[Xu Chang]

Butterfly Twist - A 360 degree spin where your body is parallel to the ground.

This guide is for the folks who start their setup with a right step forward. Look at the diagram towards the bottom if you have any confusion about this movement.

~ Butterfly Twist Guide ~

Note: This flip takes a lot of skill and coordination to achieve the first time. The main spin comes from your torso, not from your legs. Keep that in mind, so you don’t wipe out too hard. Step I is the first step in the basic setup you need to learn in order to do the twist.

Step I - Take a quick step forward with your right leg. These beginning steps are to help build up momentum for the spin. In order to keep your momentum constant, keep all steps linked smoothly together.

Step II - After taking that forward step, make a quick backwards sweeping motion with your left foot.

Step III - When your body comes around, swing your torso in a circular motion to the left.

Step IV - After you’ve swung your torso, dip at the knees and torso to prepare for the jump. Your dip position should be low enough that it seems that you’re almost in a squatting position. The less you dip, the harder it will be to jump into the twist. However, your dip shouldn’t be so low that you’re unable to jump comfortably.

Step V - Here comes your jump. Once in your dip position, jump upwards extremely hard. You want to jump hard off of that left foot and push off the ground with your right. After you’ve jumped, raise your right leg high enough to help in the upcoming spin. Use your hips to also gain some extra height as well.

Step VI - Now for the fun part of the trick. Right during your jump, whip your torso to your right to create a spin. Use your shoulders and arms to help generate the power in your rotation. Do not depend on your legs to cause a rotation.

Step VII - After you’ve successfully completed an entire spin, lower your left leg to land.

Kudos to you, you’ve performed a Butterfly Twist.

~Problems and Tips~

Common Problems: Not enough height, not enough spin and not horizontal enough

Tips: Pretty much all of these problems can be solved through observation of your setup. Height can be a major problem, making it difficult to even begin the initial spin. The main height of the jump comes from your dip in step IV. The more you dip at your knees and your torso, the easier it is to gain more height. Bending little at the knees for the jump will cause more of a lunge than a high jump into the twist. You want to jump up and spin, not jump forward and spin. You can expect to gain little to no height jumping completely forward into your spin.

Remember to keep your right leg up as high as possible. It adds some extra height and makes the rotation easier as well.

Spin is also a major problem that occurs in this movement. Remember that the spin comes from a massive torque from the upper body. Don’t depend on your legs to help carry you over in the spin. Your legs do nothing in this movement. The only thing you need to with your legs is keep them close together and straight. It also helps to look to the same side as your landing foot (i.e. land with your left leg then look to your left) while spinning.

Not being horizontal enough to the ground can be fixed through your jump. In step V, try to keep your torso more parallel to the ground rather than slanted.

This move isn’t as hard as it appears to be. Practice them enough, and you can do them free-standing.

~Advanced Movements~

Once you master a butterfly twist, those of you crazy enough can learn more advanced movements. Such movements include Hyper Twists, 720 Butterfly Twists, 720’s with a 540 setup and California Rolls (2 and 1/2 spins if I recall properly). This movement is always good to show your basis on flips or transitioning movements.

Big thanks to Escovinha of Capoeira Mandginga for the diagram.

[BboY PaNdA]

[ultraman__26]

Dear Soviet, I am very sorry. I will no longer spam on these forums, and I like this guide very much. Thank you all and Happy New Years.

[Mowicz]

Xu Chang with the crazy Aerial Guides!

Nice work man.

Peace.

[Moochy - Mania]

nice job . got the whole points covered and also liked the diagram in the end . a really good guide .

[anubisabre]

uber-powerful guide. nice diagram. sticky this?

dope guide man thx.... lol i like ur avatar

[Xu Chang]

Thanks alot you guys. I posted this up in the move guides so it'll be stickied soon.

[soviet]

Originally posted by ultraman__26 Dear Soviet, I am very sorry. I will no longer spam on these forums, and I like this guide very much. Thank you all and Happy New Years.

Very Good Sir, nevermind the fact that I edited it, Haha. Xu...I always end up crashing on my back...I was told to keep my hips turned before I jump, and it helps a little but I'm still not getting the landing right. i'll try to post a vid later, but does this make any sense to oyu?

[Xu Chang]

Originally posted by soviet Very Good Sir, nevermind the fact that I edited it, Haha. Xu...I always end up crashing on my back...I was told to keep my hips turned before I jump, and it helps a little but I'm still not getting the landing right. i'll try to post a vid later, but does this make any sense to oyu?

IMO, it sounds like you're not getting your rotation down fast enough or your jump isn't high enough. I'll have to see a video to determine what the problem is.

For the rotation, keeping your hips turned helps with your spin. Really use your arms and shoulders to throw yourself into that spin. Try using that method of looking in the same direction of your landing leg.

As far as the jump goes, it depends on your whole dip setup. Remember to dip fairly low and put lots of power into your jump. Push off the ground extremely hard and use your hips to gain some additional height. Also, keep your right leg high into the air. The lower your leg is, the more they will be at an angle. This will make it extremely difficult to complete your spin.

After you get a solid jump and rotation, the landing should be no problem to fix. Once you get that movie up, i'll help you out more with any problems.

Soviet bro, turning your hips before the takeoff makes you lose a bunch of height- as soon as I tried the opposite I went about 50% through the learning. Just try and launch that first leg straight up and forward instead of just tripping the second one with it. I'll try and bring a clip in the next days, can't tell it for sure though. You do have good B-Kicks, don't you?

[soviet]

well it's shit but i'm just learning. here's my clip. the one of a kind flying russian, lmao.

[AngelGirl]

I can only do three spins in the air and land on me feet. Anyone know how to make it four? Every time I try, I have to land in a turtle or jackhammer, etc...