Forums > Beginner Poi Moves > ideas on excercizes to get my left hand in synch with my right hand
Login/Join to ParticipateBRONZE Member
Member
5 posts
Location: england,uk
Member
5 posts
Location: england,uk
Posted:
my laft hand isnt as supple as my right ...which means it dosent go round enough to make my 3 and 5 beat weave equal on both sides which make it look like i really dont know what im doing when i have been doing it for a week and think ive picked it up really quickly.
has anyone had a similar problem and if so how did you correct it?
cheers poi peeps
love star xxx
my laft hand isnt as supple as my right ...which means it dosent go round enough to make my 3 and 5 beat weave equal on both sides which make it look like i really dont know what im doing when i have been doing it for a week and think ive picked it up really quickly.
has anyone had a similar problem and if so how did you correct it?
cheers poi peeps
love star xxx
BRONZE Member
HOP librarian
1,841 posts
Location: Prague, Czech. Republic
HOP librarian
1,841 posts
Location: Prague, Czech. Republic
Posted:
You are right hander, in this case you need to concentrate more
on your left hand. When spinning try to think of your left and for-
get your right hand. This is called 'leading' or the hand you are
thinking of at the moment.
When you think only of one hand you can correct what the hand
is doing, but don't forget to return to the other that was messing
around during the time.
keep on spinning,
:R
You are right hander, in this case you need to concentrate more
on your left hand. When spinning try to think of your left and for-
get your right hand. This is called 'leading' or the hand you are
thinking of at the moment.
When you think only of one hand you can correct what the hand
is doing, but don't forget to return to the other that was messing
around during the time.
keep on spinning,
:R
POI THEO(R)IST
SILVER Member
enthusiast
360 posts
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
enthusiast
360 posts
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Posted:
I had the opposite problem, desipte being right handed my left wrist was a lot more flexible due to playing guitar. Aswell as what richee says about thinking more about it, I'd say make sure you stretch before & after each practice and spend a bit more time smoothing out the moves where it's a problem but other than that it should just become less noticeable over time.
I had the opposite problem, desipte being right handed my left wrist was a lot more flexible due to playing guitar. Aswell as what richee says about thinking more about it, I'd say make sure you stretch before & after each practice and spend a bit more time smoothing out the moves where it's a problem but other than that it should just become less noticeable over time.
newbie
7 posts
Location: Lancaster
7 posts
Location: Lancaster
Posted:
I have this problem as well.
I have been trying to do all the moves just with my left hand to get it into to line with my right.
I think trying all the new moves first with my right might not have helped the inbalance either.
I have this problem as well.
I have been trying to do all the moves just with my left hand to get it into to line with my right.
I think trying all the new moves first with my right might not have helped the inbalance either.
BRONZE Member
HoP mage and keeper of the fireballs
1,965 posts
Location: Palmerston North, New Zealand
HoP mage and keeper of the fireballs
1,965 posts
Location: Palmerston North, New Zealand
Posted:
Everybody (well almost everybody) has a weak hand and a strong hand I'm afraid.
I am no exception and I am goin to tell you to practice, practice and practice some more.
Yes I know what your thinking
"duh like i hadden't figured that one out"
So Here are some training tips.
1. Practice, this is the key to both timing and plane control.
2. Slow down, if you concentrate on slowing down your moves you will find that timing them is easier.
3. Learn some other moves, don't ask me why but when I move onto a new trick the old ones start to sort themselves out.
Hope that helps
Everybody (well almost everybody) has a weak hand and a strong hand I'm afraid.
I am no exception and I am goin to tell you to practice, practice and practice some more.
Yes I know what your thinking
"duh like i hadden't figured that one out"
So Here are some training tips.
1. Practice, this is the key to both timing and plane control.
2. Slow down, if you concentrate on slowing down your moves you will find that timing them is easier.
3. Learn some other moves, don't ask me why but when I move onto a new trick the old ones start to sort themselves out.
Hope that helps
May my balls of fire set your balls on fire 
BRONZE Member
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Posted:
Especially point number 2.
Especially point number 2.
Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
Posted:
Make the dodgy timing a feature and talk about polyrythyms and timing.
It can help to practice with something that isnt going to tangle and confuse you. Like washing machine hoses or those whistling tubes or bits of hose. A little bit of flex but wont tangle. Helps for teaching the 3bt weave as well.
Make the dodgy timing a feature and talk about polyrythyms and timing.
