Forums > Expressive movement / costumes and props > Dance/ Martial Arts backgrounds
Login/Join to ParticipatePLATINUM Member
Will carpal your tunnel in a minute.
3,286 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Will carpal your tunnel in a minute.
3,286 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
First post! Yay!
Anyways, a question to kick off the new board:
Do you draw from a style of dance or martial art when you fire twirl? Did either of the two disciplines lead you to fire twirl? Or vice versa?
First post! Yay!
Anyways, a question to kick off the new board:
Do you draw from a style of dance or martial art when you fire twirl? Did either of the two disciplines lead you to fire twirl? Or vice versa?
ॐ
Owner of burningoftheclavey 
Owned by Lost83spy
PLATINUM Member
Will carpal your tunnel in a minute.
3,286 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Will carpal your tunnel in a minute.
3,286 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
Zum zum zum Capoeira Mataun!
Zum zum zum Capoeira Mataun!
ॐ
Owner of burningoftheclavey
Owned by Lost83spy
BRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posted:
OMG Brenn - thats what Kate sings all the time when she's happy!
OMG Brenn - thats what Kate sings all the time when she's happy!
--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!
GOLD Member
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
I'm thinking of doing Tai Chi in the city next week, the problem is that it's very early and I live a fair distance away. I'll try and rope someone crazy into going with me
I'm thinking of doing Tai Chi in the city next week, the problem is that it's very early and I live a fair distance away. I'll try and rope someone crazy into going with me
Kupo!
GOLD Member
the floor is a sea of tigers...
404 posts
the floor is a sea of tigers...
404 posts
Posted:
why do i get the impression that you're in brisbane? anyway I've been trying to find somewhere near to the city that teaches taichi.
Written by: jarle
I'm thinking of doing Tai Chi in the city next week, the problem is that it's very early and I live a fair distance away. I'll try and rope someone crazy into going with me
why do i get the impression that you're in brisbane? anyway I've been trying to find somewhere near to the city that teaches taichi.
GOLD Member
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
PLATINUM Member
Will carpal your tunnel in a minute.
3,286 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Will carpal your tunnel in a minute.
3,286 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
I've always wanted to try Tai Chi, but starting work at 8:30am in blackburn makes that a tad difficult. Maybe when i'm back at uni
I've always wanted to try Tai Chi, but starting work at 8:30am in blackburn makes that a tad difficult. Maybe when i'm back at uni
ॐ
Owner of burningoftheclavey
Owned by Lost83spy
BRONZE Member
Still wiggling
5,967 posts
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)
Still wiggling
5,967 posts
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)
Posted:
Yep Gnor... me likey this forum
I've had very little formal training in either, really.
Three years in Shotokan karate (to brown belt), but that was about 6 years ago now... I guess it did help with stances and body positioning.
No real dance training at all (although, does a couple of years Irish dancing when I was about 5 count?!
)... I watched ALOT of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers growing up, though
I think that planting your feet, and balance, are the most important things that can be learned from either discipline and transferred into poi dancing.
Poi is a rhythmic thing. What you choose to do with it is your own style (and for many people [eh Monkey] it's just about moving out of the way of a flying object
I just listen to the music... and try to make the patterns fit.
x
Yep Gnor... me likey this forum
I've had very little formal training in either, really.
Three years in Shotokan karate (to brown belt), but that was about 6 years ago now... I guess it did help with stances and body positioning.
No real dance training at all (although, does a couple of years Irish dancing when I was about 5 count?!
)... I watched ALOT of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers growing up, though I think that planting your feet, and balance, are the most important things that can be learned from either discipline and transferred into poi dancing.
Poi is a rhythmic thing. What you choose to do with it is your own style (and for many people [eh Monkey] it's just about moving out of the way of a flying object
I just listen to the music... and try to make the patterns fit.
x
Getting to the other side
GOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
omg does she know that it's about killing portugese?!
