How to Run up a Wall and Flip
Conquer prerequisite aerobatic moves., Run toward the wall., Incorporate your arm swing., Plant your dominant foot on the wall., Push off the wall., Drive your knee to start rotating backward., Tuck your knees., Land your flip.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Conquer prerequisite aerobatic moves.
Before you try doing a wall flip, it’s important to know some basic flip moves in order to have a foundational knowledge and comfort in the movements your body needs to do to execute a wall flip.Some of these foundational prerequisite moves include a standing back tuck, a back handspring, a front flip, and even a side flip.While you begin learning how to do a wall flip, it’s a good idea to practice with soft landing tumbling mats or grass, and have a qualified spotter there to help you with your flip. -
Step 2: Run toward the wall.
Run or jog toward the wall you plan to flip from.
Your chosen wall should have a relatively rough surface so your shoes can grip onto the wall.A common misconception is that you need to sprint toward the wall to get enough power to do your flip.
However, too much momentum going forward, toward the wall, will make it harder to transition your power into the upward movement needed to complete the flip.When you run toward the wall, you want your non-dominant foot to remain on the ground when your dominant foot pulls up to plant on the wall.
Your non-dominant foot should be about 12”- 24” away from the base of the wall.
Practice running toward the wall a few times in order to gauge how far back you need to start, how quickly you need run, and where you need to position yourself to have your feet land where they need to be.
It may help to initially begin practicing walls flip on an obtuse angled wall, angled away from you.The angle of the wall will help your foot grip and plant on the wall, making your back flip a little bit easier. , As you go to take the last step of your run up toward the wall, swing your arms back behind you.The next sequence would be to plant your dominant foot on the wall, but before you get there, you should know the general movement of your arms so you can do the movements all together in the correct order.
When you plant your dominant foot on the wall, swing your arms forward toward the wall.
When your arms come across the sides of your body, bend your elbows to swing your arms in a double upper cut formation.Your arms should look like you are doing a chin up on an invisible bar.
If you try to do a full arm swing with your arms completely extended out in front of you, you run the risk of punching the wall as you plant your foot on the wall.Also, if your arms are extended, it will slow down your spin as you try to flip off the wall. , Jump off your non-dominant leg on the ground, and plant the ball of your dominant foot on the wall at about the height of your hip.When you bring your foot up to the wall, keep your shin straight and vertical.This will ensure that when you push off your planted foot, you jump vertically up the wall rather than horizontally off the wall.
If you lean in too much when you plant your foot, and your shin is slanted toward the wall, you will lose your gripping on the wall and your foot will slide down., Push and jump up with your dominant foot that’s already planted on the wall.
Along with jumping from your non-dominant foot, this will give you two sources of vertical momentum.As you push up on the wall with your dominant foot, your body will rise vertically, but also move away from the wall horizontally and diagonally.Your planted dominant foot should propel you upward as if you are climbing up the wall.
This will give you the needed height to properly perform the wall flip.
From this point in midair, you will then begin to transition into rotating backward. , Once you are up in the air and start to move back away from the wall, swing and drive your non-dominant leg’s knee up to your body to begin the rotation in your flip.The momentum from you swinging your knee will initiate the backward rotation.
Keep your head, arms, and legs tucked tight into your body, like a ball.Keeping your body tucked tight will help you complete a full rotation in your flip.
Don’t throw your head back to initiation your flip rotation.
This will open up and extend your body, which will slow down your flip and cause you to land incorrectly.To help keep your head tucked in, try pick a spot on the wall and hold your gaze there for as long as you can before you start to flip. , As you drive your non-dominant leg’s knee up to your body, your dominant foot that was planted on the wall is going to release from the wall.
The knee you are driving up will begin to spin your body.
As you start to rotate, pull both of your knees into your body to create a tight ball.At this point, you can even use your hands to hold onto your knees as you spin.Again, tight body posture will help make a clean, controlled flip.
If you keep your body open and arch your back (by throwing back your head) you’re going to flip a lot slower, and you might land at an awkward and dangerous angle.
Tucking your knees will help ensure that when you complete your flip, you will land evenly on both of your feet. , As you flip and see the ground underneath you, open up your body.
Bring your arms out from the center of your body and push your knees down toward the ground.You want to try and land on the balls of your feet.If you extend your legs out straight, you will end up landing on your heels and lose balance, causing you to fall on your buttocks. -
Step 3: Incorporate your arm swing.
