im having trouble on my back walkover...i can go back but im afraid to kick over, even when im being spotted...i try rocking back and forth and i can stay in my backbend with one leg in the air, i just am scared if i kick over ill hurt my back or neck...help please?!?!

Me too. I can do my backwards walkover when I know someone has their hand touching my back so I know they can catch me if I want but I can go back on my own because I feel really unsafe. I would love to know tips from anyone too Plus the fact someone from my acro class broke her arm trying to do one on her own

Beth

the main thing thats going to get you over, is shoulders over your hands, and as far over as you can get them.. start with your feet on a low mat or something like a landing mat, and then push your shoulders fully over your hands, walkover out of bridge
then try this starting with one leg in the air.. then take the mat away
then try standing up and putting your foot on a box, go back to bridge, raise your foot into the air and kick over,
that is generally the progressions i use for my girls to learn their BWOs and it works well for me, if you have any more queries or want more ideas please ask!

What about using a wall to push off with your feet? I heard that is bad..? True?

Yes its true.

You won't get hurt if your focused and maintaining strong arms. If the minute you kick over, you let your arms collapse, yeah you'll get hurt. Same as if you kick over and let them bend while in the handstand.

Remember, your focus is in shifting the weight onto the palms of the hands as your leg kicks over. Don't worry about the foot that comes over second. Your legs will act like a see-saw and when the first one goes over, the other one will naturally. If you mentally try to bring that second foot over, you end up with both legs pulling you back into your bridge.

Another thing to remember is to pull with the chest, shoulder, and arm muscles. Use your head also. When you kick over, try to see the other wall by lifting your head up. When you get this remember to relax the neck so you end up doing a perfect tall handstand in the walkover.

Also, once you kick over, and your ready to point or lift your leg in front, you are doing a controlled 1 legged backbend, trying to get your hands as close to your feet as possible. Then connect the proper timing!!

Good Luck!

its really easy when you get the hang of it i am only 7 years old. you have to push your shoulders back in till it really hurts then just kick over trust me you wont hurt yourself. my wee sister is only 6 years old and she was doing a back walkover with her leg up and thats how she broke her arm so trust me just try it you will get it adventully.