Poi Wondering

[shanmonster]

I grabbed my poi again tonight, and with f00dave's help, have added two new moves to my repertoire:

1. Double-front kick change: while spinning both poi in forward "skip rope" motion, hit both balls simultaneously on a front kick.
I still have to find a way to get this to work on a back kick. I am getting a directional change, but it's wrapping around my knee instead of bouncing off my foot.

2. Air wrap: Balls spin clockwise in front of me, with separation between both arms. Let the balls wind around each other once. As soon as the chains make contact, do a quick jerk back, and an immediate push forward, and the balls will wind around themselves, then disentangle.
I still need to find the right transitional move after this. Maybe a horizontal waist wrap?

Up next: I want to figure out how to do "handcuffs" (double wrist wrap directional change). I can only do it one side at a time. The move has both poi wrapping simultaneously. I'm clunking the hell out of my hands figuring this one out. Yeowch.

Comments

[real-bethy.livejournal.com]

I thought poi was some sort of Hawaiian dish...?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Yes.

But it's also a Maori dance form: http://www.homeofpoi.com/

[androgenie.livejournal.com]

dude, where did you learn to do these tricks? the few I can do I learned from some mini movies on houseofpoi!

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Sheer experimentation, really.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

With some inspiration from homeofpoi, and also a couple of hints from http://www.domorepoi.com/poi_fire_spinning_lessons.php .

I really haven't spent much time at these sites, though. I don't have an easy time learning poi stuff from videos. I need more in-person tutorials. That's why it's been great working with f00dave. He understands the physics of the movement, and I can follow his instructions to make the move work. The funny thing is, he can't do poi for shit, but he can get me to do it.

[f00dave.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! Thank you for the kind words! Note that I couldn't do jack shit if it wasn't for your raw talent and honed skills, Bopie. :-)

And to get the cuffs working, just do the same thing you do for the air wrap, only on the outside: jerk the balls when they cross horizontal, but with the balls away from each other, not crossing. Jerk them towards you when they're out to the sides, far apart, then push forward a little (if you want, might not be necessary), but do it _subtly_ or you'll whap your nose ... just a little bit will do. I'm sure you'll get it right away, based on last night's moves!