How to Teach Cartwheels

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Last Updated: November 18, 2022

Maybe you’re an expert cartwheeler, able to go around and around in a big cartwheel circle. But you aren’t sure how to teach your students, your friends, or your siblings how to do a cartwheel. With the right method, you will be cartwheeling around the room with a partner in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using An Object

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Make sure you give the person you are teaching lots of space to jump and tumble around. Place an exercise mat or a yoga mat on the ground.^{[1]
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Place a couch cushion on the mat. Try to use a wide cushion that can lay flat on the ground.
- You can also use a gymnastic mat, which you can buy at sporting goods stores. Go for a gym mat that is long and at least 6 inches wide.
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Stand or squat across from her so you can guide her through the exercise.
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Place her hands flat on the cushion. Her hands should be sideways, perpendicular to her hips.^{[2]
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- Instruct her to then place weight into her hands and bend her elbows.
5
Tell her to hop over to the other side of the cushion. Notice which direction she placed her hands as she hopped over. If she pointed her fingers to the right, she is likely a right-footed cartwheeler. If she pointed her fingers to the left, she is likely a left-footed cartwheeler.^{[3]
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- This will help you to determine which foot she should lead with in her cartwheel.
6
Have her practice going over the cushion. You can move the cushion so one side is against a wall. This may make it easier for her to feel comfortable cartwheeling over the cushion if she can lean against a wall.
- Make sure she leads with her right foot as she tries to cartwheel over the cushion.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using the Sticker Trick

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Place an exercise mat or a yoga mat on the ground.^{[4]
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If she is a right-foot cartwheeler, place the sticker on her right foot. If she is a left-foot cartwheeler, place the sticker on her left foot.
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Instruct her to place her sticker foot in front. Have her bend her legs slightly and make sure her feet are in line with each other in a lunge position.
- Tell her to draw an imaginary line from the heel of her front foot to the big toe of her back foot.
4
Place her hands on the floor in the sideways position. Her hands should be perpendicular to her body.^{[5]
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- Instruct her to put the weight into her hands, bend her elbows slightly, and kick her feet over.
- You may have to support her by holding on to her legs as she tries to go over on her first few tries.
Have her check to see if the sticker “disappeared” or landed behind her front foot.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using the Straight Line Trick

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1
Place an exercise mat or a yoga mat down in an open space. Make sure it is long enough for the person to cartwheel across it.^{[6]
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- You can also use a carpeted area, as long as there are no breakable objects or obstacles around.
Place it on the mat or carpet so it forms a straight vertical line.
Make sure her leading foot is in front and her other foot is in line behind her in the lunge position.
Her hands should be sideways, perpendicular to her body.^{[7]
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Make sure she is placing weight into her hands as she rotates over. The line should help her stay straight as she cartwheels.
Her leading foot should now be her back foot.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Hula Hoops and Chalk

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Place two exercise mats side by side or use a carpeted area. Take three hula hoops and place them down side by side against a wall.^{[8]
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In the middle hula hoop, draw two large hands. These can be rough, one large circle and three small circles. The hands will act as a marker for the person learning to cartwheel.
Her back leg should be inside the first hula hoop.
She should now be in a lunge with her back foot in the first hula hoop and her front foot outside of the hula hoop, about an inch away from the second hula hoop.
Tell her to look at the hands in the second hula hoop and imagine placing her hands in the drawn hands as she comes into a handstand against the wall.
Her hands should be on the drawn hands in the second hula hoop. Her body should be against the wall in a handstand position.
Then, place your hands on her hips and help her rotate so her legs land in the third hula hoop in a lunge position. Her leading foot should now be behind her in the third hula hoop and her front leg should be just outside the third hula hoop.
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Talk her through a cartwheel. Once she becomes comfortable going upside down and using the right hand placement, have her try a cartwheel.
- Instruct her to get into the lunge position again, with her lead foot outside the front hula hoop and her back foot inside the hula hoop.
- Make sure she raises her arms over her head and puts weight into her front leg.
- Have her aim for the drawn hands in the second hula hoop as she rotates over into a cartwheel.
- Check that she finishes the cartwheel in the lunge position, with her lead foot behind her and her arms in the air.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I still do a cartwheel even if I'm quite overweight and not flexible?

Community Answer

You can learn with practice. Some stretches or exercises you can do are push-ups. Get your dominate leg really strong, and stretch your hamstrings. Don't give up if you don't succeed at first.

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Question

How do I teach balance on the floor?

Community Answer

The best way to teach balance is to put a piece of tape on the floor and tell your students to follow the piece of tape.

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Question

I can't do a cartwheel when I don't have anything to support my back. How can I fix it?

Community Answer

Practice with someone there to spot you. As you begin to feel more comfortable, you can have your spotter step back.

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