One arm planche

## Description

A one arm planche (OAP for short) is an isometric skill performed in calisthenics, breakdance or circus balancing acts. It can be done on bar or on the floor. The line joining shoulders, pelvis, knees and ankles needs to be straight and parallel to the ground as much as possible and with a minimal bend to the side.

## History

The first versions of the one arm planche were attempted around 1900. The ***"Freaks No More: Rehistoricizing Disabled Circus Artists"*** article mentiones 2 names when talking about one arm planche:

*In The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing, renowned hand-balancer Philip Henry Paulinetti (c. 1863–1940) is shown holding a “one hand planche” that, we are informed, “has never been duplicated” (Paulinetti and Jones [1945] 2007, 40). Paulinetti’s student and friend, Robert L. Jones, explained that the photographer, also an enthusiastic hand-balancer, was so stunned at Paulinetti’s ability that it took three attempts to take the photograph. In the final photograph, Paulinetti’s prowess was, according to Jones, tainted by fatigue and therefore not quite as exquisite as it might have been. It is undoubtedly still an impressive action and one that was only rivalled by Jules Keller (c. 1860) who also regularly performed a one-hand planche. However, Jones instantly dismissed Keller’s action as unworthy of comparison because, in his words, “Keller, you see, was a cripple”.*

   For years, the OAP was performed by circus artists, but in 2008 it became more popular when Bboy Pop from Gamblerz crew (South Korean breakdance crew formed in 2002) started performing it in shows (straddle OAP with bent arm) .

In 2012 sw athlete N1K posted a video training for the OAP .

In 2013 Valera Kischenko was the first sw athlete to post a video of a OAP with the arm fully locked .

In 2014 Andreea Larosa performed OAP pushups in the burningate competition  .

In 2022, Ziolus performed a one arm planche push up with full range of motion (going all the way to one arm elbow lever).

## Technique

To perform the one arm planche, an athlete must have his body curve sideways, otherwise it is impossible to actually execute the move. There are multiple ways you can train for the OAP, some of them being:

1. From a handstand, lower down into the OAP.
2. With one hand firmly planted on the ground, twist your body in the position of the OAP and try to lift off your legs from the ground.
3. Starting from a one armed airbaby, (breakdance move where you rest one knee on the elbow of a bent arm of the same side, while the opposing leg and arm are outstretched in the air), slowly and progressively try to take your knee off your elbow, and straighten out your leg, as well as your arm which is holding you up.

## Prerequisites

The one arm planche is mainly a balancing move, but a decent amount of strength is also required. Most athletes that can perform it would say that a good straddle planche and a great one arm handstand are needed. Having a solid one arm handstand flag is also beneficial.

## Difficulty

According to the Burningate Code of Points, the one arm planche is valued at a score of 6.5  .

## Notable OAP athletes

Andrea Larosa

Erik Barsi

Saïan Mureau

Tahri Mohamed Said

Rollé Lee-van (one of the cleanest executions)

Valentin Blanc (can execute the skill on both arms)

Valera Kischenko

Viktor Kamenov

Zoran Pešterac

## References

1. ↑ https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ-AwcVdSs8K2yKJzSmp4pyb\_caNxBWK68Qsv\_WA-adVra\_uQyJv3bOpG2o0uFe9XBF1iwXCq7ghSI0/pub
2. ↑ ‘Bboy Pop - One Arm Planche and Floating Airbaby (Gamblerz Crew)’ (*www.youtube.com*) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sqBkXX\_\_Mw> accessed 4 January 2023
3. ↑ ‘N1K One Handed Full Planche \ Тренировка горизонта на одной руке’ (*www.youtube.com*) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYOgpT1xdJg> accessed 4 January 2023
4. ↑ ‘One Handed Planche’ (*www.youtube.com*) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyWnbyrXY-M> accessed 4 January 2023
5. ↑ ‘Finale - Spinazzola vs Larosa’ (*www.youtube.com*) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPcAu8KzA0> accessed 4 January 2023
6. ↑ ‘AIRBABY TUTORIAL | How to Master the Airbaby’ (*www.youtube.com*) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g12omlDf7B0&t=96s> accessed 4 January 2023
7. ↑ https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/e/2PACX-1vRJ-MON3Q0MnJ5-lU5moeAhSrpremlftfg\_FYz\_3NV1qNYngcXfnecX8bsAsU7B2i4oVMShKBaDY4Mi/pubhtml/sheet?headers=false&gid=0