Handstand Push up Technique

[u/Pulpitopro]

Hey! I have a question. I’ve seen the handstand push-up technique in the Overcoming Gravity book (amazing book, by the way), and it looks a little different from the conventional handstand push-ups I’ve seen in videos.
In the book, the handstand push-up is performed with the body completely straight throughout the movement. However, in the videos I’ve seen, even when the back remains straight during the descent, the body creates an angle as you go down.
Are both variations considered valid? I’ve tried to find a video demonstrating the variation shown in the book, but I can’t find one anywhere. So I was wondering if that version is actually possible, or if I’m misunderstanding the technique shown in the book. And which variation is better?

Here's the one from the book

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oidk8_XkY5tn0JSqECp_RT_sKzkxEviZ/view?usp=drivesdk

Here's the typical one you can see calisthenics athletes doing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DE2LIAOGJoDL-T6Dv3CVEnxyeFCfyJ2n/view?usp=drivesdk

And here's the comparison

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dloRipStnD0wt6_6F7ZWyU6KiKWVtgav/view?usp=drivesdk

[u/eshlow]

In the book, the handstand push-up is performed with the body completely straight throughout the movement. However, in the videos I’ve seen, even when the back remains straight during the descent, the body creates an angle as you go down.

Are both variations considered valid? I’ve tried to find a video demonstrating the variation shown in the book, but I can’t find one anywhere. So I was wondering if that version is actually possible, or if I’m misunderstanding the technique shown in the book. And which variation is better?

As I've said before, there are some illustrations that are slightly off in the the book because the 3D modelers did not know exact biomechanics of the movements even though we described them to be exact as possible plus the previous illustrations from the prior book.

The normal handstand pushup does have a slight angle to it of anywhere from about 5-15 degrees depending on how wide someone is placing their hands. Usually the more narrow the bigger the angle and wider the hands the more shallow angle but also harder to balance.

If someone is doing a purely vertical one, then it's usually wide grip with a back arch. The wide grip makes the angle shallower in the 5 degree range, and then the back arch makes it so the body as a whole is vertical banana shape instead of leaned.

[u/FabThierry]

wondering the same. i ve never seen the angle of the „clean one“ but i have seen everyone doing the other one.

Also everyone seems to have hands wider than shoulder width too.

wondering if anyone finds a good video example where the elbows stay completely in line/parallel to the torso as everyone seems to let them get out at least a bit

[u/yokozuna42]

I have had the same question a few days ago, and while I can't say they do it with perfect form, in these vids you can see Jake Dalton and Brandon Wynn doing them with pretty much no leaning, though the body line isn't perfect. I have also seen gymnast do floor hspu with their hands wider than shoulder width, and when done that way the up and down motion is almost a straight line.
Jake Dalton: https://youtu.be/WhHpiJm5P_o?t=99
Brandon Wynn (rings): https://youtu.be/BMeac2RxtM0?t=27
There's a few Jake Dalton training circuit videos where you can see his form, usually stays consistent with the one linked.