Forums > Advanced Poi Moves > "whip catches"

Posted: 25th Jun 2009
I gave a workshop at these at Southern Lights (not sure if you were there?)

I keep meaning to make a tutorial video on them but haven't quite got round to it.

Essentially the key to getting the poi to release is the catch point. This varies with the poi you use, but for me i catch the poi when it's vertical (handle at the bottom), just back from the handle - too near the middle and it tangles.
It's then a pushing/driving motion which keeps the poi spinning and then it releases as your catching poi pushes through it.
Friction, head/handle weight, rotation speed all greatly affect this.

With enough practice you can eliminate a lot of the luck

Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude

Posted: 26th Jun 2009
Durbs: Just as an aside, the couple tuts I have of you are really cool, so please do one for these at some point?

Been trying to get a couple going but so far without success.

'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

Posted: 27th Jun 2009
Awesome, thankyou Durbs,

Sadly I wasn't at Southern Lights, but your post helps a lot, would be good to see a tutorial if you get time to get one done, but the post pretty much coveres the most of it

I have had a couple of attempts at it, and slowly seem to be getting there

Originally Posted By: Durbs I gave a workshop at these at Southern Lights (not sure if you were there?)

I keep meaning to make a tutorial video on them but haven't quite got round to it.

Essentially the key to getting the poi to release is the catch point. This varies with the poi you use, but for me i catch the poi when it's vertical (handle at the bottom), just back from the handle - too near the middle and it tangles.
It's then a pushing/driving motion which keeps the poi spinning and then it releases as your catching poi pushes through it.
Friction, head/handle weight, rotation speed all greatly affect this.

With enough practice you can eliminate a lot of the luck

"We were making castles in the sand: Now we swim in the seas that swept them away"