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straight edge
iv been pole dancing for 4 months now and im very comfortable with inverts. i feel like i need to learn some new moves cause in my videos all u see me doing is the sorpio gemini and inverted crucifix. i want to learn the brass monkey and aysha but i dont know if im ready. In a week i’ll be done with my finals and i’ll have lots of time to practice and one of my goals is to learn the straight edge cause if u can do that then u can do almost anything. i need some advice as to how to go about it. maybe theres a trick that i am not aware of that will help me with the straight edge.
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25 Replies
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I totally know that feeling of "being stuck" with the same moves. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif I’d suggest that you don’t start off with the straight edge as your next move though. The aysha (straight edge split) is easier to balance for most people. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
Can you caterpillar climb up the pole? If not, you should work on that first, since if you can’t climb, it probably means you’re not comfortable removing your legs from the pole yet, & the climb is the safest/easiest way to learn/gain the strength to do so.
So from my personal experience (& it think this is logical), here’s the order in which i think it’s best to proceed: Caterpillar, caterpillar climb, aysha, straight edge, & then brass monkey (unless you can invert directly into it).
If you can already caterpillar climb, then just disregard this & sorry it wasn’t much help!! good luck!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif -
Hey wanders! I agree with the last post. I can’t yet caterpillar climb and it’s exactly right that I don’t feel good enough yet to let go with my legs so I haven’t done a regular aysha yet. I’m trying to think of the next moves for you … maybe a butterfly and extended butterfly an iguana mount and a superman (unless you’ve already got those!!) I also recently got a reverse aysha so maybe you could go that way.
Next step for me…learn to caterpillar climb so I can start to leg go with my legs some!!
Happy poling! -
thank u so much for the advice! both of u make a good point to learn the caterpillar first. personally i dont like the caterpillar but u guys are right before i can move on to more advanced moves i will have to get comfortable with it. i will practice the caterpillar everyday to strengthen my back i just cant wait to get the brass monkey cause it looks so impressive!
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I agree with the above posts, you cannot execute any of the moves without the strength to caterpillar climb.
PLEASE use a crash pad or spotter (or both). My worst pole injury was me falling off the pole when I was learning this. I was so psyched that I did it about 3 times in a row….well by the last time my arms had fatigued and when I let me legs off the pole I came crashing down. Luckily I turned and fell on my shoulder or I probably would have ended up in the hospital.
What about working on headstands/handstands? I found that these helped me A LOT with the core strength and balance needed to get the straight edge.
Even though I have a full arsenal of "tricks" most of my poling is transitions and spins with a few inverts thrown in for dazzle.
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I totally know that feeling of "being stuck" with the same moves. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif I’d suggest that you don’t start off with the straight edge as your next move though. The aysha (straight edge split) is easier to balance for most people. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
Can you caterpillar climb up the pole? If not, you should work on that first, since if you can’t climb, it probably means you’re not comfortable removing your legs from the pole yet, & the climb is the safest/easiest way to learn/gain the strength to do so.
So from my personal experience (& it think this is logical), here’s the order in which i think it’s best to proceed: Caterpillar, caterpillar climb, aysha, straight edge, & then brass monkey (unless you can invert directly into it).
If you can already caterpillar climb, then just disregard this & sorry it wasn’t much help!! good luck!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif
that was exactly the order in which i’ve learned those moves as well. i’m still working on the split grip ayesha though– i do it with elbow or forearm grip. i’ve been following the tips of people on youtube and this board in working up to my split grip ayesha.i’m not sure if you’re interested, but i think it’s also really important to work on spins and transitions aroudn the pole. i take classes in a couple different places, and sometimes you see women who are very athletic and can do the tough tricks but they are not graceful, they aren’t dancing, and they are just doing trick after trick. i find that the women who have it all are the ones i find inspiring and beautiful to watch, and from what i’ve seen, that grace takes quite a while to develop.
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I’m a big wierdo man. I’m learning things all out of order.
I can do a straight edge, aysha (both split grip) and reverse aysha but I can NOT caterpillar to save my life!
I don’t know what it is.I try to push up and then I freeze LOL. I’ve been working on this move since I started inverting months ago and just can’t get it LOL. WTH! -
I’m a big wierdo man. I’m learning things all out of order.
I can do a straight edge, aysha (both split grip) and reverse aysha but I can NOT caterpillar to save my life!
I don’t know what it is.I try to push up and then I freeze LOL. I’ve been working on this move since I started inverting months ago and just can’t get it LOL. WTH!I’m with you on this one SissyBuns. I can do all the split grip stuff, but ask me to do a forearm or elbow grip or the caterpillar climb and I’m screwed. I found the split grip easier because you don’t have to do the caterpillar malarky to get into it like you seem to have to do with the other grips, you can just go into it from an inverted crucifix leg hold type thing https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Mind you, it did take me a good few months (not constantly) of practice to get the split grip and I now find it easier to go into the jack-knife then I can move from there into ayesha and then straight edge. Just keep trying and you will find the one which suits you best eventually. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
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I’m a big wierdo man. I’m learning things all out of order.
