Handspring into Ayesha tips?

RikkiL started this discussion · 9/18/2011

I've been trying to get into an Ayesha from a handspring mount for a few weeks now and I keep having the same problem. Once I get a leg past the pole it just falls back into it - even when I feel like it should still be traveling past! I can do an Ayesha from the cartwheel mount which really makes me feel like doing it from the HS should be no problem! I think I'm just missing some piece of the puzzle and am hoping that one of you will say something that will make it click. Any help will be appreciated! 🤓

20 replies

RikkiL · 9/20/2011
Bueller?..... ......Bueller?
Shellectra · 9/21/2011
Hello! I find Cartwheel into Ayesha much easier than Handspring into Ayesha, I find that I can't hold it as long or as balanced if I enter via a Handspring, it puts me off balance sorta?? I haven't had the issue of the leg falling back into the pole, I just focus on stepping far under myself, flicking up and opening my legs... I can show you a video of me doing it if you want?
RikkiL · 9/21/2011
Thanks Shellectra! I've seen it done a lot - I think it's something more that can't really be seen (at least not easily). So you say you feel off-balance...what do you do to try to keep your balance? That may be what I missing out on.
Shellectra · 9/21/2011
Hmm lets see if I can explain it, if I cartwheel up, that motion of getting up (head down, legs up) puts me in a perfect position to balance my split grip for ages. but if I handspring up (head up and back, legs up) it seems to bring me around the other side of the pole more and I loose balance a lot quicker/my upper arm has a harder time pulling me in towards the pole. Maybe I'm just odd! I feel more comfy going into a straight edge though as opposted to Ayesha, I have a harder time balancing with legs spread in a V
Shellectra · 9/21/2011
To keep my balance I focus on pulling in HARD with the top arm, thats my anchor. Have you tried a jackknife? Both legs leaning over the body together. I find that even easier than Ayesha sometimes! Maybe that will help you get a feel for the weight on that side of the body, and then handspring into Ayesha issue of that leg hitting the pole might sort itself out. Or you could jackknife, then bring the top leg back over slowly so you end up in Ayesha
RikkiL · 9/21/2011
Thanks for breaking it down for me - it's much appreciated. I had originally started with the Jacknife and wasn't have any success with it so I switched to the Ayesha....ceiling isn't really high enough to jump into Straight Edge. When I try to Jacknife both of my legs swing back towards the pole after getting them past it. I'm obviously leaving something out or else I'm doing something wrong. I'll try again today and see if your tips help. I know I'm supposed to pull with the top arm and I think I have been but maybe I'm not pulling hard enough.
Shellectra · 9/21/2011
Ok let me know how you go! :)
RikkiL · 9/23/2011
I was able to spend a little bit of time working on this yesterdy. I pulled it off the first time but went right back to the same problems the following two tries. Not sure what the difference was in technique but I'll just keep trying, I guess. Hopefully soon I'll be able to get it every time! Thanks again, Shellectra, for your advice!
RikkiL · 9/23/2011
Sort of a bracket hold I guess. The hand closest to the pole is in a fingers down position and the other one comes across my chest and grabs regularly.
ORGANIC ANGEL · 9/23/2011
Just saw this on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzy6f-9zc3g&feature=related Just another way of the handspring and a variation right around 37 seconds. I have never seen it done this way.
Shellectra · 9/23/2011
Oh if you got it the first time you'll definetly get the right form with practice! I had heaps of good days and bad while practicing :) I find that even now if I go to carthweel or handspring and I doubt myself or feel scared right before kicking up, I dont' get up. It's half mental state I reckon! I try to just go for it and feel brave and I imagine getting my legs up and over myself
RikkiL · 9/24/2011
Thanks for the encouragement, Shellectra! Roamy, that's pretty amazing. I'd like to see a woman do it though. Some of these guys are just brutally fit and can muscle through anything (there's a reason male and female gymnasts do different events). I can't even imagine being able to hold myself up with the grip he gets into that with!
amy · 9/25/2011
the grip Riki is using is a split grip, true grip is cupped top hand with thumb facing down =)
RikkiL · 9/25/2011
Well....no luck today. Every time I attempted it I had the same issue that I've been having. On Thursday I'm going to video it so I can see what I'm doing and *hopefully* see the issue.
glitterhips · 9/25/2011
Another common problem people have that I was also having is not putting their bottom hand low enough, it has to be way low down toward the ground. Look at your hand placement after you take a video because for me personally I had no idea how high my hand was until I saw it on video and then got closer to getting it once I started putting my hand lower down. I'm still polishing mine up and it needs a lot of work before I could do it in a performance but I finally can get it after struggling with it for about six months 💪 so don't feel too discouraged especially if you got it once already, it's one of those "a-ha!" type moves in my opinion.
Shellectra · 9/26/2011
Yep took me about 6 months too! And in most of that time I kept "loosing" the move for months at a time, it was so frustarting I was almost in tears a few times!!! Now it seems to be here for good :)
Shellectra · 9/26/2011
*for weeks at a time I mean, not months at a time, heh *needs edit button*
RikkiL · 9/26/2011
Hey Glitter, I know that's an issue with the Cartwheel Mount but I've never seen anyone get their hand close to the ground with a Handspring Mount....I'm actually not sure how you would get it lower. :? When I start out my "bottom" hand is just below my hip (basically straight down my side).
glitterhips · 9/26/2011
Omg I'm stupid and thought you were asking about cartwheel I'm sorry! That goes to show I shouldn't respond to threads after 2 glasses of wine!
RikkiL · 9/26/2011
Haha, no worries! A lot of people call the Cartwheel mount a handspring so I thought that might have been the case....now I know it was just the wine! ;)