Acrophysics

[flexagon]

I haven't told LJ anything about my acrobalance classes, ever since I found out about them. I've been to two now, one of which was even recorded on LJ in some detail, but not by me. Aside from finding out that there's a strange, gaping hole in the bus schedule to get there (you can be 20 minutes early, or 20 minutes late), they've been tremendously awesome. The teacher, who I will call Zed, is awesome also, and nice to stand on.

I have this one particular insight that I was given with respect to front handsprings: after starting a strong drive with my back leg, I should tighten my abs in order to transmit that force to my upper body and bring me upright as a single unit.

Duh! Force transmission! If my middle is loose, the force and momentum in my legs won't affect my upper body much (until certain limits of flexibility are reached, at which point ouch). But if it's tight, it acts as a conductor. This is the answer to soooooo many of my problems where I thought I couldn't kick hard enough to "get over" in some rotation or other. The same EXACT insight is what's going to get me my back kickover and then walkover soon if I keep going. And the same exact insight is going to get my cartwheels faster the way Zed wants them to be. (Mind you, I still think slow cartwheels are pretty, but I'm happy to practice them different ways.) This makes me incredibly happy because I have a strong core already; it's not like I have to develop some esoteric strength where I currently have nothing. I just have to apply what I have.

As a side note, today in yoga class I touched the ball of my foot to my forehead in a wall-assisted backbend. I love that -- it's just not something you get to feel every day. I always wiggle my toes on my forehead to distract myself from the discomfort of the stretch.

(After class I was talking with the teacher and some people, and tried coming down from tripod headstand into one-legged crane after the teacher said she thought it would be impossible / really hard. I succeeded, and she said "Rock star! I guess it's possible.")

I'm hoping that tomorrow I can get Zed to walk around with me a little bit while I'm standing on his shoulders. He's turned in place but not really walked, yet. And I'm kinda proud because so far it's only me he's tried moving with -- the other fliers are too nervous just being up there.

Comments

[nahele-101.livejournal.com]

The class sounds like so much fun!

Is it a mix of balance and tumbling? I want to dearly take a tumbling class. I can do front flips (occasionally) but freak out on even attempting back flips. I'd love to be around people who enjoy trying to invert themselves.

[flexagon]

Yes, I meant to say -- it's about 50% tumbling and 50% partner acro, which is PERFECT for me. So far we've always worked on handstands and front handsprings; we've always done two-highs, which means one person standing on another person's shoulders; we've always done some 3-person acro configuration as well.

Back flip, yeah, way scary. I'll content myself with a back walkover -- if I can ever do that without a spot, it's enough, I'll be delighted.

[nahele-101.livejournal.com]

Gah!

You should clone your teacher and send them to Humboldt County!

[flexagon]

Righty-ho, I'll try to get a cell sample from him tonight. :)