Strength and a good sense of balance are the critical factors in achieving good hand balancing. Most of the examples here are OK, but some shapes leave a little to be desired. The most usual issue we call 'banana back' - arching the back to compensate for a lack of shoulder flexibility - yes, you need that, too.    If the weight is supported on the hands - that's the first success. Pulling through to handstand follows:   ...and so, strengthening the shoulders for more great things to come! Yes, him again.  We could say the same about him - showing off with his mates. That's Archie Collier from the UK - very talented and currently on tour in a show (as we saw earlier in a rehearsal clip). OK. A couple more of Archie then we'll call it done for this post!    

As gymnastics/acrobatics coaches, we always say that the gymnasts can never spend enough time on their hands (i.e. supporting their weight on their hands). They need a good handstand for every piece of apparatus, actually. Today we can see some results - mostly excellent, some perhaps not (but making the effort). Including acrobatic groups pitching and catching, working together. Definitely an exhibition of physical fitness, of course. This post is quite heavy on videos, but in many cases it is the action which is important. Bear with us!   This guy goes for endurance... ...by the way, when we were training we had to do 8 minutes, but against a wall for occasional support   ...an unusual location, but you can't stop those circus performers even when they have free time!   ... and that last one is a good effort, but a typical 'banana back' caused by poor shoulder flexibility He's balancing OK though.  Some "easy steps" now, and then some games: Start young...  ...

Anyone can do this, but it takes a lot of work on your physical condition to be able to press through and hold the right shapes. Not every picture is an example of the perfect shape - you'll see the 'banana backs' compensating for poor shoulder flexibility. That, plus a 'stable' core musculature to ensure holding the shape, straight legs and (for gymnasts at least) stretched feet are the basic needs. And since your balance sensing organs are in your ears, having them close to the floor makes it harder than balancing the right way up. Do you remember how long it took you to figure out standing up? Admire the work that has gone into (most of) this. A good start with these lads... but needs work:   And to end today - how's this - for a 5yo?