How to Do a Backflip

Dancers and gymnasts I feel sometimes possess some supernatural powers. The way the perform the tricks and the gymnastic moves, is simply mesmerizing. The somersaults, the jumps, the stretches. Wow! It is absolutely awe inspiring. I wonder if they really do have bones! On a serious note though, it also is true that with passion and perseverance anything can happen and can be achieved, let alone the toughest amongst the gymnastic acts. One thing which really gets me to sit up and take notice of is the back flip in gymnastics. It may 'look' easy but it surely isn't and is no mean feat. But that does not mean that those other than gymnasts and dancers and the like, cannot do it! They surely can! Want to know how to do a backflip? Then brace yourselves!

How to Do a Backflip on the Ground?

For doing a backlflip, one thing is for sure, it is not for the faint hearted. You have to be determined and completely prepared. Once you are mentally prepared, only then try that. When doing it for the first couple of times try and have a couple or at least one spotter around. Now here we flip!

Step 1
Get on a proper gym floor with a mat preferably till you get in the groove. If not that, make sure you are in a reasonably open area with a soft surface. But make sure that the floor is not a concrete one and has no obstacles. You will give an invitation to injuries.

Step 2
Now, as the back flip involves a lot of limb extensions and stretching, if you are a beginner wanting to learn how to do a backflip, it is especially crucial to do some stretching. Make conscious efforts to warm up and stretch all the muscles of your limbs chest and back. You do not want to tear your ligament or pull your muscle, while doing this one amongst many of those gymnastic moves, right?

Step 3
After you have stretched thoroughly, stand straight with your arms above the head. Keep your feet shoulder width apart. Ensure that you have a proper balance if you do not want to land on your head with a backflip gone terribly wrong.

Step 4
Now comes the important part in understanding how to do a backflip. Here what you need to do is swing your arms first down and then back, squatting for a jump at the same time. To get a good push off the ground with both feet, let your knees be bent at 90 degrees angle.

Step 5
Another tough part. The next in the series of events is to explode off the ground, this time swinging your arms back above your head. While doing a backflip, you have to be well acquainted with the position and timing of the peak of your jump.

Step 6
Continuing with the previous movement, lean back and then tuck your knees in your chest, at the point while you are reaching the peak of the jump. This is pivotal for getting the momentum and tempo for flipping backward. If you do jumping exercises, they may prove helpful to you for getting the act properly.

Step 7
Three fourths of the way in the rolling process, stretch out your legs and then land on your feet. This timing has to be impeccable or else there would not be any back flip. But don't worry, you will get it with practice!

Step 8
For reducing the shock and the impact of landing and also to maintain balance, bending the knees while you land is necessary. There is no harm in placing your hands to on the floor if you feel you might fall.

That was how to do a backflip. Furthermore, your trainer can also help you out with a backflip on a trampoline, which is more or less the same, except for the bounce factor. Well! There you are. You have done the backflip.

Now be it a normal backflip or a backflip off a wall, please remember to wear comfortable clothes and never do it alone till you are dead sure about it. In addition to that, keeping your chin up and grabbing your knees is imperative to complete a backflip successfully! Lastly, please avoid doing this when you are not absolutely fine. Have fun and take care!