The Japanese Handstand, also aptly called the wide-arm handstand is an intermediate handbalancing skill that you should be able to accomplish without too much trouble. With the arms positioned out wide, and the fingers oriented differently, achieving the Japanese handstand will require more strength than a typical handstand to achieve. If you really want to impress people you can start out in a normal handstand, slide your hands out wide and hold and slide back again. Above, Mike White, of Southwest Miami high School performs a Japanese handstand during the free exercise event of the 1967 Gold Coast High School Gymnastic Championships.