How to do PRESS HANDSTANDs tutorial

Press handstands are all the fashion in gymnastics!! Straddle press handstands are often the first really big skill that young gymnasts most want to learn - although we know of VERY high level gymnasts who have never been able to do them. Pike press handstands are harder again and earn major bragging rights.\r
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Press handstands are often referred to as the gate keeper skill in elite Australian gymnastics. Straddle press handstands are the required mount in IDP3 beam; and pike presses executed flawlessly are worth bonus in IDP6. Ive heard it argued that good press handstand technique helps to develop a good straight body cast from kip to handstand technique (on bars). But then Ive also heard a cynical coach or two suggest the real reason is to ensure slim gymnasts post-puberty - since you need a high strength to weight ratio (more strength less weight) to be able to do them. Regardless, it must be acknowledged that press handstands are still frequently used as a beam mount by Olympic level gymnasts.\r
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Internationally speaking, I dont think tops in acrobatic gymnastics can get past L5 without very solid press handstands. Press handstands are the core skill in balance routines. So yes Starly does work on these quite a bit!!\r
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As difficult as press handstands are, theyre a very popular skill for gymnasts to work on at home. Presses are a form of conditioning as much as they are a skill, so they are usually blessed by coaches as being safe for gymnastics at home (assuming you have a proper soft landing area and supervision).\r
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Ive seen 3 year olds have a decent go, but never passably lol. A few really do get their presses by 4 or 5 - the few who train a lot of hours obviously!! Starly started gymnastics at 5 and a half and was doing proper presses from a straddle sit around a year later - in spite of only working her way up from 1 hr pw to just 6 hrs pw in that time. (Unfortunately shes just wearing knickers in these videos so we cant post them lol). Weve got a bunch of videos posted of her presses at age 7 and 8 though.\r
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26th May, new\r
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Coming soon: Starlys first competition for new is this coming weekend!!