How to Do a One Handed Cartwheel

Co-authored by Tanya Berenson

Last Updated: March 12, 2023 Approved

If you are already comfortable doing a two-handed cartwheel, with just a bit of practice, you can learn to do a one-handed cartwheel. Doing a one-handed cartwheel can be a little tricky at first, but once you have it down it's a piece of cake. It's also great preparation for learning how to do aerial or no-hand cartwheels. This article will teach you two variations of the one-handed cartwheel, the first using your "far-arm," or the opposite hand as your lead foot, and the second using your "near-arm," or the same hand as your lead foot.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Doing a Far-Arm One-Handed Cartwheel

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Make sure that you can do a regular, two-handed cartwheel really well before moving on to the one-handed cartwheel. Practice doing cartwheels from either your right and left foot, if not both. This will help improve your form, and build up the arm and shoulder strength needed for one-handed cartwheels. ^{[2]
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Expert Source

Tanya Berenson
Gymnastics Instructor

Expert Interview. 22 May 2020.}
You will probably fall a few times on your way to mastering the one-handed cartwheel, so it's a good idea to practice on a soft surface. Use a gym mat if you have one, or find a nice patch of soft grass in a park or your back yard. Make sure you have plenty of room, and won't wind up crashing into any furniture, etc.!

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Doing regular cartwheels will remind your body how a cartwheel should feel. A one-handed cartwheel is going to work exactly the same way, you're just going to remove one hand.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Tanya Berenson
Gymnastics Instructor

Expert Interview. 22 May 2020.}
4
Practice the footwork. Now take a moment and practice the footwork and hand placement you will use to do a one-handed cartwheel in slow motion. This will be just like a two-handed cartwheel, but place your near-arm (the same arm as your lead foot) behind your back, and practice taking the normal first step you would take, and then placing your far-arm down on the ground 12–18 inches (30.5–45.7 cm) from your lead foot and stepping through. Focus on keeping your feet and your hand in a straight line. Do this a few times to help you visualize what it's going to be like.^{[4]
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- Putting a line of tape on the floor to use as a guideline can really help you keep your cartwheels centered.^{[5]
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- How far out you place your hand depends on your height and how fast your are moving. It might take some experimentation to find just the right distance.
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Get into position. Pick your lead foot up slightly off the ground and raise your hands in the air as though you are about to do a regular cartwheel. Now put your near-arm out to the side or behind your back to remind yourself not to use it (if your right foot is forward, put your right hand behind your back).
- If you are afraid of falling, try just bending your arm a bit, instead of putting it behind your back. This way you're still reminding yourself not to put the hand down, but can catch yourself if you start to fall.^{[6]
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If you are starting on your right foot, place your left hand on the ground. To keep your cartwheel straight, make sure that your hand is planted perpendicular to your direction of travel, and that your fingers are facing in, pointing towards your starting foot, not out. (If you are starting on your right foot, plant your left hand, and make sure that your fingers are pointing left, not right.)^{[7]
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The more momentum you have, the easier the cartwheel will be. Try to push off and land in a straight line.
Doing a one-handed cartwheel is a lot easier when you have some speed built up, so try it a few times slowly to get the motion down, and then add in a run-up or lunge, as you would with a normal cartwheel.
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Practice, practice, practice. Keep practicing until your cartwheel feels and looks smooth and easy. Try leading with your left foot and your right until both feel natural.
- If the far-arm cartwheel seems too intimidating, try doing the near-arm one-handed cartwheel first. Some people find it a lot easier to start with.
- If you are too nervous about falling to give it your all, ask someone to spot you until you build up more confidence.
- If your cartwheels tend to go off to one side or the other you may not have your hand positioned correctly, or may not be lining your feet up in a straight line. Ask someone to watch you, and give you tips on your form.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Doing a Near-Arm One-Handed Cartwheel