Written by: Pyrolific
OMG Brenn - thats what Kate sings all the time when she's happy!
omg does she know that it's about killing portugese?!
Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
GOLD Member
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
Did Tai Chi this morning, and enjoyed myself despite the lack of sleep and early start. I don't think I'll be able to incorporate it into a routine yet though, I'll need a couple more lessons before then.
Did Tai Chi this morning, and enjoyed myself despite the lack of sleep and early start. I don't think I'll be able to incorporate it into a routine yet though, I'll need a couple more lessons before then.
Kupo!
GOLD Member
is a medium/large scary man
420 posts
Location: Victoria, Australia, Earth, Milky Way...
is a medium/large scary man
420 posts
Location: Victoria, Australia, Earth, Milky Way...
Posted:
Can't dance to save my life... But Martial Arts has definitely helped my Staff, poi and various other toys i pick up =P
Can't dance to save my life... But Martial Arts has definitely helped my Staff, poi and various other toys i pick up =P
Contact juggling was invented by dung beetles.
BRONZE Member
newbie
2 posts
Location: Canada
newbie
2 posts
Location: Canada
Posted:
I'm a bellydancer and I started spinning poi so that I could combine the two arts. I am finally getting to the point with the spinning that I can comfortably move around while spinning. Spinning is sooo much fun, I'm so glad I started!
this is me with my sword...no poi in the pic...still trying to figure out how to get good pics while spinning...
Non-Https Image Link
I think this is my first post so HI 2 everyone
I'm a bellydancer and I started spinning poi so that I could combine the two arts. I am finally getting to the point with the spinning that I can comfortably move around while spinning. Spinning is sooo much fun, I'm so glad I started!
this is me with my sword...no poi in the pic...still trying to figure out how to get good pics while spinning...
Non-Https Image Link
I think this is my first post so HI 2 everyone
BRONZE Member
sanguine
382 posts
Location: sur, USA
sanguine
382 posts
Location: sur, USA
Posted:
Nice belt, echogrrrl. I want one like that.
Actually, if you turn your shoulders in that picture more to face the camera, I could picture a butterfly (or threading the needle) with you tossing the left one behind your head. Then you could swing into an Indiginous Wave. (Mexican Wave, really, but....racistas!! Viva Colombia!!)
Nice belt, echogrrrl.
I want one like that.Actually, if you turn your shoulders in that picture more to face the camera, I could picture a butterfly (or threading the needle) with you tossing the left one behind your head. Then you could swing into an Indiginous Wave. (Mexican Wave, really, but....racistas!! Viva Colombia!!)
"to a man whose only tool is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail." Abraham Maslow
newbie
11 posts
11 posts
Posted:
I draw my inspiration from both martial arts and dance, it's kind of like capoiera but with weapons and elements added.
I draw my inspiration from both martial arts and dance, it's kind of like capoiera but with weapons and elements added.
SILVER Member
Your friendly neighbourhood mad scientist
479 posts
Location: Over the hills and far away, United Kingdom
Your friendly neighbourhood mad scientist
479 posts
Location: Over the hills and far away, United Kingdom
Posted:
Hi echogrrrl!
Belly dancing with poi... What a wonderful idea. I bet that would look sweet!
Hi echogrrrl!
Belly dancing with poi... What a wonderful idea. I bet that would look sweet!
"Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art."
--Konstantin Stanislavisky
GOLD Member
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
I've seen belly dancing and contact staff, they work really well together,
I've seen belly dancing and contact staff, they work really well together,
Kupo!
addict
489 posts
Location: Perth
489 posts
Location: Perth
Posted:
I've done some martial arts, but mostly at school.. and not very well. They help w fire sword!!
My nunchucks are more an artistic thing than weapon thing but I can learn more moves from martial arts...
And I've done belly dancing for the last year... I think it helps me a tad with fire fingers, but not with poi at all.
I've done some martial arts, but mostly at school.. and not very well. They help w fire sword!!
