Josharoo
Jul-10-08, 12:55 PM
I've been working on this move for some time and recently had it click for me. The most difficult part for me was conceptualizing/visualizing the move, so I share this in hopes that it will help someone.
Ways of thinking about the raiz:
1. A modified half btwist:
This is a crude approximation that helped me a lot. Think of the horizontal raiz as a btwist started from the chest up position. You carry out the first half of the upper body twist before/during takeoff. Focus on really torquing your shoulders around, similar to a btwist. The only difference in upper body motion is the inversion, which can come later.
2. A super-powered scoot:
This most accurately describes the function of the touchdown raiz. It's a scoot with a powerful rotation added beforehand. Think of it as doing a 540 setup (but with your chest lower) into a scoot.
3. A no-hands gumbi:
Practicing gumbis can really help you develop a feel for the overall motion of the move. An easy progression is: meia lua de compasso --> gumbi --> TD raiz --> raiz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH5eGFmNV8Y
You can think of the TD raiz as a one-handed gumbi, more or less.
4. A modified au de frente:
Approaching the TD raiz from this direction made it laughably easy for me. This is a back-walkover on one hand. It's performed similar to a slant gainer flash, but you basically do a rolling backward motion onto one hand and try to stay as vertical as possible. This move can really help with hand placement for the td raiz. If you kick over with your left leg, you place your right hand on the ground, and vice versa.
Au de frente at 0:06 to 0:07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7OPZ6SOs28
To prepare for the TD raiz you want to work up to the point where you don't place the second hand on the ground. Then all you have to do is add the raiz setup and switch your leading leg.
Ways of thinking about the raiz:
1. A modified half btwist:
This is a crude approximation that helped me a lot. Think of the horizontal raiz as a btwist started from the chest up position. You carry out the first half of the upper body twist before/during takeoff. Focus on really torquing your shoulders around, similar to a btwist. The only difference in upper body motion is the inversion, which can come later.
2. A super-powered scoot:
This most accurately describes the function of the touchdown raiz. It's a scoot with a powerful rotation added beforehand. Think of it as doing a 540 setup (but with your chest lower) into a scoot.
3. A no-hands gumbi:
Practicing gumbis can really help you develop a feel for the overall motion of the move. An easy progression is: meia lua de compasso --> gumbi --> TD raiz --> raiz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH5eGFmNV8Y
You can think of the TD raiz as a one-handed gumbi, more or less.
4. A modified au de frente:
Approaching the TD raiz from this direction made it laughably easy for me. This is a back-walkover on one hand. It's performed similar to a slant gainer flash, but you basically do a rolling backward motion onto one hand and try to stay as vertical as possible. This move can really help with hand placement for the td raiz. If you kick over with your left leg, you place your right hand on the ground, and vice versa.
Au de frente at 0:06 to 0:07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7OPZ6SOs28
To prepare for the TD raiz you want to work up to the point where you don't place the second hand on the ground. Then all you have to do is add the raiz setup and switch your leading leg.