[Kyrsten]

The forward/Chinese grip I described is the one in the video Elektra linked. I really don't know the technical name for it, I usualyly just call it a forward grip but I've seen it called a Chinese grip. You can see me do a whole bunch of them here at :25 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXZp-MWXN-s

So.. is that a Chinese grip or not? LOL. I just have a miniature heart attack every time I see someone doing cup grip, I don't know. Not for me.

Generally I use that grip if I'm mounting up and the Veena grip if I'm dismounting.

[Kyrsten]

I think, aesthetically, the cup grip looks the nicest… but it scares the bejesus out of me. It's how I learned the SM and even though I can do it just fine that way and I haven't fallen out of it or anything, I just feel so unsecure without a hand wrapped around the pole! There's always a split second when I'm up there that I can just envision falling right on my neck. It's better on a smaller diameter pole, but I'm still not a fan. I work on it just because I think it looks the nicest though. It also hurts my shoulder a lot more than other grips.

I seem to be in the minority here but my favorite grip is the forward/Chinese grip, where both hands are in front of the pole. I also like the Veena grip a lot. I switch between the two.

I've also been working on the elbow grip, which I REALLY like until I actually get hips over head, and then it's kind of the same "oh sh–" panic as I get with the cup grip…

[Kyrsten]

I can't answer for overtraining, but I would do once a week for the first few weeks and then gradually upped it… first two times a week, then I got my own pole and it was like every other day. Now I teach 3 consecutive days and also pole for myself on those days. I'm kind of beat up by the last day, but I take a break from exercise for the next day or two.

I gained strength very quickly, but as for tone… I look pretty much the same as when I started lol. Even though I'm a million times stronger. My back and shoulders are more muscular but that's about it. I've never built muscle easily. It seems like some people get ripped just looking at a dumbbell and people like me who can work out every day and not see much difference lol. I think it has a lot to do with your body type.

[Kyrsten]

I did have a 50 in the beginning, but I've progressed a LOT since then and I'm at a pretty advanced level now. I really don't recall it being difficult, but again, back then I was pretty much only doing spins and gemini/scorpio.

I'm going to buy it… I hope it will be easy to set up because I'll have to take it down when I'm not playing with it. Now I have to clean my room so I can put it up… LOL. That was the best thing about having a pole in my room, incentive to keep it clean 😛 Thanks everyone.

[Kyrsten]

I find it helpful to grip really high with my elbow, trying to get it close to my knees. I push up into a caterpillar and hook that elbow as high up as I can, and like trickivix said, arm angled toward the floor. From there, really squeeze and PULL with that elbow.

[Kyrsten]

And I will echo that whether side or middle is easier just depends on the person… I have a friend who got center/box splits with very little effort but she had to work quite a bit at her side splits.

[Kyrsten]

I don't stretch consistently, maybe once a week. But side splits came easy… I was able to do them when I was younger so I suppose that helped. Maybe three months to get my right split and I'm not far off on the left. 

"Square" splits are knee facing down, right? That's how I do mine. I was always instructed to turn the knee out but that hurts for me… my jade split is awful urghhh

My middle splits are freaking HOPELESS. I'm at least a foot away lol and they just don't seem to budge at all. It just freaking hurts and I hate working on them and I doubt I'll ever be able to do them because I hate stretching for them so much.

[Kyrsten]

Yeah, I'm 5'2" and really petite, but my fingers are super long and skinny so they almost touch on a 50… I can do elbow grip ayshas on my friends 50mm, but I'm not sure if split grip would work… My main concern is really things like allegra, but I guess if it's a problem I can just not do stuff where I have to wrap my body lol.

I guess I'll buy it… if nothing else, my grip strength will improve and if I totally hate it I'll sell it to someone else, lol. That PRICE is just calling me…

[Kyrsten]

I agree, depends on what level of class you're going to! I usually see beginners wearing tanks/tees and athletic shorts or yoga pants… once girls get up to intermediate you see a lot of short shorts and tanks hiked up for side grip as needed, and then once you hit advanced everyone's in little shorts and sports bras, lol. But yeah, I generally come in a few layers and peel off as necessary.

Victoria's Secret yoga shorts seems reeeeeally popular with everyone if you wanna go with something safe… they're short enough to where you can pole in them, but have enough coverage that you can wear them in public without feeling inappropriate, lol.

[Kyrsten]

I spend too much time on the pole to workout other ways lol… I teach 3 days in a row so I'm usually pretty burned out on strength by then…

 When I can, I like to take a pilates or kettlebell class and I try to get to the gym to get on the treadmill every now and then. Now that it's getting warm outside I'll probably be jogging outside much more often. I like conditioning with simple bodyweight exercises at home also.

[Kyrsten]

Thanks for the tips PoleFitMom! I'll have my sister here, maybe she can help lol.

Also, I bought a couple packs of screws from Home Depot in various sizes… one of them actually fits PERFECT, so now I think I'll go and buy another pack as backup and jus thave an endless supply of them lol. They're 10-32 screws, 1" long, in case anyone else searches this in the future.

[Kyrsten]

Hmm, ok. That was my first thought but I since the PS pins have little holes in them, I thought maybe there was some extra mechanism in there to lock and it wouldn't work. I'll stop by and see if I can't find ones that look the right size. It doesn't need to be perfect, just for this one session. Thanks!

[Kyrsten]

I did sell it, sorry! Just for reference, though, the package ended up being 24 lbs and the shipping was about 30 dollars from Michigan to New York via UPS, so the shipping prices are pretty reasonable on them if you're looking to buy used from somewhere else.

[Kyrsten]

Whenever I got into any kind of inverted V I always think about pushing up with my hips… really getting your crotch into the pole like you said lol. If you're not all the way up there isn't gonna be really hard to balance and not fall back out of the V.

Also, make sure you're not jumping into it, because the momentum can knock you right back down if you're not using enough control.

I found practicing the tuck invert VERY helpful for the V invert.

[Kyrsten]

Do you have dry skin? The knee area is prone to dryness for most people. I have super dry skin and some days I'll literally slide right down the pole when trying to climb or do an inverted crucifix/gemini. You can try corn husker's lotion or one of the pole specific lotions if that's the case.

If not, I was pretty much gonna say exactly what JeHanne said! The grip I use when climbing or doing a crucifix (inverted or upright)  is exactly how she described… slightly above the knee. I teach a class where I show girls the basic climb and I think that's the most common issue I see, gripping too high above the knees or trying to use the calves/feet instead. That grip spot she described should be the same for your climb, crucifix, and basic invert. I also do that "sitting back in a chair" thing when I teach it, it seems to help a lot with finding the spot.