It can help to practice with something that isnt going to tangle and confuse you. Like washing machine hoses or those whistling tubes or bits of hose. A little bit of flex but wont tangle. Helps for teaching the 3bt weave as well.
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Im in a lonely battle with the world with a fish to match the chip on my shoulder. Gnu in Binnu in a cnu
SILVER Member
newbie
7 posts
Location: Dallas, TX, USA
newbie
7 posts
Location: Dallas, TX, USA
Posted:
I've been spinning for four years now and I still have this problem with the 3 beat weave. Psh, I still have this problem just spinning reverse split time.
It usually happens if I'm not focused on what I'm doing, and it evens out quick once I notice it. So it helps me if I'm spinning with someone who can tell me when I'm off beat.
Other than that... contact juggling isolations helped with my wrists. And sometimes I just play around and spin one poi with my left hand.
I've been spinning for four years now and I still have this problem with the 3 beat weave. Psh, I still have this problem just spinning reverse split time.
It usually happens if I'm not focused on what I'm doing, and it evens out quick once I notice it. So it helps me if I'm spinning with someone who can tell me when I'm off beat.
Other than that... contact juggling isolations helped with my wrists. And sometimes I just play around and spin one poi with my left hand.
SILVER Member
there's no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness
3,764 posts
Location: limbo, Australia
there's no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness
3,764 posts
Location: limbo, Australia
Posted:
I'll second this... I suck at poi, but this has helped me greatly with doubles staves; working one staff at a time.
and, although I don't do it nearly enough, you should work your weak hand more than the strong one... I can't remember where I saw it, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest that working a skill with your weak hand (or foot or whatever) will have far greater transference to the strong, than the reverse... that is, you working your left hand alone, will increase your skill with the right, auto-magickally.
Written by :Richee
You are right hander, in this case you need to concentrate more on your left hand. When spinning try to think of your left and forget your right hand. This is called 'leading' or the hand you are thinking of at the moment.
When you think only of one hand you can correct what the hand is doing, but don't forget to return to the other that was messing around during the time.
I'll second this... I suck at poi, but this has helped me greatly with doubles staves; working one staff at a time.
and, although I don't do it nearly enough, you should work your weak hand more than the strong one... I can't remember where I saw it, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest that working a skill with your weak hand (or foot or whatever) will have far greater transference to the strong, than the reverse... that is, you working your left hand alone, will increase your skill with the right, auto-magickally.
--pogo (pat) [forever and always]
BRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom
Posted:
learning to juggle helped me get my hands coordinated
learning to juggle helped me get my hands coordinated
A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.
GOLD Member
Teacher, Dancer, Artist, and General Smartass
149 posts
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Teacher, Dancer, Artist, and General Smartass
149 posts
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Posted:
I took up double staff recently and it's really made it clear how off-kilter my left hand is. My strategy (both with poi and now with staff) is to practice moves meticulously with the weak hand. It allows you to focus more on your weak hand (ha, duh), it will help you find the muscles necessary to make "clean" moves (I found new muscles yesterday with the doubles... ow). It's a little monotonous, but there's really something to be said for getting it into muscle memory.
There are stretches and things you can do to supple-ize (yeah, I said it) your wrists and work on strength. for example, isometrics (stretching/pushing your hands against one another for resistance) and elastic bands (or light weights) if you can find them. I did some physical therapy for my wrists and my doctor gave me a couple elastic bands, they offer a nice, light, variable resistance. PM me and I can describe the exercises he had me do, if you want.
I took up double staff recently and it's really made it clear how off-kilter my left hand is. My strategy (both with poi and now with staff) is to practice moves meticulously with the weak hand. It allows you to focus more on your weak hand (ha, duh), it will help you find the muscles necessary to make "clean" moves (I found new muscles yesterday with the doubles... ow). It's a little monotonous, but there's really something to be said for getting it into muscle memory.
There are stretches and things you can do to supple-ize (yeah, I said it) your wrists and work on strength. for example, isometrics (stretching/pushing your hands against one another for resistance) and elastic bands (or light weights) if you can find them. I did some physical therapy for my wrists and my doctor gave me a couple elastic bands, they offer a nice, light, variable resistance. PM me and I can describe the exercises he had me do, if you want.
