A handspring is an acrobatic move where you flip your body forward or backward over your hands. To do a handspring, you run, jump onto your hands with your arms straight, and push off powerfully to land back on your feet. Your body makes a complete arc through the air, with your hands touching the ground only briefly in the middle.

There are two main types. In a front handspring, you run forward, launch yourself onto your hands, and keep moving forward as you flip over. In a back handspring, you jump backward onto your hands and flip backward to land. Gymnasts often link multiple handsprings together in tumbling passes, creating a flowing sequence of flips.

The move requires strength, timing, and courage. Your arms need to be strong enough to support your full body weight and push you back into the air. Many gymnasts spend months learning handsprings, starting with spotted attempts where a coach helps guide them through the movement safely. Once mastered, a handspring becomes a foundation for learning more complex flips and aerial tricks. Cheerleaders, dancers, and martial artists also use handsprings in their routines and performances.