How to Do a Back Walkover in Gymnastics

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By katilynne
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Back Walkover on Beam

A Back Walkover is a basic gymnastics skill. This skill is fun to learn and do. It is competed by female gymnasts on the floor and balance beam. This skill is an important skill to learn if a gymnast's goal is to become a competitive gymnast.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

able body
big enough space to do the back walkover safely
mat/soft surface if just learning

Step 1

First get out a mat or soft surface. Make sure you have enough space to do the skill so that you don't break anything-or yourself. ;)
Step 2

Start with your "favorite leg" pointed in front of your body. To determine your favorite leg you will have to try and do a handstand and see what leg your body automatically uses.
Step 3

Now keep your arms by your ears and lean backwards in an arch. Look for the floor and DO NOT bend your bottom leg. (By bending your leg you force your hips to push forward which makes it hard to go backwards.)
Step 4

Lift your favorite leg over your head right before and as your hands hit the floor. Push on your bottom leg. Keep looking at your hands.
Step 5

You should show a split when you are in the middle of the back walkover (also show in the pic in step above). You can achieve this by getting your legs as wide apart as they can go.
Step 6

Now lower your foot to the floor and pick your hands and chest up as your favorite leg hits the floor.
Step 7

You should land in a lunge to catch your balance. A lunge is when you put all of your weight on your front leg (it is bent) and put your back leg onto the floor behind you (it is straight). Your arms are by your ears in a lunge. The image in the next step shows the gymnast in a "finish" which is a variation of the lunge.
Step 8

The Finish (Legs are in lunge)

After you have caught your balance and held your lunge for a second or two, do a big finish! This is where you stand in lunge and put your arms in the shape of a V. Lift your chin up to show confidence and that you are proud of yourself!

Comments

alienangel555 said

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on 12/30/2008 Wow, I wish I could do that! Incredible. 5 stars and a recommend

lydiabily said

on 12/30/2008 This is a great explanation of doing a back walkover, with great photos. I feel like I could do it from these instructions alone. Now I just have to decide if I want to try...