Home of Poi: SuperHappyFun Contact Staff Links

The SuperHappyFun Definitive Contact Thread

edit: finished for the night - after an epic battle involving UBB code and a toaster. if you have any other links ive missed let me know.

Ive basically listed here every single contact thread I could find on HoP, with a quick summary of what is in each one. Ive divided it up into 3 sections
1. Newbies
2. More Advanced Stuff
3. Combination Ideas

A couple of threads are listed in a few places because they discuss a range of moves.

Part 1 - For newbies:
The key difference in contact staff compared to conventional spinning is that you move your body around the staff as much as it moves around you.
*yoda voice* You must be at one with the staff

Its hard to explain, until you�ve seen some videos. For videos of individual movements:
- MCP's website has a range of videos with supporting explanations and tips.

For videos with nice smooth combinations:
- www.poiinthepark.net
- www.soton-firespinning.co.uk
- knox�s stuff, in particular the videos knox2 . Where im living no-one else has even started contact, so ive been on my own - Knox�s video has been the best resource ive ever found.
- this video http://www.londonjuggling.org/vids/DrewAndStaff.avi is also rather helpful.
- the spinach sessions Part 2 has some lovely contact and general shenanigans
- a whole bunch of other stuff by bluecat, glass, and others which im too tired to make the effort to find right now.

here's some descriptions of the fundamental moves. being HoP threads, the conversation meanders somewhat....
incidently, ado-p is writing up stuff as he learns contact moves so beginners may find that useful.

i think the basic contact movements are the:
-elbow-wrist-wrist-elbow
-shoulder-neck-shoulder
-halo roll [shoulder-backpivot-shoulder]
-the half steve [palmspin-arm-neck-arm-palmspin]
-fishtails [back of hand]

Elbow-wrist-wrist-elbow
- Robs Contact Thread gives a description
- im sure i remember another one somewhere...

Shoulder-neck-shoulder & halo rolls
- Mcp�s shoulder-neck-shoulder variants thread
- shoulder-neck-shoulder-halo moves
- a very old description of the halo roll
- many moves can be done on both the back and front of the neck

The half steve
This move is a fraction of �the steve�- named after steve from mushypea juggling who is one of the pioneers of contact staff.
- palm spin to neck wrap transfers thread give a range of tips
- backspin to quarter steve exits gives some info on a variation of the move

Fishtails
- fishtails thread
- another fishtails thread

Part 2: More advanced stuff

neck spin to head spin transfers

forehead spins & aspirin

contact catches

crude staffing

Inverted Fishtails

foot stuff
- the mullen
- the lynx
- Silly contact knee roll
- Contact stalls and foot juggles
- Contact Leg Throw

Part 3: Combinations & Random Ideas
heres some threads which may give you a few more ideas.

Robs Contact Thread is a rather large thread from a colourful feline. This has enough funky singles and doubles contact moves and ideas to keep you going for a while

nice contact combos thread

random ideas thread

more contact ideas

look mum! no hands! - another older thread

another older random ideas thread

one more....

Variations of neck-spins

the double steve [also described in robs contact thread]

a thread on doubles separations and combinations that uses some contact

a few mentions of doubles crosses and contact

an old post relating contact & baton twirling

contact staff vs baton twirlers...

stuff about contact grip contstruction

Contact staff size & construction

a philiosophical discussion about what is a contact combo

a random post on the origins of contact

fishy neckrolls & bitching about baton twirlers

An old thread with dead links...

Edited by Dentrassi (30/09/04 02:35 AM)