My nunchucks are more an artistic thing than weapon thing but I can learn more moves from martial arts...
And I've done belly dancing for the last year... I think it helps me a tad with fire fingers, but not with poi at all.
BRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
Posted:
Any movement training is influential, whether or not we realize it.
I took Tae Kwon Do years ago, and a touch of Capoeira. I've also done Tai Chi, gymnastics, yoga and life rhythms, which definately have found their way into my movement sphere, though my experience with them is *very* limited.
However, I have also formally, and extensively, studied many forms of Bellydance (for 15 years now), Hula, Bhangra/Bollywood, African dance (with emphasis on W. African), Flamenco, and Salsa.
I have found it does a couple things.
When I am choreographing for a performance, it adds alot of depth depending on the song choice. I have a wider range of movement to pull from and that rocks.
However, when I am freestyling (not often) it muddles things up sometimes I think. At least for me. I feel overwhelmed by the choices and end up kind of being low key in my spinning, which isn't bad but it is definately not what people think they will see when I spin.
This might also be a difference in the whole choreograph vs. freestyle thing. I dunno.
Any movement training is influential, whether or not we realize it.
I took Tae Kwon Do years ago, and a touch of Capoeira. I've also done Tai Chi, gymnastics, yoga and life rhythms, which definately have found their way into my movement sphere, though my experience with them is *very* limited.
However, I have also formally, and extensively, studied many forms of Bellydance (for 15 years now), Hula, Bhangra/Bollywood, African dance (with emphasis on W. African), Flamenco, and Salsa.
I have found it does a couple things.
When I am choreographing for a performance, it adds alot of depth depending on the song choice. I have a wider range of movement to pull from and that rocks.
However, when I am freestyling (not often) it muddles things up sometimes I think. At least for me. I feel overwhelmed by the choices and end up kind of being low key in my spinning, which isn't bad but it is definately not what people think they will see when I spin.
This might also be a difference in the whole choreograph vs. freestyle thing. I dunno.
Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
GOLD Member
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
I've seen a difference between freeform twirlers and technical twirlers, with the former more focused on movement and teh latter on advanced techniques.
2 more cents from me!
I've seen a difference between freeform twirlers and technical twirlers, with the former more focused on movement and teh latter on advanced techniques.
2 more cents from me!
Kupo!
BRONZE Member
Checking who's online, watching you!
1,972 posts
Location: somewhere, England (UK)
Checking who's online, watching you!
1,972 posts
Location: somewhere, England (UK)
Posted:
well said
Written by:
Any movement training is influential, whether or not we realize it.
well said
you just lost the game!!!!!! !!!!!
knowledge is power, power corupts, study hard, become evil.
PLATINUM Member
Will carpal your tunnel in a minute.
3,286 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Will carpal your tunnel in a minute.
3,286 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
if it were 3 cents it would be rounded up to 5
if it were 3 cents it would be rounded up to 5
ॐ
Owner of burningoftheclavey
Owned by Lost83spy
GOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
I've trained in different martial arts and dance classes and the biggest influences in my current direction are chinese/brazillian martial arts and asian fan dance.
it has blessed me with a strong base for stability, agility for relaxed technicality / movement, and a strong emphasis on flow.
Alot of Australian twirling pushes the dance, movement angle. I spend more time on movement than i do in technicality, as i believe from feedback professionally and informally that it is my strength.
choice in toys help. i focus on short doubles and fire fans, so flowing movement, graceful throws and acrobatics lend well to these toys
b
I've trained in different martial arts and dance classes and the biggest influences in my current direction are chinese/brazillian martial arts and asian fan dance.
it has blessed me with a strong base for stability, agility for relaxed technicality / movement, and a strong emphasis on flow.
