Marinelli bend is a form of

contortion Contortion (sometimes contortionism) is a performance art in which performers called contortionists showcase their skills of extreme physical flexibility. Contortion acts often accompany acrobatics, Circus (performing art), circus acts, street ...

posture in which the performer (most often female) supports their whole body weight only by biting onto a mouth grip attached to a short post in a backbend position with their buttocks sitting on their own head. It is considered to be one of the most difficult and dangerous contortion positions, and is usually the climax during a

performance.

Etymology

This name comes from the

contortionist Contortion (sometimes contortionism) is a performance art in which performers called contortionists showcase their skills of extreme physical flexibility. Contortion acts often accompany acrobatics, circus acts, street performers and other liv ...

and international theatrical agent H.B. Marinelli (1864-1924).

Double Marinelli bend

This is a Marinelli bend in which the contortionist performs a Marinelli position with another contortionist doing a

handstand A handstand is the act of supporting the body in a stable, inverted vertical position by balancing on the hands. In a basic handstand, the body is held straight with arms and legs fully extended, with hands spaced approximately shoulder-width apar ...

on their top so that the former is holding the weight of two persons only by their mouth. This is considered to be an extremely difficult contortion act, and is exclusively performed by Mongolian or sometimes Chinese contortionists. The bend normally lasts for 5–6 seconds from the moment the Marinelli bend contortionist releases their hands from the floor.

Triple Marinelli bend

This is a Marinelli bend in which the contortionist performs a Marinelli position with two other contortionists on their top so that the one in Marinelli bend is holding the weight of three persons only by their mouth. From all available documented records only one trio of contortionists have managed to achieve it.

Spinning Marinelli bend

This is a Marinelli bend in which the contortionist performs a Marinelli position on specially built equipment that can slowly spin 360 degrees.

Duration record

Contortionist Tsatsral Erdenebileg from Mongolia is the current

Guinness World Record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, listi ...

holder for the longest Marinelli bend achieved at 4 minutes 17 seconds on 24 Jul 2013. She broke her own previous record held in May for 2 minutes and 34 seconds. The prior record was held by Iona Luvsandorj for 50 seconds in 2009.

References

{{Reflist Contortion