How to Do an Aerial Cartwheel

A regular cartwheel consists of using your hands and tumbling sideways, resembling a wheel. An aerial cartwheel looks like a cartwheel with no hands but the procedure you will use to accomplish the aerial is much different. You can't attempt to do a regular cartwheel and just pick up your hands; you'll end up smashing your face into the floor. Instead, approach the aerial from a totally different perspective.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Punch with your front leg as you go into a cartwheel. This is to prepare you for the lift needed during an aerial. To punch, you must approach the cartwheel with speed and instead of allowing your upper body to lean down, push very sharply upwards with your front leg as you take off. You want the momentum of your body to travel upwards.

2. Dive into your cartwheel. As long as you keep putting your hands down, your body will follow. Try using the punch from Step 1 and combining it with a dive cartwheel where you pause as long as possible before putting your hands on the floor.

3. Speed up your legs. Unlike the regular tumbling cartwheel, an aerial requires you to bring your legs overhead very, very quickly. Once your body leaves the ground, gravity is working against you. While you punch with your front leg, throw your back leg as high as possible at the same time to start the quick leg motion.

4. Twist your upper body in the same direction as the foot you take off from. This is probably the toughest part of doing an aerial because it is a learned technique but once you get the feeling, you'll be well on your way. If you punch with your right leg, keep your arms high during the approach but instead of putting them down, twist your right arm and shoulder to the right and your left shoulder behind you causing your upper body to pivot and rotate.

5. Practice the twist separately while standing so you know how it feels before you attempt it during the aerial. It will be a sharp motion that will bring your legs full circle over your head once your body is airborne.

6. Combine the previous steps and practice the move over and over. Being able to do an aerial takes a lot of practice and perseverance. Increasing your strength and technique in all areas of tumbling will benefit you.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't underestimate the power needed to launch yourself upwards from your front leg. Build your leg muscles until your punch can send you upwards as far as possible.
• Never attempt to teach someone an aerial by tying their arms behind their back. Until they build up the strength and develop the technique, they need their hands to catch them from falling on their face.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!

[lindsay1234]

on 6/21/2009 Never mind. I got my aerial. Thanks a million

[lindsay1234]

on 6/12/2009 "ow" means how

[lindsay1234]

on 6/3/2009 do you have any tips on ow to get over the fear of aerial cartwheels???