Alot of Australian twirling pushes the dance, movement angle. I spend more time on movement than i do in technicality, as i believe from feedback professionally and informally that it is my strength.
choice in toys help. i focus on short doubles and fire fans, so flowing movement, graceful throws and acrobatics lend well to these toys
b
Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
GOLD Member
newbie
48 posts
Location: Cairns, Australia
newbie
48 posts
Location: Cairns, Australia
Posted:
hi all.
I've always had a bit of a bellydance style since i went to classes for a few years.
i started aikido about 1 year ago and i love that we use staffs and swords.
using a staff in aikido is a totally different technique to how i would usually spin a fire staff. the martial art style spinning does work well for the whole battle thing and its lotsa fun playing at being a fire ninja
i would love a big curved arabic style fire sword, although in aikido you use a samuri sword.
learning aikido has made me more centred and balanced and i now seem to do quite few spins when twirling. aikido is full of them and is called the art of the dynamic sphere.
i would love to try out capoeira and tai chi one day.
hi all.
I've always had a bit of a bellydance style since i went to classes for a few years.
i started aikido about 1 year ago and i love that we use staffs and swords.
using a staff in aikido is a totally different technique to how i would usually spin a fire staff. the martial art style spinning does work well for the whole battle thing and its lotsa fun playing at being a fire ninja
i would love a big curved arabic style fire sword, although in aikido you use a samuri sword.
learning aikido has made me more centred and balanced and i now seem to do quite few spins when twirling. aikido is full of them and is called the art of the dynamic sphere.
i would love to try out capoeira and tai chi one day.
member
53 posts
53 posts
Posted:
Capoiera rocks anyone considering it should go go go!
I have done a dance degree which was heavily influenced by the martial arts I learned as a teenager - kickboxing mainly with some karate.
Capoiera I learned while working with a dance company, who specialised in break dancing (developed from Cap), and merging it with classical ballet, Indian dance, and other traditional dance methods shared by its members.
I agree whole heartedly that balance and sure-footedness are key things carried over into poi.
One thing I find which carries over all three I do better when I'm not trying to concentrate on the moves. If I think about it, it goes wrong!!
Capoiera rocks anyone considering it should go go go!
I have done a dance degree which was heavily influenced by the martial arts I learned as a teenager - kickboxing mainly with some karate.
Capoiera I learned while working with a dance company, who specialised in break dancing (developed from Cap), and merging it with classical ballet, Indian dance, and other traditional dance methods shared by its members.
I agree whole heartedly that balance and sure-footedness are key things carried over into poi.
One thing I find which carries over all three I do better when I'm not trying to concentrate on the moves. If I think about it, it goes wrong!!
If a tree falls in a forest with no one to witness it...do the other trees laugh?
GOLD Member
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Lv15 Ranger
1,489 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
I'm seriously considering taking up Tai Chi or Arnis, or both. any suggestions?
I'm seriously considering taking up Tai Chi or Arnis, or both. any suggestions?
Kupo!
SILVER Member
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Posted:
Tai Chi is much fun. Only done some because my karate sensei has cross-trained so much it is silly, but it is fun to do.
Odd feeling as well compared to Goju-Ryu.
I do not use anything conciously. Probably more from rock-climbing (balancy stuff :P)
Tai Chi is much fun. Only done some because my karate sensei has cross-trained so much it is silly, but it is fun to do.
Odd feeling as well compared to Goju-Ryu.
I do not use anything conciously. Probably more from rock-climbing (balancy stuff :P)
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
SILVER Member
Sacrebleu
377 posts
Location: At the quiet limit, United Kingdom
Sacrebleu
377 posts
Location: At the quiet limit, United Kingdom
Posted:
Tai Chi is very nice. Every bit worth it. I've only learnt the 8 posture Yang style form so far, but it's been sweet
Tai Chi is very nice. Every bit worth it. I've only learnt the 8 posture Yang style form so far, but it's been sweet
Poi(poi~y) n. : A Hawaiian food made from the tuber of the taro that is cooked, pounded to a paste, and fermented.
