One arm handstand Building Blocks
One Arm Handstands seem so simple when looking at that.
You have a body.
You have an arm.
And somehow it just stands there in peace and perfect balance.
For anybody who has ever tried a handstand it is very clear that unfortunately the one arm handstands are anything but that simple. Mastering the OAHS usually takes multiple years and due to a lack of knowledge and resources on the internet lots of sweat and tears are usually shed due to misinformation and poor technical choices.
Starting at the bottom
When looking at an OAHS from the button the first important part to look at is the hand, your connection to the floor. If you can, spread your hand wide. Imagine you are a table with only 1 leg. If that leg is a toothpick your table will be rather unstable. If that leg is a tree your table will stand for ages. Most important about the hand is the connection with the floor. Don’t balance on something soft or slippery. No matter what kind of impulse you give with the hand you want the energy to transfer into the floor with the smallest amount of delay possible.
What makes you visibly shake
Moving up we get to your elbow. Lock it and keep it locked. Go on youtube and watch me hand balance live. You will see every time that I bend my elbow my entire body shakes. When your weight travels towards the back of the hand your elbow bends automatically to catch the balance. This costs a lot of energy and can even leave you injured. Focus on keeping the weight in front and the elbow locked at all times.
The power house of the handstand
Your shoulder. The shoulder really is where everything happens. Elevate it! Push out tall! Even taller than on 2 hands. This is not just for stability but also health. Your shoulder is supposed to not just support but also balance and maneuver your entire bodyweight. Treat it with respect and make this job as easy for your shoulder as possible.
Additionally connect the side of your face with the supporting shoulder and keep it connected at all times. This is a good indication that your OAHS is well aligned!
The opposite shoulder, the free one, is tricky as well. It needs to basically do nothing and that is so very hard. You have to leave it down towards the floor. Keep your free scapula elevated and gently bring the shoulder in front towards your chin. If your free shoulder comes up and away form the floor your lat engages and your hips get pulled back to parallel. This is one of the main reasons why most people fail when simply attempting one arm handstands instead of training for them!
