A fishy business... any advice contact staffers?

we should put it on t-shirts.....

argh tried to do it for ages tonight, but i realised that i don't know how to - a problem which the military like to call a 'show-stopper.'
but thanks for allowing plebs like me to know that it is possible - it gives me hope, and minimises the gathering sense of futility at having hit my arms repeatedly...

Do people have preferences for keeping the staff lying on their fingers, back of hand or wrist ??
Im still a bit undecided about which i find easier and which i should go ahead practicing with ..

currently favouring the fingers but its a bit awkward....

Mike

I prefer back of the finger, just above the knuckles.

That being said, when practicing, it pays to try and avoid the things you like doing, so your skills in other areas get better faster.

You should get lots of practice for your prefferred method without even trying...

yo,

for me at the mo, forwards: finger, backwards: wrist.

there are loads and the next ones are in int forarm and then the shoulder, but thease are long term stuff I recon.

L*r

T

yea, been trying to do even half a fishtail on the shoulder, to do a 180deg turn with the spin direction. Finding it damn hard though and so far without success There's a very nice continous move where you do a should to shoulder roll in front of body, then, as the staff goes over the second (receiving) shoulder you do half a fishtail and repeat in the opposite direction on the other side... f**k thats sounds complicated , sorry - better than a 1000 words: watch the 2002 baton video on http://www.worldsbaton2002.com/index2.html (the "2001 Canadian Baton Twirling Championships" at 2:25)

And thats not even full fishtails on the shoulder - is it possible ? hmmm...

Mike

the move thats spnning my nuts out is the vertical neck-pinch-catch and trow again, hummmmmmmm.

L*r

T

Little more info on that move please nix??

Nix?, if you mean the move i think you mean (at 0:43 on that video) i totally agree how on earth ?
Thats going to be even harder with a long staff since you'll have to throw it quite high to avoid hitting yourself ...

Also like the one at 1:05 - been having some success with the continous neck/back rolling but I havn't quite figured out how to keep accelerating the staff ? After 3-4 turns my staff just sort of slows down due to the friction and that's it, it falls off ... any tips anyone (pleeease )?
Im not even attempting the rolls round arms/front neck, thats just insane ?!!?


Mike

I think you actually have to sort of shuffle the staff arround, sometimes by twisting the shoulders and sometimes little throws or bumps.

I know what you mean, for me at the mo this is the next big herdle, but I think Im waiting for a way in rather than put the pain in of figuring it out just now. I having far to much fun with poi to be battering myself about the head witha metal stick.

< cant believe he just said that! >

N

@tom(but i know what you mean)

shoulder fishtails are doable, but they got even more bounce than hand/wrist ones, and you HAVE to have the stick in the right place, and as mentioned above, are muuuuuch easier with a big weighty stick...


got a few noo fishtail variations but wont tell until they're smooth and that could be a while cause of my hand


tho if you press me....


and anyway i pinched the idea from josh


R

[Bluecat]
>got a few noo fishtail variations but wont tell until they're smooth and that could be a while cause of my hand
>tho if you press me....

Ohhhhh pleeeeeaaassseee Mr. Bluecat

Been trying an inside the arm (half)fishtail - start off with a forward back-of-right-hand roll on right side of your body (like for a frwd fishtail), but the end that comes over the hand doesn't immediately go to the opposite side of the body but instead sort of tucks into the armpit (without touching it) while only the "next" end goes on the opposite side of the body. You sort of have to reach over the staff with your hand and then unwrap it on the opposite side.... still feels rather un-smooth tho ..

Mike

How about fishtails on a second staff ?? Or while holding a second staff in the "fishtail"-hand ??

double doubles, yummy trails

shame it would be hard as hell

King of Bongo -
Nearly ready to answer your question.
Not ignoring, just nowdays i don't want to post about moves until i understand them.
In every way that they can be and
in every way they can be wrong.
Do not ever fall into the trap of thinking that they are easy, until you can do them without thinking, then they are easy.
I wouldn't pick

for 8 months I've worked on only 2 movements with stick.

At the moment I can say this much to help:
work on fishtails, but do not try.
Practice much, but do not put in effort.
Try to do everything the way you think it should be and all the ways you think it is wrong.
try to move around the stick and try to move the stick around you.
work with many different sticks but focus on one.
Be aware of all your body, and be released (better word than relaxed,) your whole posture. be at peace.
make your hand a good clean and relaxed shape.
Develop lots of little exercises that are like fishtails, and have sommilar movements, get every one clean
and...
They're a zen trick. movement meditation. but the most movement of the zen tricks I've found... they can take you to that place in a quite shallow, but broader and more dynamic way than most of the rest of the zen's.
They're worth learning. but a lot of people would never learn, it take too much effort them and.....
I'm not sure that everyone who does learn them will go there.
patience
oops more than I was planning to type
Good luck.

Dont listen to that orange trousered fool, just cos his look like melted butter running off his fingers.......

but dont get to psydo-mystical in here just cos the po-mo inna poi moves is slowing down...

Bite Me,

T

thank you very much everyone for all the feedback- I am now able to do fishtails!!!
yay!!!!

can do them dodgily with my left hand too- they'll come with time.

Its funny, looking back on it they came pretty easily (or as easily as other stuff when I was beginning to learn the basics).
hehe... you're all going to kill me for this, but here goes:
any tips on backwards fishtails?

"runs for cover as thousands of wet haddocks get launched in his direction"



Ben

PS with any luck, us bristolian students are getting a vid together- dodgy digital camera has meant that we haven't managed it yet, but we're trying!

Ben. They're easier.

agreed

have to wait.

too poor to deconstruct


but i agree on the backwards ones.


R