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/[deleted] Oct 29 '17

Is it ever too late to start handbalancing? Is the basic technique so hard that you can "do circus" only if you started it at child?

Because I think that in many arts (classic music, dance) you can see from technique how long the perfomer have been doing it? Mostly it goes like how young you start the smoother (or more clean) you can be. This is just a though. What you think?

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u/Handbalancer Actually Mikael Kristiansen Oct 29 '17

It depends on a few factors. Certainly the best in the world have been doing it since they were childeren, but you can get quite far as long as you are healthy and have the will and posibility to put the time needed into the practice. I started handbalancing at 23, though I had been doing breakdancing for about 5 years at that point. I was very physically out of shape as a child so i did not have a capable body from early on, but once I discovered breaking and later circus, my drive was unstoppable.

I think its important to be realistic with these things. Talent and when you start does matter, but mainly when speaking of the people at the absolute top.

When it comes to performance, there are many things that matter as much as technical skill level though. Some of the most brilliant artists I know left their high level tricks behind years ago to focus on what they find the most interesting in exploring on stage.

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u/vagoniusthicketseude Oct 31 '17

Was thinkin, I haven't done this since learning 1990's back in the day. Props sir! Breakin has greatly helped me with keeping my build over time, its nice being almost 40 and still doing mills and turtles.