What stretches or exercises could help me prepare to do a back hand spring?

Question

I'm trying out for the cheer leading squad. And I need to have my back handspring if I want to make the team

Answer 1

holding backbends. Backbend kickover. front walkover. back walkover. That's why we do all of those.  

Answer 2

You shouldn't try to work on a back hand spring by yourself.  It takes a lot of flexibility in your back and a lot of upper body strength to do a back handspring (if you go back and your arms are weak, you'll fall on your head).You should work on it with a spotter at first.  I suggest taking a tumbling class at your local gymnastics club (most offer tumbling designed specifically for cheerleaders).  They will help you reach this goal in a safe and effective way so you don't hurt yourself.  If you don't make your team this year, take the gymnastics class and next year you'll be better prepared for the tumbling aspects of cheerleading.  Good luck!

Answer 3

Here are instructions, pictures, and videos of how to prepare for and do back handsprings: http://aescougarcheer.com/Cheer101/tumbl... If you do these drills daily it will go a long way towards helping you learn how to do the back handspring more quickly.

Please get into a class to learn this skill safely, and understand that it can take some people a very long time to be able to do it on their own.

Good luck!