Au Batido
Au Batido
Optional
Handstand
This trick is also known as L-Kick, Nike Freeze, Air Freeze and some other names too. You could easily mistake this trick for a “one handed handstand”, that’s why a lot people think it’s very impressive when they see it first, but it’s actually a lot easier than it looks.
The Au Batido is a cartwheel, where you lock your upper body in position to freeze the cartwheel on one hand, while the legs kick forward.
01 Cartwheel
Start off with normal cartwheel. I would advise you to learn the side to side cartwheel for this trick. It’s easier to freeze that one instead of the forward traveling gymnast cartwheel. Keep your arms straight throughout the move.
02 One handed cartwheel
Now leave out the second hand. Use only your first and swing both legs over straight. This is the move you are going to freeze for the Au Batido.
03 Au Batido
To freeze the one handed cartwheel you need to put your hand further away from your body than you’re used to. This will prevent your lower body from flipping over. The hand position will essentially block the path of the cartwheel. If you perform your Au Batido and you’re just flipping, doing a cartwheel essentially, then you’re hand placement was most likely wrong.
Kick your first leg over, close to your ear. Imagine kicking a target with it (like you would in capoeria). Spot forward where your kick would land OR forward like you would in B-Boying. Lock your hip in place and let only your legs travel.
Wrong hand placement
If you place your hand to close to yourself, you will flip over into a cartwheel. Place it further away to block the cartwheel motion.
Spotting forward
You can also spot forward to kick a target, if you want to. It may be even a bit easier for you.
Starting from the floor
You can also kick up from the ground. It's a very safe way to practice this trick.
Tips
It doesn’t matter much what you do with the other leg. You can keep it bent and make it into an Nike Freeze. Keep it straight and make it an L-Kick. Kick it forward with the other leg simultaneously to make it into a Pike Freeze.
Keep your arm straight and locked out. Bending the arm makes it a lot harder and has not much use anyway.
Being flexible will definitely help with this trick. You want to get your leg as close to your head as possible.