[Koidragon]

I would suggest both, but if your school keep cancelling, that makes it difficult. I personally need classes because I am prone to using 'brute strength and willpower' to get myself into a difficult move/set of moves, but may not be engaging properly (and have done damage to myself because of this). Also having a spotter for some of the more scary moves, as Chem said, especially in the beginning, is very helpful.

Mind you, learning on your own is also incredibly important for advancement – whether it be in open studio practice or on your own pole at home. And the lessons here are incredibly well structured. What you could do, is do the home lessons, then perhaps once a fortnight, go to a studio and have someone check your engagement and progress. Unfortunately it is difficult when a studio of any sort has to cancel classes due to lack of numbers – perhaps find out what their minimum is, and rope some friends into going? (easier said than done I know).

[Koidragon]

Figure head is a great 'breather' move to give yourself a chance to slow your routine down. You can teddy or invert as suggested from it, which opens up lots of options, but because your arms are right there, you can twist to then face the pole and go into anything that your heart desires.

[Koidragon]

I agree very much with Chem on this one – I have been an instructor for years (just not pole) and what I do is give my 'rules' at the beginning of my classes – especially if I have new students. My rules are things like; while I am talking, please pay attention to me and me alone; if you are having trouble please ask me, I am here to give you my expertise; if you are tired from a technique and need to take a break for gossip, do it while working on something else – you are only cheating yourself; please do not show other people what to do unless I have given you express permission to do so (and those of you know who you are) as what I am teaching has a lot of idiosyncrasies to it and to miss some out may result in injury… etc. And then with this, I do over time, choose those students who I know understand the mechanics of something, and I have shown them privately how to teach that one thing, to help with others having trouble-  for the exact reason that Chem said (different people learn from different techniques) but also, the amount you learn from teaching is quite amazing as well. Giving verbal permission to a select few to show/help with a small number of things may help keep the advanced students on 'topic' (you would be amazed how people are suddenly more respectful when they are given even a tiny piece of authority), but also, you are making it clear that those without your permission are absolutely not to show things.

Just a thought, it has worked for me 🙂

[Koidragon]

Oh and geez Ninja, how DARE you leave your dojo. don't you realise they are meant to own you for life?

I tell you what though – for those who think the pole community has drama – go check out a MA forum. It gets very very ugly.

This is nice here. I like it here. 🙂

[Koidragon]

Don't get me wrong – there are plenty of MA school that do not condone that sort of behaviour, and there is an emphasis on respect for both the chosen dojo/school, and for fellow practitioners. However for every 1 of these, there are 3 that think there is a need to 'prove' their mightiness.

When I was at my muay thai/eskrima studio, we had 'visitors' from karate, judo, taekwondo, various kung fu's and a few of the kick boxing boys come through to 'test' us. When I was at my Wing Chun (kung fu) school, we had the same – although my Sifu was such a frightening little nugget of a man that most would end up coming back to train with him – some in private only so as not to 'ruffle' the feathers of their home schools. Crazy stuff.

The other side of it (devil's advocate) is that for some instructors, they feel it is a huge slight to them for a student to come to them for training, take their expertise, their knowledge and then go somewhere else. Some feel it is about loyalty – I am not saying I agree, just that I understand the mindset. I know my muay thai Guru would get very upset when he would put in so much effort to train someone for competitions, really give them the inside knowledge of his years of experience, and then they would just quit because their lives changed – which is utterly understandable that they should do that, but he would still feel hurt.

For this reason, if I were to want to go elsewhere to train for some reason, whether as a traveller or for a workshop, I would have a conversation first with my studio. Not because I think they would mind, I know they wouldn't – and not that if they did, it would change my actions – but rather out of respect to my 'teacher'. I would want them to be a part of my progress and my training. Mind you, I wouldn't necessarily expect others to do this – it is years of MA conditioning that makes this something I would do 🙂

[Koidragon]

There is this one too –

http://verticalswag.com/

 

[Koidragon]

Ninja… wait.. you mean it wasn't? Mr Miagi isn't real?? NOOOOOOOO

 

[Koidragon]

I get the whole slippery shoulder mount thing too – what works best for me is standing in front of a fan to cool the skin (close the pores?) and then using the back of my hand putting some cheap shaving cream on (just a little). This seems to last quite a while.

