Congratulations! If you’re here, you’re about to embark on a life changing journey.
Welcome to poi spinning. It all starts here.
This is the getting started to getting started of beginner poi. In these lessons and tutorials, you’ll see what you’re working with, how to hold it, and then learn your very first poi moves.
Let’s get started. Oh! But first…
Thanks Nick and Dan! Nick Woolsey has created some of the most comprehensive beginner poi tutorials out there. So you’ll be seeing a lot of him from here onwards. Check out his website at playpoi.com.
Practice.
Like most good things, poi skill comes with practice. The basics only take a few days and open up a world of possibilities. Some moves are easier than others, but even the difficult ones that appeal to you are worth figuring out. Take time and try, try again. You’ll get it.
Enjoy.
If you get frustrated while learning something, let it teach you about how you learn. Have fun not only with the moves you’re learning, but also with the process of learning itself.
With these ingredients, your foundation is built. Now you’re ready to construct a masterpiece.
Remember, Poi is a choose-your-own adventure discipline. If a certain move doesn’t speak to you…move on and try something else. You can learn in almost any direction!
Let us begin:
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Ok. Now you know how to hold your poi. Let’s really get started. Actually, wait.
You’ve come far enough. It’s time to talk about something ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL:
Planes
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So that’s three main planes to think about:
1. Wheel Plane – the poi are spinning at your sides, parallel to your feet, like wheels on a wheelchair.
2. Wall Plane – 90 degrees rotated from the wheel plane, wall plane spinning feels like the poi are moving left and right. They’re spinning perpendicular to your feet.
3. Floor Plane – flat spinning poi, parallel to the floor.
Now, let’s get moving!
Turning with Poi
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Ok ok. That was some good stuff. Now’s the big moment…your first real poi move:
The 2 Beat Weave
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Now let’s try a ‘floor plane’ version of the same weave: the corkscrew! Then we’ll bring it back to vertical with the windmill. (planes are one of the most important parts to spinning. don’t worry. it will be explained soon enough.)
Corkscrew and Windmill
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Now here’s another staple poi move that works in a different timing. This one will take practice. Don’t worry if it doesn’t click right away.
The Butterfly
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Look how much you’re learning!
Onwards! Onwards, young grasshopper! There’s still so much to learn.
