The purpose of this study was to examine the effective methods of teaching the handspring in mat exercises. Tow physical education teachers with long experience as gymnastics players instructed the handspring in mat exercises five times to 222 first-year boys in two public junior high schools. The difference of the learning results between three methods of the different type that were the method with the difference in elevation, the approach by cartwheel with quarter front twist, and the whole method, were analyzed. The relations between the degree of attainment on the handspring and three items of physical strength (50m run, clapping of hands in position lying face down, trunk extension), Rohrer's index, were analyzed. The results were summarized as follows ; 1) About 60% of the boys improved their skill of the handspring in mat exercises. The significant difference of the learning results between three methods of the different type did not show. 2) The approach by cartwheel with quarter front twist was easy to teach the handspring in mat exercises. The reason was as follows ; The teachers were able to instruct the handspring without labor to remove many vaulting horses, and without labor to guide students in their spotting techniques. They were able to instruct safely in student's various ability. 3) The significant correlations were observed between the degree of attainment on the handspring and three items of physical strength. The correlation between the degree of attainment on the handspring and clapping of hands in position lying face down was most strongest. This result gave a suggestion that the training for jumping by hands was necessary to become skillful at the handspring. 4) 44.7% of the boys from over 100 to under 140 in Rohrer's index became skillful at the handspring. On the other hand, 13.3% of the boys over 140 in Rohrer's index became skillful at the handspring. This result gave a suggestion that the handspring was difficult exercise for the overweight boys.