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Base lies on back; legs may be straddled or knees raised with feet on mat, to provide greater stability. Top straddles base and places hands laterally on base's upper arms, fingers wrapping around the arms. Base grasps top's upper arm with thumbs and index fingers supported against the “V” at the bottom of top's deltoid muscles. Top either kicks one leg upwards and then brings other leg next to first leg in vertical position or jumps from both legs into tucked position and then extends legs into straight, vertical position. Stunt ends by reversing motion, with top returning to original position.
Spotting : Spotter stands at top's back or side and holds near thigh of top with both hands.
Variation 1 : Stunt can be ended by base moving top in direction of base's head and then lowering top to mat with straight arms. As top approaches mat, he/she puts chin on chest, rounds back, and then performs forward roll. When top's back reaches the mat, they both release arms.
Variation 2 : Position can be achieved from front swan on feet of base. From swan position, arms are grasped as described above. Base lifts top as high as possible and top snaps both legs up into vertical position. Stunt can end with base raising straight legs, placing feet on top's abdominal area, and lowering top into front swan position.
Variation 3 : From knee-and-shoulder balance, top moves one arm at a time to the low arm-to-arm arm positions, simultaneously shifting the body forward over the new base of support.
Variation 4 : After coming to a stand at the end of the stunt, top and base grasp hands and top pulls base to his/her feet.
Variation 5 : To recover from an overbalanced position, base can rotate top to side, and top lowers one leg at a time in the normal manner of terminating the stunt by returning to original position.
Lead-up : Top can practice headstands and/or assisted handstands in order to get used to the inverted, vertical body position.
Note : If top has trouble getting into inverted position, spotter can help lift top into position. Also, to overcome fear of attaining the vertical position, top can first practice jumping directly into a forward roll and thus gain confidence of being able to recover safely from an overbalanced vertical position by rolling out.