The Hop Hoop thread

Written by: simian

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i'd say the majority of poi is done in vertical planes, whereas hoop is mainly horizontal

turning 180 with vertical planes means you're spinning (subjectively) in the other direction

whereas turning 180 with horizontal planes, you're still spinning the same direction.

so learning both ways is less important to hoop than poi.

unless you want to do vertical hoop with 180 turns.

or to do handstands.

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It's really apples and oranges.

With hooping you're spinning in horizontal planes while turning horizontally. (Even though I'm all about vertical now.)

With poi you're spinning in vertical planes while turning horizontally.

There really is no direct translation in poi to 'hooping in the wrong direction'. In some moves (like corkscrew or windmill) it SORT OF makes sense but in moves like weaves and butterflies there is no 'wrong direction' in the same sense as hooping.

Hooping in the wrong direction has mirror symmetry whereas a poi butterfly is not a mirror image of reverse butterfly.

You could go your entire life not knowing how to corkscrew in the 'wrong' direction and nobody'd know the difference. I think the same is true for hooping. Though, in hooping you do often see people switching direction which is obvious to an external observer.

The fact that there are two things in poi and normally one in hooping further complicates the situation. If you were working with two hoops in different directions (which gives me a headache) you'd obviously have to know 'both ways' whereas there is no paralell for 4 poi (which also hurts my head.)

In my humble opinion:

Learning a corkscrew or windmill in both directions is not very important if you want to be a beginner or intermediate poi spinner. I never spin a corkscrew in the wrong direction and it doesn't hurt my poi.

Learning horizontal hoop moves in the wrong direction is not very important if you want to be a beginner or intermediate hooper.

Learning vertical moves like weaves and butterflies both forward and reverse is obviously very important to even a beginner.

Learning vertical moves outside the body is a completely different move set in hooping. I think it is important to learn it both ways or you'll never be able to turn with it.

Most importantly, most general hoop theory is years behind poi theory right now. Those VERY few hoopers that have reached a high level of technique would be just as attached to 'learning everything both ways' as the MANY communities of poi spinners that have reached an advanced level.

If there was a 'Simian' of the hoop world, he'd tell you to learn it both ways.

I can hoop both ways about as ineffectively as I can corkscrew both ways and I find that I notice it more when hooping.

Long story short (too late): You don't need to learn hooping both ways to be happy. Have fun and play and the audience won't be able to tell the difference. If, later, you find yourself lacking because you don't know reverse you can deal with it then.

Written by: Skulduggery

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*slaps NYC and Simian* Haven't I already told you that we aren't going to allow hooping to get all techie and stuff! Sheesh BOYS!

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oh Skully, I do sympathize. But, I'm glad for the bit of techie-ness shared above.

I hadn't made the distinction between horizontal & vertical plane and how they impacted one's ability to spin in either direction. It seems so obvious now that it's been said. Thanks tech-boys, your comments helped a bunch!

Off the topic of this post, but on topic of this thread, last night I managed to get the hoop from waist to neck, then up over my head with my hands in prayer position then back down to my neck and back down to my waist! me proud & happy.

Written by: Skulduggery

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*slaps NYC and Simian* Haven't I already told you that we aren't going to allow hooping to get all techie and stuff! Sheesh BOYS!

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WE aren't going to ALLOW? Sweetie, you me and and a thousand simians together couldn't lay a finger on where hooping is and isn't going. The technical level is already exploding exponentially.

You can either jump on board or get run over by it.

As for me, I'm haning on to the shoelaces and getting dragged in the dirt as I desperately try to learn hoop theory.

The nice thing about hooping is that it MAKES you dance. So by getting techy you automatically combine the two.