Frontlever touch

## Description

The frontlever touch is a calisthenics isometric element.

The athlete has to hold his body in an horizontal position under the bar while maintaining contact with his belly to the bar during the hold. It is a posterior chain movement, and the main difficulty resides in the massive muscle fiber overlap met at the end of the arm extension range.

In the skill cannons, the shoulder line must be at all times above the elbow line (else it means that you are using too much body extension).

Mistakes are common for beginners on this skill. The most common ones at the beginning are a break in the pelvic line (piked position) and not maintaining contact with the bar. On a more advanced level, most common errors are bent legs and an angled body (usually feet above the head). Note that the other angled position (feet below head) increases the extension angle and thus, the overlap, and can be considered harder.

## History

Starting from the creation of the frontlever, people have always wondered if it was possible to perform rows in the position.

Back then, the more experienced athletes were capable of performing pull ups in half the range of today's standards.

One of the first standardized frontlever touches was done by Russian Athlete Andrey Kobelev circa 2016. Mani was also able to hold a clean touch in the end of 2016.

The form got standardized a bit later than the frontlever pull ups, the two skill being closely related.

On June 26th, 2018, Mani releases the first "Pull game" video of a series of currently 6, which features a false to no false frontlever touch, as well as some wide frontlever touch combos.

On April 1st, 2019, he released the second episode of the series, featuring a wide supinated touch with minimal false grip.

## Prerequisites

Before learning the frontlever touch, it is strongly advised to have a solid base in frontlever (at least 10 seconds), as well as some experience with the Frontlever pull up.

When it comes to training, doing negative frontlever pull ups from the top will greatly imrpove your strength in the top range of motion which is needed for frontlever touch. Doing progressions (especially advanced tuck) and combos with them will also make you understand the position better. Note that the extension angle is greater on a reduced lever (more range of motion, more overlap). Using for example a false grip will make advanced tuck touch easier, but no false grip will not surely do the same.

## Carry-over

The frontlever touch is the Planche of posterior strength. It is a strong base that will build insane back strength for the forthcoming skills. It has carry-over to Victorian, Dragon Press, Front Lever, as well as Straight arm touch and Victorian cross.

Moreover, acquiring a touch while training anterior skills mainly will balance the muscle distribution in your body and prevent you from injuries.

## Difficulty

Depending on the grip used, the frontlever touch will be easier or harder.

In false grip, it has a difficulty of 2,4 in regular width and 3,9 in wide grip in the Burningate code of points.

In no false grip, it has a difficulty of 3,5.

Using a supinated grip gives a 10% bonus on the skill.

Doing it with false and regular or closer grip makes it an intermediate movement. Any other variation is considered advanced.