How do you do a back bend kickover?

Before attempting a back walkover, a student must be able to support her body weight on her arms in a handstand. Next the student must practice a backbend or bridge, pushing up from the floor with the arms and legs straight and the body arched with the feet and hands as close together as possible. Many children attempt this on their lawns along with cartwheels and round-offs as part of natural child-play.

Next, the build the necessary shoulder and back flexibility, the student places her feet on a raised surface while in a bridge position. The higher the surface the easier the next step will be. By stretching the shoulders over the hands and kicking one leg up and over while pushing from the other leg, performing what is known as a kickover. This skill needs to be practiced daily to build up enough strength and flexibility in the back and shoulders. (Believe it or not, the shoulders actually need to arch more than most people realize in order for the gymnast to kick over to their feet.)

The next step should be learned and practiced while still practicing eac of the previous steps. (The shoulders and arms must be strong and the body flexible to safely perform a walkover.) From standing, and with a spot to support the body, the student stands with the arms overhead and the feet about a shoulder width apart. At the same time the arms are reaching back, the hips must extend forward keeping the body weight balanced over the toes as long as possible. Slowly the student arched the hips forward while reaching back and to finish in a bridge or backbend position.

When the student can perform each of the previous steps, especially a backbend from a standing position, the next step is the start with one leg raised off the ground and execute a backbend while pushing the hips forward over the toes, once the hands reach the ground (preferabl a soft mat) she lifts the free leg in the direction of the backbend while stretching the shoulders iand pushing the hips open using the other leg, and in the same way as the backbend kickover drill. As the legs pass through a handstand position they remain apart (similar to a cartwheel) and the gymnast steps down on the leg that initiated the kick and steps backwards with the rear leg into a lunge position with the arms up.

In competition a gymnast is scored on how straight the legs and arms are kept throughout the walkover and how well she points her toes. A gymnast is expected to show a full split as the body passes through the handstand phase and steps down into the lunge position.

Maintaining good balance is the best way to make sure the gymnast doesn't take any unnecessary steps (on the hands or feet). The closer the body resembles a capital "T" during the handstand in a walkover the better the scores will reflect that level of skill.

There are many variations of this skill and combinations with other skills. Women use the walkover as a basic to intermediate Jr. Olympic skill while men usually use back walkovers as a training tool to increase their flexibility, balance and awareness.

Rhythmic Gymnasts, Cheerleaders and athletes such as Aerobics athletes use the walkover during the routines to demonstrate superior strength, balance and coordination.

It is also just a lot of fun to do once you can do it safely.

BE VERY CAREFUL!!!

Or an easier way to explain this even though all this is very helpful. You need to make sure you are stretched enough so you dont accidentally hurt your self. So you will need t stretch. After stretches you will be standing by now I hope. Arch your back very carefully all the way back as far as you can go until your hands are touching the ground. your hands and feet should be on the ground now and it should look like you are in well a bridge. You should practice this a few times so you dont hurt your self. After this position dont move your feet after you land in the bridge. you might need to kick your leg up a couple of time so you know you have enough strength. Soon you should be able to just kick over and you will have a back walk over.