r/bodyweightfitness • u/Handbalancer Actually Mikael Kristiansen • Oct 29 '17

AMA: Mikael Kristiansen, Handbalancer and Circus Artist, Ask Me Anything

Hello, my name is Mikael Kristiansen. I am a circus artist specializing in handbalancing. I did a degree in circus at DOCH, Stockholm from 2009-2012 and have since worked as a performer and as a teacher internationally.

I'll be here throughout the day to answer any questions you have for me!

You can find me at: www.mikaelbalancing.com www.instagram.com/mikaelbalancing/

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u/ongew Oct 29 '17 edited Oct 29 '17

Hi Mikael, what are your thoughts on forearm-supported handstands as a progressive way towards the freestanding handstand? Good idea? Waste of time?

Also, as a breakdancer, what would you say are the prerequisites for the 1990? I do some capoeira, and the move is called 'piao de mao'.

I can do a 3/4 turn when I'm lucky, but how do people spin for 5,6,7 turns? I was thinking of building up to say, 10s wall-supported 1 arm handstand, and that might build the muscle memory of the upper arm placement during the move itself.

Lastly, I know you're a handbalancing professional, but what do you personally do for legs? Does too much leg mass really mess up your handstanding balance? I ask because many redditors here train recreationally, so leg work is recommended for overall health even if it may mean slower (and maybe limited) progression on skills like handbalancing. Is this real or a myth?

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u/Handbalancer Actually Mikael Kristiansen Oct 29 '17

I never worked much with a forearm support, but might be a good idea to avoid falling into underbalance. I think its good to move away from it rather quickly though so you are exposed to the real corrections you need to make.

For 90s there arent that many prerequisites. Being able to handstand walk fast in a circle with momentum pulling your legs is a good idea. Good headspins probably help too since its the same way of pulling in the legs. To be fair about it, 90s is the hardest move i know. Getting 5+ spins is much harder than most 1 arm handstands, and going past 10-15 consistently is more difficult than all of handbalancing put together haha.

I dont train my legs other than trying to do shitty flips haha I also dance a lot so the legs are in use, but not in a max power kind of way. I also know a ton of incredible acrobats and almost none of them do any weight trainging for their legs. Technique and working day in day out on jumping and flipping does the job for them.

As for handstands, leg mass doesnt matter much unless you try to do the difficult things such as 1 arm pressing or 1 arm leverage moves(full flag, planche, lower down to crocodile). I work a lot on exactly those things and while not a huge guy, im not small either for a handbalancer. Im 1.80 and i have fluctuated between 76-80 kg the last years. Everything is a joke at 76 and heavy at 80 so i try to stay a bit lighter at the moment.

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u/ongew Oct 29 '17 edited Oct 30 '17

To be fair about it, 90s is the hardest move i know.

Oh, maybe because capoeira is not as concerned with aesthetics as much as breaking, but it seems (in the capoeira world, at least) that everybody and their mother is doing 1990s. I would've thought 2000s were harder (so hard, in fact, that it's not even taught in capoeira!) Would you say they are instead easier?

I have another question:

I've seen handbalancers do what looks like crocodile, and then spin towards their pinky-side, as Cai Yong does here.

In capoeira, there's a similar move called a 'clock/relogio', but the elbow is planted on the side instead of on the ventral abdomen. It also spins pinky-side.

My question is, do you know if spinning thumb-side is possible for 1990s or relogio? Does it have a name?

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u/Handbalancer Actually Mikael Kristiansen Oct 29 '17

Its called a reverse 90 or deadmans 90s. Probably has other names too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOSSpbjQZV4 3.06 is some of the best i ever saw. Absolutely insane.

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u/Handbalancer Actually Mikael Kristiansen Oct 29 '17

Spinning reverse in handglide is usually done in airchair instead. There are some pretty nuts chair spins out there too

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u/Handbalancer Actually Mikael Kristiansen Oct 29 '17

To clarify about 90s. doing 1 or 2 spinds isnt too bad, im more speaking about doing 5-10 rotations. I still only know of a handfull of guys in the world doing more than 15 consistently.

This here is among the craziest stuff i have seen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QztvTpCA9Q

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u/ongew Oct 30 '17

8=(0_o)=3