A front flip, which is also known as an ‘acrobatic flip’ is a series of body actions, in which a person dives in the air and spins more than once while flying. ‘Front flips’ are executed in ‘acro dance’, free running, gymnastics, tricking, etc. Front flip is different from ‘freestyle BMX’, in which a person spins in the air on a bicycle.
Front flips can be underway from a stationary position, standing position and they are also usually performed right away following another revolving move, such as a ’roundoff’ in order to take the benefit of the ‘angular momentum’ developed in the preceding move. In front flips, hands never touch the surface while performing a flip and the performer struggles to land in a standing position.
Before you begin to learn and practice front flips, make sure that you practice in a padded area, so that you won’t get hurt even if you land awkwardly. It is always a good idea to practice under the guidance of a flip expert or professional. They will help you with your technique and assist you if something goes wrong while performing. It is suggested that executing front flips is a dangerous activity and should be performed at your own risk. By reading this article you will come to know how to do front flips safely and properly.
Instructions:
Stretch:
- Before doing any physical exercise, especially which takes lots of strength and requires muscles to spring and tighten; you need to stretch to warm up your body.
- If you do not stretch out before practicing, you will be putting yourself and your muscles in extreme danger of becoming stressed or even pulled. Stressed or pulled muscles are extremely painful and can cause sever suffering.
- In order to execute a front flip you have to stretch your arms, chest, back, core and legs to assure that every muscle group is agile, loose and ready for action.
Jumping
- To start your front flips, you have to take a jumping posture. This can be done by bending your knees, lifting the arms completely above your head, and dragging up the rib cage and chest area, as if you are taking deep breaths.
- When you are jumping, it is essential to jump straight upwards. Many people think that the flip jump should be executed forward. But, forward jumping may cause loss of height of the jump. In order to take a ‘full flip turn’, you will have to jump as high as you can.
In the Air
- When you achieve the maximum height of the flip jump, put your arms forward and then drag them down. This action will help your body to achieve the momentum it needs to execute a full front-flip.
- While placing your arms forward, drag both your knees as close to the chest as you can. Basically, the goal of doing front flip is to appear like a ‘human ball’ in air. Dragging the knees close to your chest will help you to create good movement and enough momentum to turn the flip.
- When your body returns to a straight position, you will have to smooth out your body to stop the momentum and get ready for landing.
The Landing
- After you have come to a straight position from the ‘human ball’ position, keep your feet apart and land safely on the ground. In order to have a comfortable landing ensure that your knees are bent and loose, so that your joints and knees won’t feel the force of the landing.
- Lessening and bending the knees will make your landing much easier and effortless, and it helps your body to maintain balance. If you will keep legs too firm and rigid, you might continue carrying on the thrust and you will end up hurting yourself.
Tips & Warnings
- Before practicing the front flip on hard ground, try to do it on a ‘trampoline’ or a ’springboard’.
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