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1
Master the regular cartwheel and the far-arm one-handed cartwheel. For most people, this cartwheel, which uses the same hand as your lead foot, is less stable and quite a bit trickier than the far-arm one-handed cartwheel. Make sure you have your regular cartwheel down pat, and then try the far-arm one-handed cartwheel first before moving on to this one.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Tanya Berenson
Gymnastics Instructor

Expert Interview. 22 May 2020.}
- Some people find this version of the one-handed cartwheel a lot easier, it really depends. So if the far-arm cartwheel isn't working for you, go ahead and give this one a try.
You will need plenty of room to practice this cartwheel, and preferably a soft surface to work on, like a gym mat or soft patch of grass.
Practice some regular cartwheels to remind yourself how they should feel. Then do a few far-arm one-handed cartwheels, if you already have them down.
4
Practice the footwork. This will be just like a two-handed cartwheel, but you will only place your lead hand down, about 12–18 inches (30–46 cm) from your lead foot, and then step through. Focus on keeping your feet and your hand in a straight line. Do this slowly a few times to help you visualize what it's going to be like.^{[9]
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Research source}
- How far out you place your hand depends on your height and how fast your are moving. Your hand placement for this cartwheel should be a bit closer than it was for the far-hand version.
- Place a line of tape on the floor, or use a line on a gym mat as a guideline to help keep your cartwheels centered.^{[10]
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  Research source}
Pick your lead foot up slightly off the ground and raise your hands in the air, as though you are about to do a regular cartwheel. Now bend your knees and prepare to plant your forward hand on the ground. If you are leading with your right foot, you will plant your right hand.
To keep your cartwheel straight, make sure that your hand is planted perpendicular to your direction of travel, and that your fingers are facing in, pointing towards your opposite foot. So if you are starting on your right foot, plant your right hand so that your fingers are pointing off to the left.
The more momentum you have, the easier the cartwheel will be. Resist the temptation to put your second hand down, and try to push off and land in a straight line.
Doing a one-handed cartwheel is a lot easier when you have some speed built up, so try it a few times slowly to get the motion down, and then add in a run-up or lunge, as you would with a normal cartwheel.
9
Practice, practice, practice. Keep practicing until your cartwheel feels and looks smooth and easy. Try leading with your left foot and your right. You'll be moving onto aerials in no time!
- If you are very nervous about falling, ask someone to spot you until you build up more confidence.
- If your cartwheels tend to go off to one side or the other you may not have your hand positioned correctly, or may not be lining your feet up in a straight line. Ask someone to watch you, and give you tips on your form.
If you just can't shake the temptation to plant your second hand, you can first try doing a two-step regular cartwheel. Do a normal cartwheel, but instead of putting both hands down at the same time, plant your lead hand, pause for a second, then plant the second hand, so the footwork pattern is foot-hand-hand-foot.

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What is a one handed cartwheel called?

Tanya Berenson
Gymnastics Instructor
Tanya Berenson is a Gymnastics Instructor and the General Manager of the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics. With over 25 years of professional gymnastics experience, Tanya has also served as a consultant to USA Gymnastics, has served as the USA World Maccabi Games Head Coach, USA Gymnastics Meet Director, and RAS counselor. She holds a B.Ed. in Early Childhood Development from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Tanya Berenson

Gymnastics Instructor

Expert Answer

A one-handed cartwheel is called an arial. Once you master cartwheels, you can move on to learning arials.

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Do I have to be able to do a cartwheel with my bad leg to practice a one handed cartwheel?

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Not really, no. You can just do a one handed cartwheel on your confident leg. However, being able to do it on both sides is a good strength to have.

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Whenever I try to attempt the one-handed cartwheel, I always end up placing the other hand. What should I do?

Community Answer

Put a scrunchie or hairband on the arm you need to put down; it will help you remember to put that hand down.

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Remember that this is a skill that takes a lot of practice. Be patient with yourself!

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It's a good idea to warm up and stretch before attempting a one-handed cartwheel.

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Take a break when you start to get tired, and stop for the day if your wrists become sore.

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