caterpillar up

carriej started this discussion · 12/7/2009

I know that there have been several posts on doing the caterpillar up the pole and I realize it's just something I have to practice until I get it. For now my legs seem glued to the pole. Maybe this is a silly question but when everyone else was learning how many attempts did you try per practice session? I have gotten other difficult moves in just a couple of practices but this one is taking more time and I want to dedicate a few tries to each session. Maybe 10 or 15 tries per practice?

7 replies

azriel · 12/7/2009
That's exactly how i felt too when learning this- as if my leg muscles just didn't know how to relax & move up the pole. 😠 I too was able to get other more difficult moves quicker than this. 🙄 I think one reason for this is that you're now asking your body to do something it's never done before (ie. rely mostly on arms while inverted!). Other moves, such as the straight edge, may come alot more quickly after you've gotten the aysha, for example, because your body has already learned to hold & balance itself without relying on your legs. 😉 I don't know how many times per session i practiced this.. i probably kept trying till i got annoyed or worn out, but not so worn out that i couldn't do anything else. 😀 I'd say focus on your arm positioning, making sure you find the most secure grip. The "magic finger" trick really helped me for this move (as well as for aysha & straight edge): On your bottom hand, let your pointer finger point straight down towards the floor, while the rest of your fingers are wrapped normally around the pole. 😛 Are you using forearm or elbow grip?
carriej · 12/7/2009
I'm trying forearm. I got further than ever tonight by pretty much just working on this move over and over and actually slid my legs up once! I think you're right, once I nail the caterpillar I think I'll be able to move on kinda quickly (and safely). Thanks for the magic finger tip. I'm about to try it, never heard of it before. When you use the forearm grip, does your hand turn as far as it can inward and do you also use skin on the bicep?
carriej · 12/7/2009
Yay, yay, yay! So, I put on a great song, wiped the pole down, washed my hands with dish soap, pointed my magic finger and GOT IT (kinda)! 😮 Now, if anyone else had seen it, they would have seen my legs move up the pole ummm about six inches but hey, at least I'm not superglued to the pole. No way I could go up more than one time though. I'll have to keep with it and go back through the posts in previous caterpillar forums to see which grip folks prefer. Maybe I'll get some hints there too. Why is it so funny to me that the positioning of one finger can mean the difference between getting a move and not? 🤔 🙄 It always helps me to talk out the moves with you all! Thanks!!
Veena · 12/7/2009
Good job Carrie..and lots of move making a small change can make a HUGE difference, the grip Azriel was telling you about is better for you to use too!! LOL Azriel..I am right in the middle of editing a lessons where I talk about proper grip technique...but I don't have a cool name for it like "magic finger" 😂 love it.
Mary Ellyn · 12/8/2009
One of the girls I know in the UK has had "it's all about the magic finger" in her signature for a long time....I don't know why but I originally thought she was talking about the same thing that some guys do when they say "pull my finger" until I asked her about it once! LOL
SissyBuns · 12/8/2009
OMG I've been a big caterpillar failure for ever! I'm going to try this 'magic" finger tonight!
Veena · 12/8/2009
I had toyed with calling it the "gun grip" but didn't...I just say you should do it this way... 😂 😂 😂