glad yeeeaaah xD