How to Do Forward Tumbling for Beginner Gymnastics

Download Article

Author Info

Last Updated: December 21, 2024

Download Article

Gymnastics is lots of fun. This is a guide to early forward tumbling skills, and the skills can be learned quickly.

Steps

Download Article

The first forward tumbling skill that a gymnast learns is a forward roll. To do a forward roll, you need to put your hands on the floor right in front of your toes, tuck your head in keeping your chin on your chest and roll forward. You should put your hands down at the start and not stand up and try to keep your knees and feet together.^{[1]
X
Research source}
You can try it down a hill or on a wedged mat.

Advertisement
The most common mistakes are putting your hands too far away from your feet to start, not tucking your head to keep your back round, using your hands to stand up and crossing feet, or opening knees to stand up.
Also, try under your chin to keep it on your chest.
For example, try a continuous forward roll, forward rolls that start and finish in different positions and so on.
6
Once you have an excellent forward roll and an excellent handstand, you will learn a handstand forward roll. To do this, kick up to a handstand, then tip over further putting your chin on your chest and rounding your back so you roll out.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- When you first learn this skill, you should get a coach to help you or do it down an incline or onto a soft mat.
^{[3]
X
Research source}
This is when you kick up to a handstand, land in a bridge and then stand up.^{[4]
X
Research source}
Do lots of bridges every day to increase your shoulder flexibility.
First try this going up and down a wall with your hands, over a cylinder, with your coach spotting or up onto a raised surface.
Arch your back and let you feet fall into a bridge relatively close to your hands. Then rock your hips forward over your feet to stand up. Roll up from your hips, your head and arms should come up last.
This is like a front limber but you go over one foot at a time. Make sure you land on a straight leg as you do this skill.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Will this help me make the cheer team?

Community Answer

It's very possible! This can help you increase your flexibility and gymnastics skills, both of which are necessary for cheering.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 27
Question

How can I do an aerial?

Community Answer

Have a solid cartwheel, the try to cartwheel and at the last minute pull your hands up. You can also try to keep your arms up in the beginning and then put them together.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 14 Helpful 35
Question

When doing the back walkover, how can you push your leg up?

Community Answer

Rock your body while in a bridge position, then try to throw your leg up. Keep practicing!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 29

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Reader Videos

Submit a Video Tip!

Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

Submit a Video

Tips

Practice your handstand and bridges at home every day to improve all your forward tumbling skills.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
Try to take a gymnastics class twice a week. This could help you learn some skills.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0