[crazykitten]

I'm in agreement with EVamp83–I've seen a ton of different descriptions of the Archer as well!

The most common that I've seen is where you're inverted with your back to the pole, both hands stretched up towards the small of the back, and one foot hooked while the other goes out from the front of your body.  Wikipole has this main idea, but the placement of the hands are overhead:  http://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/index.php5?title=Archer

It could just be named by the legs, and maybe the hand placements can vary–no idea!

[crazykitten]

Hello from Oklahoma!  It's nice to see someone relatively close to my location!

[crazykitten]

@ Tovah:  When I started this move, I felt like I was pushing my hips way forward….but then I'd look in the mirror and I wasn't at all!  It might help to watch yourself (or take video and play it back) to see if you're actually pushing as far forward as you think you are.  Also, get the back into it.  When I push my hips forward, I simultaneously arch my back.  Not a huge arch, but enough to feel a stretch in my lower stomach and feel like my upper body moves a bit back.

[crazykitten]

Another tip–push out on with your bottom hand when bringing the lower leg onto the pole.  This will push the hooked leg slightly up and/or away from the hand and arm.  It'll reduce the potential to get stuck just a bit more!

[crazykitten]

@ dustbunny:  Great exercise!  I tried it last night and love it!  I also asked my bf to try it, and the look of pure concentration and strain on his face was priceless 🙂

[crazykitten]

Almost forgot, there are also the grips you'd use for the Flag; the forearm grip (for example, with the Aysha); and the elbow grip.  Can't forget those 🙂

[crazykitten]

Hmm, I don't know of any one place that describes a lot of the grips.  Here's some different grips I've pieced together along the way.  Some of the names I've made up, and some I've read:

Baseball grip (what you'd use for the basic invert)

Split/bracket grip

Twisted grip

What I call the Marksman grip; here's an example:  http://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/index.php5?title=Image:Grace.jpg

Anchor/half-bracket grip:  http://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/index.php5?title=Image:Anchorlift.jpg

Shoulder mount grip (and there are variations on this:  Cupped, twisted/apprentice, princess, Veena's grip, etc.)

What I call the Chair grip (the grip you'd use for the chair spin–top hand gripping, and palm of the bottom hand pressed against the pole but not gripping)

I'd be curious to see what other grips people know of!

[crazykitten]

I'm definitely sore!  I'll definitely push myself a little less next time, and work on the flow and breathing.

I'm using the Dara Torres app.  Do you have any other suggestions for good apps, dvds, etc. to learn about resistance stretching?  Or is this one good enough?

[crazykitten]

@ Dyvo:  The way HannahElizabeth is doing it is the way I generally see, but there is probably no "right" and "wrong."  Personally, I put my foot this way for the Star, and bring it forward only if I'm transitioning into a move such as the Box Splits.  I've also seen people bring the foot around the back of the pole (so the front of the foot is pressing against the pole) and call it the Knee Swing.

[crazykitten]

Thanks for the advice!  I probably was resisting too hard.  And I did use lotion!  Mental note to not do that again…

[crazykitten]

Instead of grabbing the ankle, you could grab just below the knee (this is actually what I usually end up doing).  Way less strain.

[crazykitten]

It looks good to me!

If you want to keep up with the move, you might try grabbing your ankle with your hand, rather than the pole (usually called the Advanced Cupid).  That may require that you push your hips forward a bit in order to increase your knee grip, and twist your upper body to face the floor a bit.

You could also try the Hummingbird–no hands on the pole!  That will also require pushing your hips forward more and twisting the upper body.

Happy poling!

[crazykitten]

Thanks for the news!  It's good news indeed 🙂

[crazykitten]

I learned the cartwheel mount by standing with my dominant arm extended in front of me at shoulder level, hand on the pole.  I then took one step back.  Keeping an eye on the spot where my hand was on the pole, I step forward with my non-dominant leg and reach low while grabbing the pole with my dominant hand in the original spot.  I think of it as more of a fall or dive down than a spring (like it would be in an actual cartwheel!).  The legs follow into the air nicely.

The main problem I had was that I wasn't putting my head down.  It really REALLY has to go down or the move won't work.  I did a lot of practice just stepping into the mount and bringing my head down.

[crazykitten]

@ UTpoler:  Thank you for the info!  With two pieces of fabric, I could probably sew in my own padding.  Very exciting–the back to that bra is spectacular!