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Step 4: Plant your dominant foot on the wall.
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Step 5: Push off the wall.
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Step 6: Drive your knee to start rotating backward.
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Step 7: Tuck your knees.
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Step 8: Land your flip.
Detailed Guide
Before you try doing a wall flip, it’s important to know some basic flip moves in order to have a foundational knowledge and comfort in the movements your body needs to do to execute a wall flip.Some of these foundational prerequisite moves include a standing back tuck, a back handspring, a front flip, and even a side flip.While you begin learning how to do a wall flip, it’s a good idea to practice with soft landing tumbling mats or grass, and have a qualified spotter there to help you with your flip.
Run or jog toward the wall you plan to flip from.
Your chosen wall should have a relatively rough surface so your shoes can grip onto the wall.A common misconception is that you need to sprint toward the wall to get enough power to do your flip.
However, too much momentum going forward, toward the wall, will make it harder to transition your power into the upward movement needed to complete the flip.When you run toward the wall, you want your non-dominant foot to remain on the ground when your dominant foot pulls up to plant on the wall.
Your non-dominant foot should be about 12”- 24” away from the base of the wall.
Practice running toward the wall a few times in order to gauge how far back you need to start, how quickly you need run, and where you need to position yourself to have your feet land where they need to be.
It may help to initially begin practicing walls flip on an obtuse angled wall, angled away from you.The angle of the wall will help your foot grip and plant on the wall, making your back flip a little bit easier. , As you go to take the last step of your run up toward the wall, swing your arms back behind you.The next sequence would be to plant your dominant foot on the wall, but before you get there, you should know the general movement of your arms so you can do the movements all together in the correct order.
When you plant your dominant foot on the wall, swing your arms forward toward the wall.
When your arms come across the sides of your body, bend your elbows to swing your arms in a double upper cut formation.Your arms should look like you are doing a chin up on an invisible bar.
If you try to do a full arm swing with your arms completely extended out in front of you, you run the risk of punching the wall as you plant your foot on the wall.Also, if your arms are extended, it will slow down your spin as you try to flip off the wall. , Jump off your non-dominant leg on the ground, and plant the ball of your dominant foot on the wall at about the height of your hip.When you bring your foot up to the wall, keep your shin straight and vertical.This will ensure that when you push off your planted foot, you jump vertically up the wall rather than horizontally off the wall.
If you lean in too much when you plant your foot, and your shin is slanted toward the wall, you will lose your gripping on the wall and your foot will slide down., Push and jump up with your dominant foot that’s already planted on the wall.
Along with jumping from your non-dominant foot, this will give you two sources of vertical momentum.As you push up on the wall with your dominant foot, your body will rise vertically, but also move away from the wall horizontally and diagonally.Your planted dominant foot should propel you upward as if you are climbing up the wall.
This will give you the needed height to properly perform the wall flip.
From this point in midair, you will then begin to transition into rotating backward. , Once you are up in the air and start to move back away from the wall, swing and drive your non-dominant leg’s knee up to your body to begin the rotation in your flip.The momentum from you swinging your knee will initiate the backward rotation.
Keep your head, arms, and legs tucked tight into your body, like a ball.Keeping your body tucked tight will help you complete a full rotation in your flip.
Don’t throw your head back to initiation your flip rotation.
This will open up and extend your body, which will slow down your flip and cause you to land incorrectly.To help keep your head tucked in, try pick a spot on the wall and hold your gaze there for as long as you can before you start to flip. , As you drive your non-dominant leg’s knee up to your body, your dominant foot that was planted on the wall is going to release from the wall.
The knee you are driving up will begin to spin your body.
As you start to rotate, pull both of your knees into your body to create a tight ball.At this point, you can even use your hands to hold onto your knees as you spin.Again, tight body posture will help make a clean, controlled flip.
If you keep your body open and arch your back (by throwing back your head) you’re going to flip a lot slower, and you might land at an awkward and dangerous angle.
Tucking your knees will help ensure that when you complete your flip, you will land evenly on both of your feet. , As you flip and see the ground underneath you, open up your body.
Bring your arms out from the center of your body and push your knees down toward the ground.You want to try and land on the balls of your feet.If you extend your legs out straight, you will end up landing on your heels and lose balance, causing you to fall on your buttocks.
About the Author
Nicholas Ramirez
A passionate writer with expertise in lifestyle topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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