The distinction between “technique” and “method” is intriguing. Linguistically, the two terms can mean the same thing, yet they carry differences in application. There is a significant difference between the specific way we try to execute a handstand (or any skill), and the way we choose to train for that skill. We could define it as the “what” versus the “how” of our practice. Here are the definitions we use for these two words, and are based on a distinction we find useful.
Technique – The What
“Technique” is what specific parameters we are trying to set up for our handstand. For example, we want straight legs, elevated shoulders and a straight body line while balanced solely on our hands. This is the technical goal we are trying to achieve.
Method – The How
The chosen “method” for reaching that goal is another matter entirely. It’s the series of drills, reps, sets, and sessions we follow, with an ideal technique guiding the methodology.
For example, one method could be to implement all the ideal techniques at once, attempting a straight, freestanding handstand over and over until your attempts match the ideal.
Or we could work on one element at a time, like elevating shoulders. Or we could work with the wall, removing balance from the equation to work on the body alignment. Then we’d assemble these disparate parts weeks later into a freestanding attempt.
Technique without Methodology
Using these definitions, there are many things we can unpack in greater detail. They point to the importance in both what we try to achieve and how we go about it. Allow me to use some examples:
Let’s take a beginner who is learning to balance their first 5 second handstand hold. A classic methodological mistake at this level is to constantly try to kick up to handstand loads of times in a row. The flaw in such a training method is that they are building up both physical and mental fatigue with each failed kick-up, yet they think “maybe I’ll hit it on the next one, I just need to keep trying!”.
The issue is quite clear to a more experienced practitioner; “If you failed 8 kick ups in a row with no pause in between, what’s the likelihood you will hit it on number 9 or 10?” This is where the problem is clearly one of methodology, not technique.
The kick-ups might be done with nice technique, but the way they are trained is not very effective! A much more efficient way of training would be to repeat the kick-ups 3-5 times in a row, rest a little to recover energy and concentration, and then try again.
The same goes for those who are working on skills that are too difficult or too easy for their ability level. If something is too hard to get any tangible consistency, even if your technique looks spot on, your body and mind won’t be able to learn much from the varied attempts. If something is too easy, such as repeated sets of 10-second handstands for someone who can do a handstand for over a minute straight, there will also be little to gain from it and valuable training time has been wasted.
Methodology without Technique
On the other hand, if our method of learning is sound while the technique is random and done without study, there will also be a limit of what can be achieved.
A very blatant example would be someone who has good pacing in their training, works consistently, has a good rhythm of recovery etc. but does not know that they need to grip the floor with their fingers to balance. The practice method is there, but the technical knowledge of what to do is lacking. Having a progressive overload strength training approach to the press to handstand is all well and good, but will likely come up short if there is not also a technical focus on hip compression and straddle flexibility within the execution of their program’s drills.
How to include both in your training
While there are endless examples, it’s clear that knowing both “what” to do and “how” to approach it matters a lot. I’d like to wrap this up with a few rules of thumb you can consider for your own training:
- Are the drills you train challenging but still doable with some consistency? If not, consider adjusting them so that they are hard enough to require focus, but not something you fall out of 80% of the time.
- Do you know what the most important technical parameters are for the skill you are working on? If not, study the technique and execution of the skill.
- How often do you practice any given handstand skill? Remember that the more physically demanding they are (especially presses or the handstand push-up), the more recovery you will need between sessions to ensure your tissues are strengthening over time.
- Do you rest properly between balancing sets? If you don’t feel focused or if your forearms are burning, consider giving yourself a few more minutes before going again to increase the likelihood of success on your next attempt. (If you are specifically working on endurance, this might be another matter.)
- Are you working on too many technical details at a time? It can be worth using simpler progressions to focus on fewer parts at a time when learning new skills. A great example of this is going back to the wall when working on alignment, or using easier fingertip drills when working on one-arm drills. When simplifying your setup you can more easily concentrate on parts you might miss out on in harder exercises.
- Are you training with a plan or do you freestyle your training? This is a bit up to the person, but having some sort of program can make training a lot more consistent since you know what to actually practice. However, being too rigid about sticking to numbers and specific drills can also become monotonous. If your training is all freestyle, consider 1-2 days a week of planned exercises, and if your training is fully planned, consider 1-2 days a week of freestyle – just block a time and get on your hands!
– Mikael