Banana Tumbling

When learning new tricks it is always important to remember the technique. Nothing about the technique is arbitrary, instead it is meant to help you progress in your tumbling easier. One thing that sometimes gets overlooked is the banana. Now you might be asking what does fruit have to do with it/ Well aside from eating a healthier diet, we are referring to the shape of the banana.

Alot of us have seen this, and probably have done this before. We go into the handstand with a curved back, obviously shaped like the banana. It is cool because we are learning how to hold the handstand and we begin to immediately feel ourselves balancing on our hands. The problem with this position is that it is only good for just that.  If you were to try to progress in your tumbling ability, this will actually hinder you from learning properly, and could lead to some awkward looking tumbling. This is because there is less activation of the body's muscle for your lower back and your core. (which is required when advancing in your tumbling.)

One thing for certain is that the banana  has one advantage as it is easier to perform, and to balance on your hands. However it is normally not taught or even recommended by gymnast alike. So if you just want to hold the handstand, maybe the banana handstand is the right technique for you, you could always try to fix your self later; but if you would like to advanced in your tumbling, it is wise to learn it the right way first. This might take longer, but will save alot of hassle for you as you begin your journey in tumbling.

No matter the level you think you are at, a good tumbling foundations class can help with the basic elements to master your tumbling.