The lights 🚨 in your hands
When working towards the FFS (no, not for f*ck sake, the freestanding freedom standard), and in light of what we just said above - the less we dance up there, the more of a chance we have at holding it for more than 2 seconds.
As I sat and observed 4 times a week my students in Dublin perform our routine warm-up, I realised that many improvers, when asked to kick-up and bail, stayed on the heel of the hands.
Their default was so not go in the position where things can finally get easy.
Remember: heel of the hands = timbering.
If you habitually align yourself in that way without realising, you’re rehearsing the timber, over and over again…
(Forgot what the timber is? Head here)
This went further - I remembered torturing my intermediate students a few months ago with ultra-silent holds.
Intermediates have a tendency to grow complacent with their balancing skills.
Don’t get me wrong - it’s a normal thing to do, it’s called being efficient and finally enjoying the ride after all those years of sweat, blood and tears trying to achieve the FFS. I do it too.
But in the process, they miss a crucial learning opportunity - striving for something not just functional, but optimal.
This is important, because you will keep pushing the goal post (I know your unquenchable thirst!). And when things become complex enough, the cracks in your foundations will start to show.
An example: Aoife, Lucy and Claire are working on the OAHS in the studio.
While they don’t need to analyse what needs to happen to hold a FS handstand for 30 seconds and more… When it’s time to perform slight body leans onto one hand, consistency goes through the window.
Why? well, the small losses of balance, that were so easy to correct for and ignore, are now snowballing into bigger movements.
To correct for this, ingrain that good habit already as a beginner, improve your duration holds as an improver, and prepare yourself for harder skills as an intermediate, we have therefore created the holy 1st knuckle ultra silent holds.
Looks like nothing.
It is NOT easy.