🔎Can you spot the mistake? Single Foot Lock
- Aerial Physique
- Jun 8
- 2 min read
🦶 Let’s talk about Single Foot Lock - specifically, why it might feel painful the moment you step in. Many aerialists believe foot locks are just supposed to hurt, and there’s no way around it. But like most things in aerial, while it’s not exactly comfortable, it shouldn’t be painful to get into initially.
This is a foundational skill that’s often rushed through, especially with so many more exciting things to learn, but refining your technique here pays off in the long run.
💥 Top two causes of pain:
1️⃣ Your wrap is too tight
2️⃣ The silk is twisted under your arch (ouch)
💡 What helps: ✅ Plenty of slack before stepping in ✅ Keeping the silk flat under your foot - not bunched or twisted See below for a video breakdown and improvement tips.
🌀 Wrapping Breakdown: 1️⃣ From a classic climb, place your hands at forehead height. 2️⃣ Drop your hips into an ‘L’ to create space. 3️⃣ Lift your top leg, bend the knee, and internally rotate to press the outside edge of your foot into the silk 1.5–2 feet above the bottom one. 4️⃣ Turn your bottom foot inward and bend the knee to step into the slack. 5️⃣ Stand tall with strong alignment- aim for a flat silk under your arch and your ankle stable.
👉 Prefer bent arms? That works too! Just know you’ll have less space between you and the silk, so slack management becomes even more important. Be sure to give yourself plenty of room before stepping in.
Common mistakes:
Hands too low = not enough space = tight lock.
Not lifting the top leg high enough? Not enough slack = painful lock.
👣 Pro tip: If you're new to foot locks, flex your bottom foot as you stand to protect your ankle. Once you're confident, go ahead and point.
P.S. 🎉 Exciting news: Enrollment is now open for our Online Teacher Training Course - through Friday, June 20th! If you’ve ever wondered how to spot subtle mistakes, teach with clarity and develop a sharp eye for clean technique, this course is for you. We go in depth on skills just like this (and so much more).
