Poi Tricks » Beginner Poi

Over the shoulder turn

Brandon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Learn a new poi trick that brings your poi from a backwards swing up and over your shoulders while you turn 180 degrees.

Start by spinning your poi backward in Equal Time, as the poi come up, bring your hands up and over your shoulders, being mindful to keep your left hand on the left and your right hand on the right, don’t cross your hands. As your poi swing behind you, wait until you feel the poi pull down on your fingers and then turn quickly 180 degrees, now bring your hands down and swing your poi forwards.

Fountains

Brandon — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:43:18 +0000

A fountain is described as the initial pattern moving in a larger circle. Flowers would be an example of this.

To spin a weave fountain, first spin a forwards weave, transition down low to a backwards weave and then bring that weave over your head in a windmill and then back down to a forwards weave. You are doing a weave and moving it in a larger circle around your body.

polyrhythm

Brandon — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:18:03 +0000

Polyrhythm is described as your poi moving in two different timings. When you spin one poi faster and it takes one poi the same amount of time to do one beat as it does for the other poi to do two beats, this is polyrythm.

Compound circles, flowers and anti-spin

Brandon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:16:06 +0000

Compound circles (flower patterns and fountains):

A multi-beat separation in which the poi make smaller circles within a larger circle. Poi continue to spin around the hands while arms move in extensions; smaller center of rotation (at hand) moves around a larger center of rotation (at shoulder).

Anti-spin

Poi spin in the opposite direction that the arms are spinning. Ie; the poi spin clockwise while your arm spins counter-clockwise.

Learn to stall your poi

Brandon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:48:41 +0000

Learn to spin your poi both forwards and backwards and be able to transition from forward spinning to backward spinning using a pendulum stall. This is basic poi spinning material, but is invaluable in the control that it will add to your poi spinning.

Play with all the variations you can think of; both poi forward stall right, stall left, both poi backwards, stall one, stall the other. Stall both, reverse direction on only one.
Play around and see what you can learn with your poi.

How to spin a forward 3-beat weave

Brandon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:28:05 +0000

How to spin a Forwards 3-Beat Weave

Start with one poi in your non-dominant hand spinning in the side plane in a forwards direction. Stick your other arm out in front of you. Start by spinning your poi on the side of your body then crossing over to the other side going over your arm for one beat, then under your arm for another beat and back to the original side the poi started from. For an over-under-out pattern. Over-Under-Out. Practice this with both your left and right arms until you are comfortable with both.
Now pick up both poi and begin spinning them both in the side plane in split timing. Then swing left Poi “left over” the right arm crossing the body
The very next beat swing the left Poi “left under” the right arm and at the same time begin swinging the right Poi “right over” the left Poi crossing the body.
Next beat swing left Poi “left out” as the right Poi stays crossing the body and swings under “right under” the left
Continue doing “Over”, “Under” then “Out” with both arms. Remember one arm is one beat behind the other.

How to spin a buzzsaw

Brandon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:31:16 +0000

Learn the buzzsaw. Both hands spin inside in split timing. Make sure you poi are short enough so you don’t hit yourself in the face.

Shorten your poi while spinning

Brandon — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:23:55 +0000

How to change the length of the poi while you are spinning. It is often necessary to change the length of your poi as you are spinning so that you can do certain moves, like a buzzsaw for instance. If your poi are too long and you bring them up inside your arms, you have a good chance of whacking yourself in the face. Learn to shorten as you spin.