A new guy

[atnightclaw]

Hi everyone, I am a spinner living in the US who has been spinning for about a year.  Up to this point I am self taught, but would like to become more involved with the community in hopes of bettering my ability to spin poi.  I am including a video below the cute.  Meaningful critique is welcome and appreciated.

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Comments

[quan_yin]

Check out www.poigeek.com if you'd like some more technical skills. The classes are affordable and she's working on adding new stuff.

The best advice I can give you is to slow your poi WAY down and breathe! You have some very advanced skills down (great job!) and they will look so much better if your overall style is more fluid and graceful, so it doesn't look like you're just moving from trick to trick.

Your btb weave is great!

[atnightclaw]

Thanks, I will have to think about that for my next video. It would probably help a lot if I branched away from techno more, but I just really love that song. Many hours went into learning behind the back weave. It was the first pattern that made me really have to stop and think about the dynamics of what I am doing when I spin.

[quan_yin]

You might want to look into polyrhythmics to learn more about how to play with timing - I tend to rely on it when dancing to fast music so that I can make my performance more interesting.

[_graywolf_]

As said above, slow WAY down. You're doing great, but speed isn't everything :) Try variations of speeds, more tied in with the music you're working with. Stalls and stops are some great mixes to do in between with that kind of music.

Add more variation. You have some great tricks, but you often go back to the weave to try something new. Practice more in moving from trick to trick as smoothly as possible.

And last but not least, shake that tail! ;) Your body seems a bit 'stiff' compared to your smooth arm work. Learn to move and be the extension in some cases of your poi ends. Move, dance, drop, jump. But most of all, have fun! When mistakes happen, don't come to a dead stop, but instead clean up the mistake while you're doing some fancy footwork. Express yourself, and swipe people off their feet.

You're doing fantastic!

[atnightclaw]

There is some very good advice here, thanks a ton. I am going to have to think about moving my body more while I'm practicing.

[skunkanunka]

Not bad man, my input would be really similar to the above :)
Just watch your wrist pops if you're gunna do them at that speed- your poi won't take too many of them before the clasp just splits. Otherwise you might want to consider using something more disposable like glowsticks & strings (since your style's a bit more like glowstringing than say, firedancing atm) so that if they do break you're not stuck without.
Luck!

[atnightclaw]

People have mentioned that to me before, but I hate spinning with glowsticks. I like to feel like I am actually twirling something. When I have glowsticks and string it feels like I am just flailing my arms around. I guess it is just a personal preference thing. I have backup poi if the Oggs break, but honestly, after I replaced the cords they came with they seem to be very durable. Thanks for the input though.

[spikelumens]

Very good for only a year of practice!
Agree with above, slower (that speed is what I usually see for glowsticking) and more body movement. Have fun with the moves and work on integrating every move from every move.