SILVER Member
there's no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness
3,764 posts
Location: limbo, Australia
there's no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness
3,764 posts
Location: limbo, Australia
Posted:
I've got a bit of an amateur interest in this subject, so I went on a bit of a hunt. there is a *fabulous* article and some subsequent discussion on the transfer of learned motor skills on juggling.org:
learning both left and right - terry jones
reading through the article and particularly, david naylor's response, uncovered the term "transfer of learning"; throw that and motor skills into google and you will return a massive amount of information, including a good deal of scientific research, into the subject.
I've got a bit of an amateur interest in this subject, so I went on a bit of a hunt. there is a *fabulous* article and some subsequent discussion on the transfer of learned motor skills on juggling.org:
learning both left and right - terry jones
reading through the article and particularly, david naylor's response, uncovered the term "transfer of learning"; throw that and motor skills into google and you will return a massive amount of information, including a good deal of scientific research, into the subject.
--pogo (pat) [forever and always]
SILVER Member
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom
Posted:
just practice with your left hand on its own so it knows what its doing!
just practice with your left hand on its own so it knows what its doing!
Hoppers are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
newbie
23 posts
Location: Canada
23 posts
Location: Canada
Posted:
Hi Star,
had the same problem and one thing that I found a big help was to focus on the fingers that were holding the poi handles. I tried focusing on my wrist at first, but my planes and rhythm were still wonky.
What I did was to concentrate on the top of poi handles and imagine that I was tracing my circles with them. I know it will sound stupid, but I'd never realized that my hand was facing up for half the (in plane) circle and then facing down for the other half of the circle. The wrist motion is just the flipping from one to the other, so focusing on the wrist was doing me no good whatsoever.
Try holding a pencil upright betwen your index and middle finger with the eraser up. Then trace a circle in the air with the eraser. See how the top of your knuckles is facing completely up for half the circle and then completely facing down for the other half? Repeat with poi. I swear to God, this is the only thing that has helped me get my planes straight and my hands in synch (by doing the exact same motion on both sides).
Using heavier poi (180 grams) also helped bc it afforded more control until problem was resolved.
Still working on the muscle stamina though... *g*
HTH some.
Hi Star,
had the same problem and one thing that I found a big help was to focus on the fingers that were holding the poi handles. I tried focusing on my wrist at first, but my planes and rhythm were still wonky.
What I did was to concentrate on the top of poi handles and imagine that I was tracing my circles with them. I know it will sound stupid, but I'd never realized that my hand was facing up for half the (in plane) circle and then facing down for the other half of the circle. The wrist motion is just the flipping from one to the other, so focusing on the wrist was doing me no good whatsoever.
Try holding a pencil upright betwen your index and middle finger with the eraser up. Then trace a circle in the air with the eraser. See how the top of your knuckles is facing completely up for half the circle and then completely facing down for the other half? Repeat with poi. I swear to God, this is the only thing that has helped me get my planes straight and my hands in synch (by doing the exact same motion on both sides).
Using heavier poi (180 grams) also helped bc it afforded more control until problem was resolved.
Still working on the muscle stamina though... *g*
HTH some.
Duct tape is like the Force: it has a light side, a dark side, and it hold the universe together.
member
72 posts
Location: Salisbury
72 posts
Location: Salisbury
Posted:
i find that i only learn a trick with both hands fully if i learn it backwards too
so my forwards weave was sloppy until i learnt the backwards weave for example. when you have had to break a move down again for a second time to learn it backwards, it often drills it into you and you get better at it the other way
but then, maybe thats just me!
i find that i only learn a trick with both hands fully if i learn it backwards too
so my forwards weave was sloppy until i learnt the backwards weave for example. when you have had to break a move down again for a second time to learn it backwards, it often drills it into you and you get better at it the other way
but then, maybe thats just me!
pyromania pixie power!
GOLD Member
enthusiast
378 posts
Location: NSW, Australia
enthusiast
378 posts
Location: NSW, Australia
Posted:
I'm very new to poi but with dance something that helps me is to practice any set with the weak side, then with the strong one, then back to the weak one. So you end up doing twice the reps with the weak side and get some cross patterning from the strong side.
Written by :Pogo69
I can't remember where I saw it, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest that working a skill with your weak hand (or foot or whatever) will have far greater transference to the strong, than the reverse... that is, you working your left hand alone, will increase your skill with the right, auto-magickally.
I'm very new to poi but with dance something that helps me is to practice any set with the weak side, then with the strong one, then back to the weak one. So you end up doing twice the reps with the weak side and get some cross patterning from the strong side.
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