How to aerial without destroying my ankles?

[-Envy-]

I've decided that it's time for me to start working on aerials. I've avoided trying them for a long time because I sprained my ankle twice while attempting to land them. Is there some reason for this? Am I maybe spinning too fast?

[Augenatic]

You probably don't have any height. If you can land them, just drill them when your ankle is fine. If you can't, drill cartwheels and one handed cartwheels, until you can do them almost without touching the ground. Then, just remove your hands and boom, aerial.

[Scooba Dave]

hmmm the first thing that came to mind was, do it on a crash pad or something until you can do them 100% easily.

probably better to let yourself heal before doing more though.

[-Envy-]

You probably don't have any height. If you can land them, just drill them when your ankle is fine. If you can't, drill cartwheels and one handed cartwheels, until you can do them almost without touching the ground. Then, just remove your hands and boom, aerial.


I can't land them, unless you count the two times that I landed only to roll my ankle and fall over. Now that I think about it, I probably dont push off as hard as I could though. I guess I'll try doing that and drill some more one-handed cartwheels until my technique is better.

What exactly should my upper body be doing on the aerial? Should I pull my arms in a way that helps me get height as well as spin my torso to land on the other leg?

[-Envy-]

hmmm the first thing that came to mind was, do it on a crash pad or something until you can do them 100% easily.

probably better to let yourself heal before doing more though.

I'm completely healed now, but I just don't want to make the same mistake for a third time and tear up my ankle again.

[tricker383]

well i learned to dound off really really well
to the point were my backflips were a good 6 feet of the floor
and then i tried aerials for about 2 weeks and i was going no where felt like i was stalling loads but not spinning then i turned my torso loads when i go to spin and this helped my legs but i couldnt land them i always needed more hight then i did a little bounce into it and it gave me lots more hight so

just try to do what i do here with my legs when it goes into slow mo you will see my little hop this got me used to how i needed to jump now i can do them stood still
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgwZ6kiZ8os
:tongue: hope this helped

[BrandonLenz]

ankles eh? i got the thing for you... it really helps me, i feel like my ankles are indestructible after doing this for many many many months.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8B1XvEbJUKE


personally i think this video is one of the most helpful advice giving things out there. its a must see for all tricksters worrying about ankles.

[LukeTheNuke]

Or you could check out the tutorial juji made for this exact purpose. It worked for me

[DarkXacreD]

Bend your leg as you come in for the landing so you don't fuck your ankle up. I do it sometimes when I aerial on concrete if I don't feel very safe just in case.

[TKD_Andy]

hmmm the first thing that came to mind was, do it on a crash pad or something until you can do them 100% easily.
.

bad idea telling someone who can't aerial to try and do it up onto a crash mat, esp when they've pretty much said they can't get enough height.


----------


Just work on getting the arms working with the legs, once you get the two working together its easy. Its just practice.

[BrandonLenz]

u guys make me mad with ur pretty aerials. I. Don't think I can even get the motion right...

[Kou]

I lost my lovely axe-aerials and now if I push myself to land it no matter what, I risk hurting my ankle XP so I'm in a similar boat as you dude, take it easy for now. Develop better technique, allow yourself to heal, and condition it like Dogen said. Which, btw, I thought was very informative and taught me things about ankles I didn't know before...though his videos/tutorials tend to be too long for their own good XP

Anyway, dude, your should kinda pull your elbows in but that doesn't mean not to use your upper body. Work on proper cartwheeling technique. If you cartwheel righty, pretend you're holding a steering wheel and turn it to the right before your hands hit the ground. This will create a pull from your left hand, down your left side, and pull that left back leg up and over with much more ease. Also, work on lunges, it will help keep that idea of body position

[skywalker]

Just find a decent person to give you pointers. I had a coach get me to aerial in 3 attempts after a year of trying. In the same way, I taught somebody else how to do it pretty quick.

Make sure you have strong stabiliser muscles to the side of your feet as this will prevent the chance of injury, and make sure that they are not fatigued. It's pretty unlikely to sprain your ankle like that unless you do something stupid.

[Luke Bonnici]

When i first got aerial i did a bkick setup, and tried to make it more inverted. That helped with aerials that i could combo and isnt that hard to do. For the running aerial Ive seen the gymnastic coaches getting people to do a cartwheel and wait till the last second before you put your hand down. I personally dont like that method. I would say try it into a pit for a while and focus on pushing off the front leg. Keep in mind the front leg is what gets you the height, whereas the back leg and arms get you the rotation. So with that said push off the front leg, kick the back leg up as hard as you can, and pull your rear arm around in a circular motion. Good luck man and i hope this helped

[ninjitsian]

DO YOU HAVE A VIDEO???
if youre running or jogging briskly, the further you stick out your front leg the more block you get. it also facilitates the back leg lifting. try it