Poi Spinning
Last night, I went to my first poi spinning class in Camden.
I picked up some poi when I was in Brighton a couple of weeks ago. After trying to do some tricks, it became apparent that I needed a teacher. So, I found this poi spinning course, which runs every 6 weeks, and signed up immediately. There are about ten of us on this course, and we easily fill the hall we are using. Our teacher is a friendly New Zealander who looks just like the girl in the book. Besides making it look easy, she explains tricks in multiple ways as we all learn differently.
Carry-turns were a nice easy start. Shoulder reels followed, which I could do last night, but are proving a little more difficult now. And finally, the Weave: a trick I've been trying to do for the past couple of weeks. I think I cracked it tonight.
I spent my lunch break practising in the park, amusing onlookers by whacking myself in the head. Repeatedly.
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Now this looks impressive - http://www.playpoi.com/global/videos/1nickwithfire.wmv can you do this yet?
Hmm, I thought poi was the stuff the Hawaiians eat, some sticky stuff made out of taro. Not sure that's something you could spin, though. And whacking oneself in the head with poi... sounds messy.
I thought poi was that sticky stuff, too, but it looks really cool. Is it a good workout?
Poi I've heard of (and even tasted) myself. Poi spinning--that's a new one. What exactly are you spinning? By the look of the illustrations, their either raccoon tails or something flaming.
Oh, sorry forgot to explain what they are. Poi are basically tennis balls/bean bags on the ends of strings/chains. With tails (not racoon based). When you get more advanced/brave/stupid you can start spinning fire poi which look really cool.
This really sounds like fun. And an exciting new way to give myself a concussion. : ) You'll have to keep us updated on how you are getting on with this.
Wow, that video is pretty cool, especially the part where the fire spilled out over the ground. You always find such entertaining hobbies!
Poi seem to be this summers fad. Im makeing them with a friend of mine that normaly make spinnaker sails out of the same material, bit of a flooded market already though. www.custompoi.com