An aerial cartwheel is an acrobatic move in which a cartwheel is executed without touching hands to the floor. During execution of a standard cartwheel, the performer's body is supported by the hands while transitioning through the inverted orientation, whereas an aerial cartwheel performer is airborne while inverted. To compensate for lack of support from the hands, leg momentum is employed to keep the performer airborne until the leading foot touches down. Aerial cartwheels can be executed while running or from a stationary, standing position. Aerial cartwheels are also known by various other names, including side flip, side aerials, no-hands cartwheels, or simply aerials.

Aerial cartwheels are performed in gymnastics, cheerleading, acro dance, tricking, free running and in martial arts such as Wushu and Capoeira. In a martial arts context the aerial cartwheel is visually interesting but of little value to combatants. Consequently, it is commonly seen in martial arts exhibitions, performances and movies, but seldom used in sparring matches and fights.

[edit] Variations

• Tucked aerial, in which legs are tucked, resulting in faster rotation.
• Axe to aerial, in which a leg is raised to shoulder or head height and then swung down (in a fashion similar to an axe kick), whereupon it becomes the leading leg of an aerial.
• Aeriola, also known as a reverse aerial, is an aerial preceded by a backward step, resulting in backwards travel during the aerial.
• Barani, also known as a free round-off, in which legs are brought together in mid-air, landing on both feet.
• Aerial sideswipe, also known as aerial switch, in which the trailing leg swings ahead of the leading leg so as to become the first to land.
• Aerial to the splits. Most aerial variants can terminate in the splits.

[edit] See also

• Front aerial
• List of tricking moves
• Martial arts trickster

[edit] External links

• Picture of a Ball Aerial being executed.