Forums > Beginner Poi Moves > 1handed butterfly

Posted: 8th Jan 2003
single handed butterfly is something that I found came with lots of practice, I still cant do it indefinately but I often find that it helps if I turn my body slightly to compensate if they go slightly out of plane.

as for transitions for cts and corkscrew, they are very closely related to the windmill, which is very easy to put into the middle of a weave turn (at the point where you have turned through 90°)

also if you are doing corkscrew you can quite easily come into a situation where your arms are outstretched to either side of your body, your body should be rotating through 360° fast enough to keep the poi as extensions of your arms. *warning* poi while dizzy can be quite hard/dangerous so dont attempt too many spins! (I think I have managed 6 full rotations before being completely unable to poi but this also depends on speed of rotation!)

from the above you can fairly easily stop rotating and come back into a corkscrew or alternately you could wrap both poi around your waist and come back into 'large circles' (dont know name of move) or corkscrew in the opposite direction.

also I find standing upright from corkscrew will naturally take you into windmill.

Hope this helps.

Mark P

Posted: 8th Jan 2003
To help further with your one handed butterflies. The lighter the piece of equipment the harder the move. I reccomend using socks or fire poi instead of comets. That way you use the equipments own momentum to do the work.

If you are still having problems the movement required is very simple, place both poi into one hand from the butterfly and then, using the momentum of the poi and timing the beats just move your hand up and down.

But as always practise, practise, practise!

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Posted: 8th Jan 2003
I have been doing this for ages and have only just got the one-handed butterfly, so don't panic if you don't get it instantly. And if you do, I will be that jealous

I found using my non-dominant hand, in my case my left, helped. Start with a two handed butterfly and wait until you have got it really stable, with both hands touching (if you could almost clasp them together that is where you need to be). Don't do it too fast.

You are going to need to put both poi into the one hand, without losing the rhythm of the butterfly (that is why it is best to start slow). You have a couple of options. You can use the finger loops, have both of them looped over one hand. You can also just clasp the finger loops of the one poi in your hand.

You need to make sure you maintain the rhythm, but you will notice the action of your hand will change a bit. When you do two-handed butterfly, it is a very straight up and down action, almost no circular or sideways movement. With a onehanded butterfly the action is more like shaking someones hand.

Where you are right now, hold your left hand out in front of you, flat and palm facing down. Now do a seesawing action, first tilt the left side of your hand down, and then then right. Now, every time you tilt the left hand side of your hand down, move your whole hand/forearm downwards (like a big fake theatrical handshake). That is the hand action you are going for.

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Posted: 8th Jan 2003
I have noticed it is easier for me to do one-handed from a reverse butterfly than a standard.I can do it either way but one is easier than the other.Try it,it works for me.

Posted: 8th Jan 2003
I'll go with what Rozi said . But when i do then I've found that haveing the strap lose (between my top two finger's) help's a lot .Changeing over is the hardest part for me .

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Posted: 9th Jan 2003
Well here's my advice.
1) Don't try with tails - it only results in tears of frustration
2) As with a 2 handed butterfly, the trick is keeping one infront of the other (which is why the don't hit normally) If you're using finger loops (and are right handed) try to get the right-hand poi as near to the end of your fingers as possible whilst still being comfortable and in control. Then bring your left hand into a nice tight butterfly and slip your left hand out of the loops. I personally hold the second poi with my thumb of the right-hand. With your right hand fingers fairly open this gives you about an inch-and-a-half difference between the two poi which makes the world of difference.
3) Agree with eveyone else - a reasonable tempo, not too slow mind, and it's an up-down motion.

Hope this helps

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Posted: 9th Jan 2003
I'm not sure if I'm repeating what Durbs is saying but...

The change over is the hardest part keeping the poi going should be easy if you place the poi correctly.

Using the right hand, the RH poi is on my pointer and middle finger as is the other poi in my left hand. Now while doing butterfly, with one fluid motion during one revolution of the poi, place the LH poi straps onto the middle and ring finger of the right hand. This gives enough spacing to continuously (sp?) do one handed poi indefinately.

Up down motion only.

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Posted: 9th Jan 2003
Incidently - this should've been posted in the Poi Moves section...

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Posted: 10th Jan 2003
Hi, thanks alot for the advise. I've taken it all on board and its working a treat. My confidence is up and and I'm back on the road to total world domination through poi! Don't worry, I've written down your names and you will be spared. Thanks again!

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Posted: 10th Jan 2003
Think the one handed question is well answered just like to add that I love transistioning in and out of corkscrews with weaves. When you've practiced enought you can quite easily change the plane of the poi between horizontal and vertical.

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