Same with dry hands – I find it last a lot longer if I wash my hands in cold water and soap, then dry with a towel right before applying it.

[Koidragon]

I agree with a lot of what others have posted – and this is an age-old issue on the martial arts world – at least in the pole community you don't have students turning up to other studios to try and beat up the instructors… Mt muay thai instructor closed his studio and began to teach only from home because he got sick of fighting the new karate studio kids wanting to try and take the 'top dog' down.

Alas, politics comes into play in most communities – and unfortunately it can be very difficult to avoid, and for those who are lucky enough to be in a very welcoming interconnected group, difficult to understand what you are going through. Of course it shouldn't be this way, I utterly agree that we should all be one big fabulous upside down loving family.

I would agree, whilst I love my studio, if I ended up in a place where I couldn't pole in a studio (due to politics or availability), the passion for the style is still a part of my life, and I would pole purely at home, and perhaps start a movement of street polers, taking on those pesky parkour kids (joking – I was one of those at one point). I know it is disheartening, but the internet has made the world a very small and accessible place – you have a pole community here, ready to train with you and support your progress.

[Koidragon]

Oops – I meant to mention the ones I wear are 'sort of' like the yoga ones Chem linked to 🙂

[Koidragon]

I have tendonitis in both wrists so wear wraps/guards almost all the time I pole. They may or may not really do a lot (some do, some don't) other than make you conscious of being careful of your wrists – which is enough for me, and I have seen an improvement. A lot of twisted grip is out, or I need to be really warm in the wrists (lots of wrist exercises). Also, consider doing baths for your wrists in the morning – it will help with inflammation. Ie, get two buckets, dip your arms up to the elbows in very cold water for 30 second, then warm/hot water (not so it scalds) for 3 minutes, repeat 3 times. I am sure it doesn't work for everyone, but it has helped me.

I actually use wrist supports that I picked up from my local chemist/drug store – they work well, but I am going to try out the strength guards next as I think they will last longer as sweat deteriorates the ones I use.

As well as the ones Chem listed, there are also a lot of weight lifter oriented ones which are more a band rather than a wrap.

A lot of people I know also just use good old tape 🙂

[Koidragon]

I second Chem and Veena – without extended butterfly (although it may be taught under a different name) or things like caterpillar climb, it is very unlikely you will know how to engage properly to either actually get the move, or to avoid injury trying.

[Koidragon]

Veena – I watched your video and just wanted to say that you are an absolute wonder. Your openness and courage gives you a strength that is all of your own, and utterly tangible.

[Koidragon]

I have curves and also have a long torso, so need coverage – my favourite shorts are by far by onzie, their tops run small, but shorts come in a tonne of designs and fit really well. They aren't cheap either, but they really feel nice to wear. I don't know if they sell to the uk… but there are very cheap 'mediators' who will purchase things for you from the US (using a US address) for a nominal fee, and then ship them to you – I used this a lot in Australia and they work really well, especially for smaller packages.

I do like mika wear for tops, but generally stick with either shock absorber or lululemon for their support. I have an ample chest, so am happy to pay the money for well designed tops which give me freedom of movement.

[Koidragon]

I use both brass and chrome poles (I definitely grip better on brass). It will depend on why you are slipping – from sweat or from dry skin.

When I am particularly slippery, I use good old soap and water to wash my hands and then a little bit of dry hands. For my body I use regular, no added stuff (like aloe vera) shaving cream. Just make sure you apply it with the back of your hand and not your palms – you only need a tiny bit. Works incredibly well, on both static and spinning. I have converted a lot of my class to it.