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How to Do a Cartwheel

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Do a Cartwheel

How to Do a Cartwheel

How to do a cartwheel and a few variations :)

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Step 1 of 12
If you're leaning from the very beginning and don't feel comfortable starting from standing, start here.

If you're leaning from the very beginning and don't feel comfortable starting from standing, start here.

Step 2 of 12
If you're comfortable with standing, you can go from either position. The first is basic, and the second is the CDTA Acro way. It's mostly stylistic, but it keeps your hands wider in a cartwheel.

If you're comfortable with standing, you can go from either position. The first is basic, and the second is the CDTA Acro way. It's mostly stylistic, but it keeps your hands wider in a cartwheel.

Step 3 of 12
Put your weight in your hands, and jump off your first foot, and jump to the other side.

Put your weight in your hands, and jump off your first foot, and jump to the other side.

Step 4 of 12
You want your legs as split as possible so it is a cartwheel, not a roundoff. It also looks nicer with straight legs and pointed feet. Doing that polishes a cartwheel and makes your legs look longer!

You want your legs as split as possible so it is a cartwheel, not a roundoff. It also looks nicer with straight legs and pointed feet. Doing that polishes a cartwheel and makes your legs look longer!

Step 5 of 12
The goal of a cartwheel is to be straight while upside down. You want your feet above your body, so if someone was standing in the way of your cartwheel, you'd be a straight vertical line like above.

The goal of a cartwheel is to be straight while upside down. You want your feet above your body, so if someone was standing in the way of your cartwheel, you'd be a straight vertical line like above.

Step 6 of 12
When landing, your first foot to go up, is the first to come down. From the landing position, all you have to do is stand up and you're done!

When landing, your first foot to go up, is the first to come down. From the landing position, all you have to do is stand up and you're done!

Step 7 of 12

This is the first step demonstrated when you're first getting the coordination of the cartwheel.

Step 8 of 12

With the legs a bit higher.

Step 9 of 12

And the full cartwheel :)

Step 10 of 12

So here's two variations for when you have your cartwheel! This is a one handed cartwheel, and you don't put down your second hand.

Step 11 of 12

This is a one footed cartwheel, and you don't use your first foot. You jump off of your second foot, circle it around, then land on that foot. Your first foot should never touch the ground.

Step 12 of 12

Good luck! I'd suggest practicing on grass or carpet!

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!
BC, Canada
I'm a dancer and acrobat - artsy, 18. I love books and music :) If you're attempting my acro guides, I'm not responsible for any injuries incurred. Be careful!

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Carly Dick

That's how everyone has spelt it capoeira

(author) 4 months ago

Katie Whitty

Capoeira

Katie Whitty 4 months ago

Carly Dick

Bend the leg that you are standing on a lot, and keep on it until your hands are on the ground, then jump off. Also, you could try doing the other side so that you are using your stronger leg.

(author) 11 months ago

Emmy IsCool

I am very good at cartwheels and 1 handed cartwheels but i am having trouble starting a 1 footed one any tips. Because i usually push off with my fist foot but since its nit there i am failung

Emmy IsCool 11 months ago

Carly Dick

Why thanks! I kinda have to be concise on here because of the word restrictions :)I may, but I have a chronic back injury so maybe not.. Not too sure yet :)

(author) 11 months ago

Jebe Khan

You're a champion explainer! Also the most concise of any 17 year old I know of. Ditto on the capoeira: get in a class or something, it's all kinds of fun. Do you plan to do acro when you go to school next year? It might be easier than you think to get into a program. Not every college team is bunch of scholarship monsters :)

Jebe Khan 11 months ago

Jeff Bartel

I've never even tried a cartwheel before and my balance is awful. I'll give this some practice for the next few days and let you know how it goes :D

Jeff Bartel 12 months ago

Holly 🐒

You make it look so freakin easy!

Holly 🐒 12 months ago

Abhijit Pradhan

Wow ! Amazing - made it look so simple :) thanks !

Abhijit Pradhan 12 months ago

Carly Dick

That's cool :) I'll give it a try tomorrow for sure! If I get it I'll try my best to guide it.

(author) 12 months ago

Carly Dick

I'll have a look :) I'm always up for a challenge!

(author) 12 months ago

Craig Hill

Try looking for "capoeira helicoptero" or this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ieRxNgZ8U&feature=youtube_gdata_player see if you can figure this one. I can't do this yet :-(

Craig Hill 12 months ago

Carly Dick

Agreed. While both different, they both serve their purposes well.

(author) 12 months ago

Carly Dick

Just googled capoeira and that's SO AWESOME. See, for that it makes absolute sense to look out because you are doing very quick movements, and it looks like they're done pretty close to others. Eye contact would be key in that to prevent being kicked in the face or something by accident!

(author) 12 months ago

Craig Hill

Fair enough. I can see the importance of looking down when you're on beams. I guess there's different intentions with both styles

Craig Hill 12 months ago

Carly Dick

Never consciously thought of that before, actually. But now that you've brought it up, a lot of acro is about balancing; I find it easier to analyze and counteract balance shifts when I can what I'm balancing on. If that makes sense :p plus if I'm gonna bail I'll see it coming!

(author) 12 months ago

Craig Hill

Quick question, why do you look at the floor during your cartwheel? I do capoeira and we always look straight ahead to keep your eye on other people. 2nd variation was pretty impressive, good guide.

Craig Hill 12 months ago

Carly Dick

Yes I can, front and side :)

(author) 12 months ago

Emily McDonald

Can you do an aerial?(:

Emily McDonald 12 months ago

Carly Dick

That's so cool I've always wanted to try parkour!!! It looks like such an adrenaline rush and workout! No problem, I'm so glad this helped :)

(author) 12 months ago

Random Practice

Wow thanks, I practice parkour(not that you know what that is) and I can't do a cartwheel this help bunches!! Thank you

Random Practice 12 months ago

Peter Jaremsek

Impressive, I especially liked the variations.

Peter Jaremsek 12 months ago

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Carly Dick

There's more shoulder strength required in variations, but it still is mostly momentum.

(author) 11 months ago

Jebe Khan

That's particularly impressive. Is a lot of shoulder strength required, or are you mostly just using your momentum?

Jebe Khan 11 months ago

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