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Cartwheel on balance beam - Photo courtesy of Gymworld.com

To begin a cartwheel, stand in a lunge; your "favorite" leg in front, knee bent slightly, arms up by your ears.

Let's assume you are a right sided gymnast; if you're a lefty, simply reverse these directions. Reach forward with your right arm, kicking your left leg up as you do so. The left hand should follow very quickly, and as it touches the ground, your right leg should be off of the ground also. You should pass through a straddle handstand briefly. Your left leg will reach the ground 1st, followed by the right, which you will place in back, finishing in a lunge, just as you started, but with the opposite leg in front.

The trick, really, is the rhythm of the skill, which is 1,2,3,4, or "hand, hand, foot, foot", and getting through vertical. Most gymnasts tend to kick around the side when they are first learning this skill. Take your time, and be careful.

If it's at all possible, see if your local clubs have an open gym day or evening. Many gyms have this option, where anyone can come in and workout for an hour or 2 for a small fee. The safest way to learn ANY skill is in a gym, with professional coaching and equipment. You may also want to ask your PE coach or teacher for some help, they may have had a class in gymnastics instruction in college.

The above information is used with the permission of Lee, a host of the Gymnastics Forum. Please note: advice given in this article is opinion and may not be the best advice for *you*. Always consult a gymnastics professional in your area, with your parents permission*

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