All About the Human Flag (Part Four)

March 29, 2010 // Al Kavadlo

Human flag on bouldering wall

If you’re new to the human flag–welcome! Make sure to check out part one of my human flag series–it’s a great place to start!

Finding Places to Practice
Being able to perform a flag in one place does not necessarily mean that you’ll be able to do it anywhere.

I’ve done flags on many different surfaces: a bouldering wall, a fence and even construction scaffolding! But I’ve also encountered potential flag sites that proved to be too difficult (like trees).

Edit: I have since done a human flag on a tree

Different contexts offer their own unique challenges. The little nuances in your flagging surface can make a huge difference in your ability to let it fly. The thickness of the bar (or whatever you are gripping) as well as the height and stability of the object are all factors to consider when finding places to practice your human flag. Keep these considerations in mind, but don’t be afraid to get creative.

Human flag with underhand grip

Gradual Progression
While you might be eager to learn this move, bear in mind that you must gradually introduce your body to the human flag. In the beginning, just holding a bent leg flag for a couple of seconds would leave my obliques sore for days afterward. Additionally, developing shoulder tendinitis can be a concern, especially early on. You want to be warmed up before practicing your flag and make sure to give your body proper rest between efforts. Eventually you may be able to practice flags daily, but in the beginning a few minutes every two or three days is a better way to ease yourself in. Be patient–anything that’s worthwhile takes time. If you want to acquire this skill, you can. You just have to really want it and be willing to put in the work. The human flag can be a lot of fun, but it ain’t a game!

Beyond the Flag
I know what you’re thinking: what could possibly be harder than the human flag!?!

Flag pull-ups of course!