-
Step 1
Practice back flips to get use to the motion of the gato. Martial artists and students who have little acrobatic experience will find it difficult to do the gato without understanding the fundamentals of a back flip.
-
Step 2
Pretend that you are sitting on a bench to start a gato. Bend your at a 90-degree angle and keep your back upright. Sit on a chair to get your form down before trying a gato.
-
Step 3
Imagine that the bench in Step 2 is removed to start your gato. Your body must move backward quickly with your back remaining straight and your legs moving in unison.
-
Step 4
Prepare to propel yourself backward by leading your body with both hands at the beginning of your gato. Keep both arms at shoulder-width and flatten your palms to provide enough balance to complete a gato.
-
Step 5
Use your waist as the pivot point as you do a gato to keep your body moving along the right path. Your torso should move with the same speed at the end of the gato as your legs moved at the beginning.
-
Step 6
Anticipate the downward slope of your body at the end of a gato by focusing on the ground. Your eyes should lock to a spot on the ground for the entire move to prevent upper body movement.
-
Step 7
Keep your legs together as your body swings downward to complete the gato. Your knees and ankles should be touching from the peak of your flip through the end to maintain your balance.
-
Step 8
Allow your arms to follow your torso at the end of your gato to create an upside down V, with your waist at the highest point as a way to spring upward for defensive measures.
