When first learning to do a cartwheel, there are three things to keep in mind to avoid some common errors. Square hips, arms by your ears, and hips over the top of your body.
Cartwheel Tip #1: Keep Your Hips Square
One common error many people face when learning a cartwheel is they believe it is a side skill. This is incorrect, it is actually a forward skill. You want to begin with your hips forward, keeping them square and leading with your dominant leg.
Cartwheel Tip #2: Keep Your Arms by Your Ears
A second common mistake people make is starting with their arms out to the side, or down by their hips. Doing this may tempt you to place your hands down close by your feet or out to the side, causing a short and horizontal cartwheel. A long, square, and over the top cartwheel is what we are aiming for. Starting with your arms straight up by your ears will force you to square out in the air resulting in a vertical cartwheel.
Cartwheel Tip #3: Get Your Hips Over The Top of Your Body
To get upside down in the cartwheel, you need to think about getting your hips up over your shoulders, not around the side. Attempting a cartwheel against the wall is good practice for getting your hips over the rest of your body. Start slow, showing control, and pause at the top for a three count if possible. Following the pause, step down.
There you have it, three things to remember: Square hips, arms by your ears, and hips over the top of your body.
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