When should I start working on Cartwheel/Handspring mounts?

Katherine McKinney started this discussion · 2/7/2011

Hi all! I was wondering if anyone could help me gauge when I should start trying the Cartwheel or Handspring mounts? I've heard that the Cartwheel mount is easier, but I'd appreciate some advice from fellow Veeners. Are there any moves that I should be able to do first? I can mount by hooking a leg on the pole and pushing out into butterfly, but I don't know if that's a half-cartwheel or half-handspring or anything at all! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

11 replies

amy · 2/7/2011
can you go from a cradle into a butterfly? that's more akin to the push out that you need for a handspring/cartwheel. i'd also strongly recommend that you have a stable aysha and pencil to familiarize yourself with the balance required first.
Katherine McKinney · 2/7/2011
@Amy: Thanks for the reply! I can go from a cradle into a butterfly, and I have a decent elbow grip and forearm grip aysha and pencil. Do you have any tips for beginning to work on the moves?
ottersocks · 2/11/2011
Certainly sounds like you're strong enough to start working on cartwheel. When I teach this, I have people start with their strong hand at shoulder height on the pole, bend over, and put their non-dominant hand low--like mid-shin height--on the pole. The inside (same as dominant hand) leg is the one that kicks in front of your body between you and the pole. (It is less scary to start learning this with your bottom hand already down than it is to start trying to dive down into position.) I have people start by trying to kick up and tuck into a ball, and hold that balanced upside down. This move is a HUGE pull with the obliques and push with the bottom arm, while pulling with the top arm. You are trying to bring your hip to your top elbow. The main mistake I see is people not going upside down. Everyone always tries to watch themself in the mirror, and so their head never drops past horizontal. It's an invert--think ear into your bottom armpit. This move generally takes people a long time to get, many many tries. It is sometimes helpful to have an instructor catch your hips and lift you up into position so your body and brain can feel where you are headed. Good luck!!
Katherine McKinney · 2/11/2011
Wow, I can see why you're an instructor! I don't think I've ever gotten such a clear picture from written instructions before. Thank you so much! I'll take it slowly and update this thread with my progress. Thanks again!
Veena · 2/11/2011
Yep Aerial, sounds like your doing a half Cartwheel thats good! I use the same positioning that Otter does...so I'll add another other tip...its common for a dancer to let the head go past the pole as you come down. Remember your goal is to end up beside the pole so the top arm should pull your hips towards the elbow and the bottom arm is pushing away from the pole Oh and wear shoes to cover your toes! here is the lesson if your interested. https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/a08e8322-b8f0-11df-856f-001b214581be
crazykitten · 2/11/2011
I learned the cartwheel mount by standing with my dominant arm extended in front of me at shoulder level, hand on the pole. I then took one step back. Keeping an eye on the spot where my hand was on the pole, I step forward with my non-dominant leg and reach low while grabbing the pole with my dominant hand in the original spot. I think of it as more of a fall or dive down than a spring (like it would be in an actual cartwheel!). The legs follow into the air nicely. The main problem I had was that I wasn't putting my head down. It really REALLY has to go down or the move won't work. I did a lot of practice just stepping into the mount and bringing my head down.
glitterhips · 2/12/2011
Ohh the dreaded carthweel! I worked on this thing for months endlessly until i finally got it thanks to veena's tip about not bringing my head past the pole on my way down, and like the person who posted before me said i was having problems getting my head all the way down....i would feel like it was low enough but then i'd go watch the video and my head was barely moving haha. i would say those are the two biggest hurdles to overcome so once you can figure those things out you should be well on your way to getting it in no time! good luck!
Katherine McKinney · 2/12/2011
Thanks for all the tips! I'm beat up from practicing the last few days, but in the next couple of days I'm going to start this scary-sounding process!
Black Orchid · 3/14/2013
I searched for this topic because its something I just started working on in class. I am totally freaked out it! LOL. Right now I'm just being spotted into "kicking" up into the Capital D & Butterfly and then hopefully I'll start feeling comfortable holding the tuck. The weirdest feeling is definitely keeping your head down & by the pole...not ready to practice this alone for sure but I hope to get this down by Summer!
FlyingFireBird · 3/16/2013
If the kick up way of learning freaks you out. You can familiarize yourself with the position by decending from the move. You can go from a crusifix and push up like you do for a catapillar climb or to set an ayesha, then set your hands and slowly work on releasing the legs. You can also take it from an inside or outside leg hang by placing the top hand (after you've inverted) under your head, thumb down. You pull your hips away and the weight sinks into your bottom arm and you can release your legs and lower down. Here is a video of the first http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwOQCMqEmDw And here is a video of the second http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyeeKM3ZaHk. Also if anyone has tips for building strength in the top shoulder to get better control over the move and hold it longer I would appriciate the advice. I can get the move, but I can't hold it for very long and my progress has been slow. Very slow.
jkpolegirl · 3/17/2013
Just a little advice also....... don't practice gthis move too many times in one session.... its very hard on your lower forearms and shoulder especially when ur just learning and trying to figure it out I've seen so many girls that injure their shoulder or develop terrible tendonitis in their elbow from overdoing it on cartwheels and other split grip moves/holds Good luck!!!