Contortion

Contortion

By: Bodhi Mae Jenkins

Table of Contents

Pg. 2 What is contortion
Pg. 3 The Simple Handstand Formation
Pg. 4 The Split
Pg. 5 The Back Handspring
Pg. 6 What you want to do once you get good at contortion

What is contortion? A handstand split A regular split

Contortion is a little like gymnastics. A back
Well actually it is a LOT like gymnastics! handspring
You want to stretch out and warm up
before you start the contortion training. 2.
First to warm up you want to start
stretching your joints so that you can
stick a landing if you fall or save
yourself from getting hurt if you stop in
the middle of a flip. Most people who
learn how to do contortion know how to
do a split in mid air but if you are a
beginner then just start with the split on

The Simple Handstand Formation 3.

A handstand is when you are
standing upside down on your
hands. By the way, a handstand is
the most common position in
gymnastics. The handstand will help
you work out some new moves in the
future like a front layout or a
handstand pike but we are just doing
handstands. When you are doing a
handstand make sure your legs are
together, your toes are pointed, your
back is straight and your arms are

The Split

Next we will be talking about the split.
You can do a split on ground, beam,
in air, on bars… okay let us stick with
the one on ground and in the air. Put
your body into a lunge with your
hands on either side of your front leg.
Then go slow, slide your front leg do
into the split. Lower your body to the
ground. If it hurts to much to go all the
way into a split then go as far as you
can. When in the air, don't fall!

4.

The Back Handspring 5.

Once you have mastered the back
handspring then you can add things
to it like a back flip. At first you might
be a little nervous but you will surely
get the hang of it. Did you know that
you can 10 back handsprings in a
row?! If you can’t do a back
handspring on the ground then first
try on the trampoline first and have
someone to spot you when you are
ready to do it on the ground. Don’t
fall on your head or get hurt!

What you want to do after you get good at contortion

After you start to stretch your body
enough to the point where you can touch
your feet to your nose and you can fit in
tiny spaces a small as a suitcase without
hurting your muscles, cramping up, not
being able to get out, or not being able to
breath normally or at all, then you are
ready to be a contortionist for a career!!!
It might take a lot of work, but if this is
what you want to do, then don’t give up.

6.

Comparison Page

The back handspring is like a handstand because you throw your body backwards
in a handstand combined with a backflip.
The handstand is like a split because you can do a handstand split.
The back handspring is like the split because you can do a back handspring split
mixed together.

7.

Your fun facts!!!

You can use contortion in some dances so that it looks like you are really flexible.

Contortion is used in street performing, circus acts, and acrobatic moves in front
of live audiences.

People with medical disorders or are handicapped overcame their disorders to
become gymnasts and/or contortionists.

Glossary

Contortion - a twisted position

Front Layout - a front flip where the legs and torso are straight and arms are
extended sideways

Pike - legs are straight in front of the body and are unbent

Lunge - feet are pointing forward and wide apart while the front leg is bent and the
back leg is straight

Back Handspring - You throw your body backwards into a handstand backflip

Contortionist - somebody who twists and turns their bodys in weird, strange,
unusual positions.