beaniegoesnuts started this discussion ·
Hi veenas! just wondering if you all have any tips for getting a superman? I can get my legs around but i cant let go with my bottom hand coz i go head first into the floor. also, are you meant to cross your legs in the move or just keep them real close? thank you!
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Which way are you trying to get into it? I find it easier to go from an inverted pike than from a Cupid. Either way the biggest problem I had with this move was dropping my hips into it. Your top hand needs to be about a foot (+/-) from your butt. It would be helpful to know what your exact issue is. If you post a vid you will get better tips.
thanks for the tips! i get into it from a side v. (im too shy to post a vid :P) also i might have my hand too high. my main prob is i feel like i'm going to pitch headfirst into the ground! its a bit scary...
With your legs, really I have seen it done both ways, I personally pefer crossing my legs at the ankle. But to deal with your fear of pitching forword, try working on it lower to the ground so that way if you fall its on a couple inches. I rember my first superman was like 4 or 5 inches off the ground and I slowly worked my way up to the top of the pole as my confidence increased.
Once I start to flip I can't keep both hands on the pole. If I do, I get that falling forward feeling 'cause my butt is higher than my head. Try throwing down some couch cushions and taking the bottom hand off earlier. Make sure you really arch the chest up, it can help to look up. I don't cross my legs but it's personal preference, I think. Trying it close to the floor is always a good idea, too. Good luck!
thanks ladies! i will be trying it out your tips at my next practice. its all making a bit more sense now.
Check out my video....working on Superman. I too was falling head first. The ladies had a lot of great tips, the biggest which was to let your hips slide down before holding on with one hand. I was not doing that, hence falling head first. See what I was doing WRONG, then watch Veenas lesson on how to do it right. It will make sense. Also, don't be shy to post videos, we are all very supportive and you will get a lot of positive feedback! :)
I agree with everyone! I had the same problem learning superman, and it was letting my legs slide down the pole a bit that helped. I find that superman technique varies a little based on whether you have larger or smaller thighs. Mine are on the generous side and I found that if I tried to grip the pole high up on my thighs my legs would get stuck and I'd feel like I was about to faceplant. Once I started gripping the pole at midthigh instead I instantly got it easier. (When I first tried on a 50mm I had to grip just above my knees but I'm over that now). Sliding your legs down the pole to get into a superman (and then sliding further to get into figurehead/dove/bees knees/) is painful and unfamiliar. I got used to it by inverting, going into a handstand and then sliding my legs down the pole until my body was parallel to the floor then going into a low superman. (Veena demonstrates in her superman lesson). It got me used to the pain and the amount of grip I needed. In my limited experience I've found that the crossing/uncrossing legs thing tends to be associated with thigh size too in the early learning stages. People with smaller thighs might need to cross to get grip, people with larger thighs might struggle to cross. Having said that, almost anyone can do either with practice (plus any other legs you like - I've been playing with stag legs lately). So work out what works best for you, and once you have it down you can try other techniques. Good luck! Superman is always a tricky one to learn so I feel your pain :)
thank you so much for the tips! and yes lyme lyte that is exactly what i look like-only i fall with much less grace. i'm going to try the thigh trick that sounds promising- i've been trying to get closer into the pole so maybe that's what i've been doing wrong. thank you!
