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Brass monkey
Hi girls! I’ve been recently taught brass monkey from a cross ankle release and I SUCK at it! First it’s so difficult for me to get that leg hooked properly. And second, I can’t for the life of me sit up to a pole sit after that. Of course seeing everyone do it without a problem is super annoying. So…question…how much at the knee pit do you need to grip? Right at the pit or more at the calf? I can’t seem to grip there without leaning very far out and I am deathly afraid of that. And to sit up, any tips on that? Is it just sheer Abs strength? Anyway thanks
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23 Replies
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Firstly, even though it’s extremely frustrating watching everyone around you do something easily while your struggling, try not to be hard on yourself! This is your pole journey! For your own development and enjoyment!! Everyone has things they find harder than others.
For the POC, the pole should be right in the knee pit and resting along the bottom side(hamstring) of that leg! Here’s a link to Veenas gallery photo of the move which I found really helpful while doing this move: https://www.studioveena.com/galleries/view/4f883096-2044-453f-befa-26330ac37250
The sitting up thing is just your core strength, personally I feel if you can’t get out of a move safely you should wait until you can. However once your in the correct position you may find it easier?
Good luck! Hope this kinda made sense! X -
The move is more difficult from a CKR, IMO. I use Itac in my knee pit sometimes if I am having trouble gripping with the knee. It needs to be in there to be secure. Have you tried it from Aysha or Flag mount?
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For sitting up, it is definitely ab strength, but you get to hang on to the pole with your legs for help. If you can sit up from a CAR or CKR, I think you should be able to sit up from a brass monkey. Sometimes it’s just kind scary with this new kind of grip. You have to really really really squeeze your knee pit, and dont forget to also engage the other leg.
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I can definitely sit up from CAR. The thing is that this is taught as part of a choreographed song but it’s been taught so late into the sessions! For me anyway, since I can’t grasp it! Now I have 2 weeks to learn this thing and incorporate it in and it looks like I’m the only one that can’t do it. Anyway enough whining…
How far out do I have to lean my butt in order to hook my leg properly? It always feels like I’m leaning away quite a bit but I can never grip it properly. -
Sitting up from a brass monkey is so much easier than from a CAR (in my opinion) because you have the foot hooked on and it helps to pull you up.
I’m not quite understanding the part about your butt sticking out… Maybe you could post a video of your attempt?
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Hmm… I mean from CAR you have to move your butt to the side of the pole before you can hook your leg right… I can’t seem to be able to move it far out enough to hook at the knee pit rather than say my calf. Maybe it’s just lack of practice.
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How are your hands placed? When I teach this move I have students use a flag grip with the elbow high up as close to the hip as possible. This gives them the mobility to get the hip away from the pole — there’s more play in your upper arm when it’s set high like that. From there I have them keep the top ankle pressed against the pole until their knee hook is secure and stable.
When sitting up from brass monkey, you can help yourself by pushing off the pole at about waist height with your inside hand. 🙂
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I’m bumping up this thread because I need help with the brass monkey from CAR. having trouble hooking that leg. it’s like I am plummeting to the ground before I can get that leg hooked and when I do get it around the pole, it is on my calf. Polergirl, I see you mentioned positioning the hands higher. I need to try that next time. my hands are definitely low.
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Are you grabbing with the hands and arms first? I don’t see how you could fall to the ground unless your hand and arm grip wasn’t strong enough?
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Adding to my earlier post, this might be helpful…work this from the ground to give yourself a chance to sort out hand and leg position. Stand in front of the pole, hold behind waist, feet in back of the pole so you’re holding with thighs, similar to your hold in CAR. Now twist your torso to one direction and get the front of one shoulder to the opposite side of the pole. That’s your flag arm. Pull elbow close to hip and wrap forearm to pole, you’ll see it really seats the pole in your armpit. Other hand goes in handshake grip well above head (so when you’re inverted thumb is down). From here, practice allowing your hips to come to the side of the pole and getting that inside knee hooked securely. If this doesn’t make sense I can film a quick tutorial, just let me know. 🙂
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thank you polergirl for your advice! If you ever feel like videoing it, I would definitely watch it. 🙂 this move frustrates me because I feel like I should be able to get it. I just feel my technique is wrong.
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have you tried it from shoulder mount? I think that might be ‘easier’ than the twist from CAR, if you’re having trouble finding the position. Hmmm
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Cant shoulder mount yet sparrow. 🙁 I’m hoping to have that shoulder mount before the end of the year.
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Oh ok! I did SM way before I ever knew of brass monkey, lol. Ultimately that was good for me, because I could immediately feel how I needed to be.
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When I first learnt a brass monkey, I did if from a flag invert. Now my favourite way is from an extended butterfly and threading my leg through. To first learn the brass monkey, from a CAR is quite difficult… Have you tried the position of the brass monkey from the ground to see what it feels like?
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