Hi Flipsandpotter
It may be a base skill but what an important one to master. Just as you took time when you first learnt to stand on your feet, so too does your mind need to learn to balance on your hands.
Firstly you must develop good shape. You can balance all sorts of handstand shape but most will not lead onto further skill. Start shaping by lying on the floor face down. Your chin is on the floor and your eyes are looking along the inner forearm to your hands. Your arms should be straight, off the ground (thus opening your shoulders) and covering your ears. Your hips are rotated under. (The best way I can explain this is rolling your hips round like michael Jackson!) Your legs are straight tight and off the floor. I get my gymnast to revisit this position often to get a muscle memory of the position.
secondly the entry into the hs is important. Stand in a TALL position with your arms extended so that your ears are covered, making one line from tip of fingers to end of toes. When this long shape TILTS I ask my gymnasts to make a hollow chest like as if someone was about to hit them in the chest. As the tilt happens remember to keep that long line from tip of fingers to toes, hips under and shoulders open. Large Step into a lunge which is the block to change the movement into rotation. This is the crutial stage. Do NOT reach for the ground... keep your arms near your ears and as your swing leg swings up your extended (open shoulders) arms will touch the ground. The thrust leg should remain bent until the hands touch. I get my girls to do this without the handstand quite alot. When hands touch they rock back to the lunge position, back down to hand touch etc etc. We call these see-saws because the swing leg and arms move up & down with eachother around the bent thrust leg.
Quite often I find the girls who often fail to get up in HS don't have this See-saw balance. We then do See-Saw to L handstand which means the thrust leg goes only to 90 degrees. If you do the see-saw drill right your swing leg is well on its way to being above your head as you drive hard with your thrust leg. It is really important to push the ground away strongly and keep those ears and arms together. Push your whole body high.
Of course strength to hold your weight on your arms is important. We do 45 degree hs with feet on the beam or wall to work on strong body tension. Handstands against a wall, face in so that you can move your hands in close and therefore ensure very open shoulders. Get someone to mark where your toes are then constantly try to push taller.
Getting yourself upside down in positions like above as often as possible helps to get a feel. Make sure you remember that shape I explained first when the gymnast lies face down on the floor. Oh yes .... sometimes gymnasts have their fingers facing outwards to counteract lack of strength by locking the elbows. Don't start this dangerous habit. Fingers forward or slightly inward.
Learn to be able to do a 1/4 turn out of HS to step down to negate the worry of kicking over too much.
Hey... take time with your HS and work on good ones as it is a vital building block.
Hope you can understand my ramb;ings. I usually describe everything with stick drawings.
Cheers
Wal
