Advice on learning the Reverse 5B

Hmm... got down my forward 5B and now it feels natural, amazing how (for lack of a better word lol) *goofY* it feels when you first get it, and then it becomes fluid after time. And i finally got my reverse 3btb, so i'm happy (but bruised). Now I want to learn how to do the reverse 5B... It seems REALLY scary. Whilst learning the frontward 5B it's not that bad, you just get a thump in the leg (or crotch if you use short strings). But just trying to learn the reverse 5B seems deadly, since if you mis-time your crossover, you get hit in the head...

REALLY SCARY

NE ideas?
i'm thinking of wearing like a football helmet or a full face mask... just got nailed in the left eye today by a glowstick while practicing my btb stuff, and the pain is still fresh. Help?

I remember the pain of learning the rev 5beat. I dunno, i think pain is an incentive for not screwing up

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[]Dhuong-Vu Truong
==== []Dhunky ====

All I can say is be ready to duck
Also, you might want to try it with two short stick until you get the hang of it a bit more, that way it doesnt really matter if you mess up.

I've been pummeling myself for a while trying to learn this. You know how with some moves, something clicks and it becomes easy very quickly? Hasn't happened. Right now I'm at the point where I can get through about 2 complete (but very sloppy) reps before it gets so ugly that I mess up.

One thing I've realized is that there are three distinct spots where you can work in the extra rotation: at the wrists, at the hands, or in the equipment. I've been playing around with all three, and I've been having the best luck when I have the extra rotation taken up by the equipment. But play around with it--YMMV.

Others have suggested closing your eyes when you try to learn a new move. I've been doing that too, and it seems to be helping. Haven't clocked myself *too* badly yet.

At my current level of progress, I kind of need to assist the unwinding process--not exactly forcing it, but not letting it happen on autopilot either. Perhaps as I get better this will go away.

yep, this is a major that has just been a complete bastard for me' once i get it i can do 5bt fountains and stuff... ah

but the problem i really have is, yes, fear of being hit in the face. I really think thats a big part - the time you get to bring your hands across is so much less, because you dont really care about getting the poi 5cm from your legs, but you DO care about the poi getting 5cm from your face.

and also my wrists dont bend as fat this way... theres also a sort of outward swinging with the fwd 5bt that i cant get the with rvs.

I think a helmet would actually be a useful idea, as you would be able to get some proper practice in without all the frustration.

Has anyone else felt that "deadly poi flying at my head" feeling trying to learn above the head movements? How can I protect myself? Any tips?

off to take the ol paintball mask out of retirement ^_^

I was playing around with the 5 beat reverse weave the other night with my beaming poi and got distracted and suddenly whacked myself in my glasses near my nose.
My face felt sore and I re-bent my glasses (once again) back into shape. As my eyes were not watering I just carried on. Later when Cherry came to see me, she said "How come your nose is bleeding?". The metal frame had got pushed so hard it broke the skin around my nose.
I fall off the horse I jump back on

My glasses are metal wire frame with PC lenses. PC is slightly better than plastic cause I heard some plastic glasses can break easier and make sharp jaggered edges that could go into the eye.
I once got hit in the eye with a cricket ball (always keep your eye on the ball they said ) I had special industrial strength hardened glass lenses in my glasses at that time and the glass broke into several sharp pieces and luckily fall on the ground and did not go into my eye.
My lenses are quite thin now so thicker glasses may make a difference.

I guess that what ever protection you use must be specially made for getting whacked.
Some things may seem strong but may cause more danger.

Paintball mask sounds good
Hockey Mask good
Motorbike Helmet good
Soft friendly poi even better

Regards

Malcolm

Malcom,
obviously you have experience in the woes of your beaming poi, and a friend of mine who is very experienced has been in a similar situation.
My question is with this knowledge, isnt there anything u can do to make this US$45 piece of equipment less like a cricket ball?

luckyman,

You are right I do know what beaming poi can do to the body. I have several lumps but I find them easier to control cause of their extra weight. I have tried adding a softer outer coating but have not found anything durable enough. Glow sticks and fire poi hurt too. So does doing martial arts, rugby, cricket ....
Sometimes I use them to try new things and experiment. I advise you do not use beaming poi for that unless you are well protected, but sometimes I forget. They are great for your well practised moves and transitions. All I have to say is respect them.
The Maori warriors used large rocks to swing with, now that is tough, it helped them learn faster and build up better co-ordination and strength ( not sure if they did the 5 beat reverse weave through ).

Actually maybe I could develope the beaming poi balls as a cricket ball, now there is an idea

Just a note from everyone's mother...

If you do use a motorbike helmet etc. please make sure it's an old one that's not in use anymore. The reason I say this is that these helmets, once they have been hit hard/been in an accident should be THROWN AWAY - even if they don't look damaged. The reason is as follows:

-helmets have got foamy stuff under the shell
-when you get hit hard on the head (by a beaming poi ) the foam underneath absorbs the impact by compressing
-the shell may or may not ping back into shape without you noticing - leaving the compressed foam underneath - although the helmet may look perfectly fine
-now, if you hit yourself in the same place again, the foam won't be able to protect you - shockwaves travel through the skull into the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain and can possibly kill you.

Nice.

While I'm aware thet it's not too likely to kill yourself with a couple of bops on the head from poi, bashing the helmet and then getting into a road traffic accident COULD kill you (or the owner of the helmet).

Sorry to be so morbid.

So, don't talk to strangers, look both ways when crossing the road and stop pulling that face or the wind'll change and it will stay that way... and everybody lives happily ever after

FP xx

PS: A big woolly hat works for me!

[This message has been edited by Fire Princess (edited 24 September 2001).]

that reminds me... beaming poi... all very well and good but couldnt you get those new truecolour rgb LED's and make rav'n-like beaming poi? They would rock... I'm sure people would shell out the extra cost for full spectrum ribbons that run off AA batteries. The electronics wouldnt be difficult... not simple, but well within your capabilities I'm sure...

the truecolour LED's are like £5 a shot though, because of the blue component

oh and for the rvs 5 beat you have to tilt your wrists a bit... this happens automatically when you do the forward 5bt and unravel your wrists. I have got it perfect on one side, but still a bit of practice for the full 5bt

I have found for learning the foward and reverse 5bt shortening the poi helped. Yes this made it a bit faster but also more controllable and less scary.

The way I learnt five beat without smacking myself in the head was to stand almost sideways to the poi, so that if i'm bringing them to my left then my left shoulder is sticking forward. I find it helps give you that bit of extra angle to move your wrists. Then again, I've been doing the move for about a year now and it still looks ugly I mainly only use it in turns or for getting out of a tight spot, so I wouldn't get too hung up if it still evades you.

Wear a paintball mask.

i know this may not be the best thing to do but i have likeone or two beer when i am trying to nail anew trick that scares me it take away from the nervous ness about getting hit which can make you hit your self thats how i got the reverse 5bt. my fountains are stil a lil bit slopier than what i am happy with

no-no-no The best way is to drink a bottle of Vodka before, then everything goes right %)

Right into your eye?

To avoid face/poi contact, try raising your hands up to shoulder height. Which has the double advantage of making the contortion much easier when you're learning and removing your head from the path of the poi head.

Unless you are doing it forwards. When other... sensitive bits move into the danger zone.

But I was thinking of it when drunk. Most will not think of raising it to head height. (Which is what I did too.)