- part owner of Wooktastic™ ©
newbie
10 posts
Location: Vilnius
10 posts
Location: Vilnius
Posted:
i've studied aikido for several years and other martialarts type things after i quit that. we had staff training twice a week when i trained aikido,i learned a bit of the basic spins then,so that helped me when i started spinning the staff. actually ,besides helping me,for a short while it was also an obstacle ,in a way. i had to readjust my mind a little bit,to understand that these moves can never be used in a "martial arts" way ,as they are inpractical for purposes of fighting.(by that time i had developed a sort of way of thinking which said "if it's impractical and you can't use it in a self defense situation-throw it out and don't do it") ,and i had to deal with that,make peace with that and understand,that i don't even wanna do "practical" or "useful for fighting" things anymore:] maybe i'll write a separate post about that later.
anw,we also had a lot of turns in aikido,but i kinda failed to connect them with spinning and only now,after several months of staff training am beginning to turn and move while i spin,i used to just sorta shuffle in one place:] actually,that's also always been a problem-i can't dance,but when i'm warming up,for example, i can move in a much more fluid and unrestricted way than i do when i spin,dunno why. working on it:]
i've studied aikido for several years and other martialarts type things after i quit that. we had staff training twice a week when i trained aikido,i learned a bit of the basic spins then,so that helped me when i started spinning the staff. actually ,besides helping me,for a short while it was also an obstacle ,in a way. i had to readjust my mind a little bit,to understand that these moves can never be used in a "martial arts" way ,as they are inpractical for purposes of fighting.(by that time i had developed a sort of way of thinking which said "if it's impractical and you can't use it in a self defense situation-throw it out and don't do it") ,and i had to deal with that,make peace with that and understand,that i don't even wanna do "practical" or "useful for fighting" things anymore:] maybe i'll write a separate post about that later.
anw,we also had a lot of turns in aikido,but i kinda failed to connect them with spinning and only now,after several months of staff training am beginning to turn and move while i spin,i used to just sorta shuffle in one place:] actually,that's also always been a problem-i can't dance,but when i'm warming up,for example, i can move in a much more fluid and unrestricted way than i do when i spin,dunno why. working on it:]
SILVER Member
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Posted:
Hmmm.... Valid point. I probably take a lot of my movement (as opposed to spinny stuff) from my training.
Which has elements of aikido in it due to friends.
Hmmm.... Valid point. I probably take a lot of my movement (as opposed to spinny stuff) from my training.
Which has elements of aikido in it due to friends.
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
BRONZE Member
poiromaniac
162 posts
Location: liverpool, uk
poiromaniac
162 posts
Location: liverpool, uk
Posted:
i used to do shotokan karate for almost 8 years (got into the england team wooop!) and im looking for another decent martial art to join in liverpool any style i dont care pm me! but anyways iv noticed that alot of weapons based martial arts have moves pretty similar to poi ones, kali and kung fu both use what is baisically a 3 beat weave with sticks
i used to do shotokan karate for almost 8 years (got into the england team wooop!
) and im looking for another decent martial art to join in liverpool any style i dont care pm me! but anyways iv noticed that alot of weapons based martial arts have moves pretty similar to poi ones, kali and kung fu both use what is baisically a 3 beat weave with sticks GOLD Member
stranger
3 posts
Location: Leiden, Holland
stranger
3 posts
Location: Leiden, Holland
Posted:
i've been doing tai chi for about 4 years now. i think it influenced my poi spinning (i've been doing it since my 14th so basically its my standard way of moving). but it definitly took quite a while before i was possible to really move freely with my poi and develop a bit of style i can call my own.
and yay my first post
so hey to everyone
i've been doing tai chi for about 4 years now. i think it influenced my poi spinning (i've been doing it since my 14th so basically its my standard way of moving). but it definitly took quite a while before i was possible to really move freely with my poi and develop a bit of style i can call my own.
and yay my first post
so hey to everyone © 1998 - 2025 Home of Poi
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