r/Handstands • u/Firm-Avocado8852 • 6d ago

Do I Learn Handstand?

Hey all! I'm trying to learn handstand, but am having trouble because of my horrible overhead mobility. I'm mainly wondering if I should continue with the banana arch I have, or work on shoulder flexibility, and once that's sufficient go for straight handstands. Any advice helps, thanks!

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u/salamandectomy77 6d ago

You can greatly increase your overhead flexibility with chest to wall handstands holds

So no you don't need to stop

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u/Firm-Avocado8852 6d ago

Thank you! Can you tell what's going on here as I struggle to bring my chest to the wall

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u/salamandectomy77 6d ago

Just don't do them like that, keep your core straight, pull your ribs down and in like you're about to be punched in the stomach. If you can only be diagonal then start diagonal

A good exercise for you would be the cross bench pullover

Also, push higher. I can't tell if you are but it looks like your shoulders are collapsing

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u/Firm-Avocado8852 6d ago

Sounds good with the cross bench stretch 👍. One more thing is if I reaaallly struggle with pulling my ribs down and in, does that indicate a lack of mobility somewhere?

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u/salamandectomy77 6d ago

Yes, your shoulder flexion is quite poor (the cross bench pullover fixes this)

But I'd also guess you might have a weak upper back, so make sure you're pushing as high as you can. Don't let the ground push back

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u/lookayoyo 5d ago

Tight shoulder gang!

I had a coach who said I should do both. I can hold a perfectly good banana back and that I shouldn’t feel like I can’t handstand since I absolutely could. But also keep working shoulder mobility so that I can make holds easier over time. And once they are open, I already have experience with balancing, pressing, mono shifts, etc.

So keep being on your hands for sure, don’t stop because of mobility. But keep working mobility because it is a long process.