Cartwheel

In gymnastics, a cartwheel is the movement where one moves sideways (in the motion the wheel of a cart would follow) in a straight line keeping the back straight placing the hand of the same side on the ground followed by the other hand as the legs are passed over the body and then come down as the hands and body come up to a standing up position. You can also perform a cartwheel using one or no hands.

The name cartwheel is used because when a human performs this, their limbs move like the spokes of a turning wheel.

Cartwheels have a long tradition in the city of Düsseldorf, Germany. According to the legend, upon hearing that their city had won the Battle of Worringen in 1288, the children of Düsseldorf started performing these "flips" in celebration. Several monuments and annual events honour this tradition [1].

Aú

Aú Aú Aberto (Open Aú) Aú Fechado (Closed Aú)

An Aú is the Capoeira term for what is more generally called a cartwheel. It differs a bit from the traditional cartwheel or aerial cartwheel. An Aú, in its base form, is performed, sometimes very slowly, with arms and legs bent in order to keep a low target profile. Also the back can be curved in order to perform a kicking maneuver. Since a capoeira player always risks being kicked while upside down, capoeira players also make sure to watch their opponent rather than look at the ground. Capoeira players can incorporate attacks from the cartwheel, including a kick known as an 'Aú Malandro'. They sometimes freeze halfway through the cartwheel to get into the handstand position, from which they can execute a wide variety of moves.

See also

• Aerial cartwheel

External links

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