I can do a straight edge, aysha (both split grip) and reverse aysha but I can NOT caterpillar to save my life!
I don’t know what it is.I try to push up and then I freeze LOL. I’ve been working on this move since I started inverting months ago and just can’t get it LOL. WTH!I’m with you on this one SissyBuns. I can do all the split grip stuff, but ask me to do a forearm or elbow grip or the caterpillar climb and I’m screwed. I found the split grip easier because you don’t have to do the caterpillar malarky to get into it like you seem to have to do with the other grips, you can just go into it from an inverted crucifix leg hold type thing https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Mind you, it did take me a good few months (not constantly) of practice to get the split grip and I now find it easier to go into the jack-knife then I can move from there into ayesha and then straight edge. Just keep trying and you will find the one which suits you best eventually. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
I need to start working on the other grips. I’m very comfortable with split grip and I think it’s exactly because of the reason you put. Since I can’t caterpillar I’m not able to do the other grips, so split grip is the only option that makes sense LOL.
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You might want to try the chinese grip for your straight edge. While it still takes strength it doesn’t require as much arm strength as the forearm grip.
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You might want to try the chinese grip for your straight edge. While it still takes strength it doesn’t require as much arm strength as the forearm grip.
What is the chinese grip?? I just learned forearm & elbow aysha (not completely comfortably/confidently yet), and am working up to split grip.
Also, Wanders, for me practicing the caterpillar climb before the aysha helped me get the forearm grip first because you use it to climb (or I guess elbow too, but I find the forearm easier in the caterpillar climb). Then when you start trying aysha you are already familiar w/ the grip. Hope that helps!
Oh, also, I worked on lunchbox and bow & arrow in between where you’re at and starting aysha…
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The Chinese grip is a wide split grip with both arms relatively straight but the top hand is in a thumb-down cupped grip hold. (do not wrap the thumb on the top hand)
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Wanders — If you are comfortable w/ crossed ankle release, you can "cheat" and get brass monkey. Here’s a video where I was playing with it. Note: I didn’t actually GET the brass monkey in that clip, but you can see the way you get into it.
http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/1390
Veena does it beautifully in one of her dances. Sooo sorry I can’t remember which one!!
Mindy
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i got my brass monkey from the floor, i get into a handstand then hook in for my brass monkey…to get the feeling, so you could try that. Im working on my SG straight edge bc i have my ext butterfly super easy now from catrwheel mount, but like everyone said they all suggest caterpillar FIRST…sooo im working on that (not doing very well haha). When i was stuck with those moves you are, i learned butterfly, and ext butterfly, plank, iguana, and practiced superman from the ground too. I want my straight edge so bad…like u said, BIG building move there =) good luck!!!
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All I can say for now is: Crazy a** caterpillar climb! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif
I just learned to do a couple of crappy ones in a row on one side. That’s about it.
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Hi folks!
All this talk of caterpillar and the trouble it poses made me wonder if some talk of technique might be helpful, so I wanted to share the method I use for the climbing caterpillar. This is not the only way to perform this move, and it’s not necessarily the right way, it is only a way to do it.
So the way I perform this move is that I get into inverted crucifix position, put both my hands on the pole near one-another with thumbs facing down and push out from the pole, not up. After pushing myself out, then I begin pushing up while simultaneously pulling up with the thighs. My biggest problem learning this move was that I wanted to push upward first, not realising that this move wasn’t exclusively a matter of shoulder strength, but that it engages the whole body, distributing its weight among various muscle groups working together. So after I have pushed out, and then elevated so that my chest is near the pole and my bum is sticking out, I use the elbow grip to let go of the pole with my legs, and move them to a higher position, so that I am in inverted crucifix position again and ready to push out from the pole a second time to repeat the process.
For myself, I will share that the key that unlocked the upper body strength moves for me was the cartwheel mount handspring. After I got that move, then I had enough confidence to hold myself away from the pole upside-down in other positions, like Aysha and Straight Edge. Personally, I like the split grip and the twisted grip for performing Aysha and Straight Edge on a static pole, because the "wow factor" is a little higher for these, and they allow you to move with a little more control and freedom. I do, however, like to use the elbow grip to do a grossly extended Aysha where my back and hips are level with the floor. And I will use ONLY the elbow grip for Ayshas on the spinning pole, because otherwise I fear losing my top bracket throwing myself right off of the pole, or not being strong enough to keep balanced.
Last, I wanted to address overhand grips which were talked about in this thread. These are grips where the top bracket has the thumb pointed downward. Maybe there are others who find these grips, such as the "true grip" (both thumbs down) and the "Chinese Grip" (both thumbs facing each other) easier than myself, but I think these are the most unstable and physically taxing grips possible. Try a cartwheel mount handspring with the overhand grip and you might understand. My experience with those grips is that I can get myself up, but I have to be mentally prepared to make an impromptu landing, because otherwise, I will fall. If a grip is needed that requires less physical exertion, the elbow and forearm grips are great for that. But still, working for these moves in split and twisted grips is a worthy goal with a big payoff!
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