hoekstand

Hoekstand is a Dutch term used in athletics and gymnastics to describe a specific angled body posture. The word literally translates to “angle‑position” and is applied when a gymnast or other athlete aligns part of the body at a deliberate angle with the surface they are on, such as lying on the side or on the forearm while the remaining limbs remain elevated. The position is designed to engage the core musculature, improve balance, and develop joint stability, and it is often used as a transitional movement into more complex routines.

In Dutch physical‑education curricula, hoekstand is presented as an early exercise for children learning how to control their body alignment. It is practiced on soft mats and typically involves a rounded spine and a neutral pelvis, with the foot or hip region resting against the floor to provide a stable base. Coaches emphasize proper breathing, shoulder retraction, and glute activation to maintain the hip angle and avoid strain.

The technique is not standardized globally and is rarely found in English‑language gymnastics literature. However, similar angled positions are employed in training for sports such as swimming, where a swimmer’s body may be angled in the glide phase, and in martial arts, where a fighter may adopt an angled stance to reduce the profile exposed to an opponent. The Dutch concept remains most widely recognized within the Netherlands and Belgium, where it continues to be taught in schools and recreational clubs to foster early body‑control skills.