Carousel Spin & Static Holds Grip

SlowLearnerScottish started this discussion · 1/11/2013

Hello All threads I've seen on here about split grip seem to be about inverted split grips so apologies if this has been answered already. I can do butterly fine without hurting my arms but then I try to do the split grip for the likes of carousel spin or static holds that use that carousel spin grip my bottom arm is always really painful and I don't feel it's strong enough to hold me. I have a powerball wrist ball which is meant to strengthen the forearm muscles and I feel like it has but I still don't feel any stronger when doing these grips. Can anyone direct me to Veena's lessons that might be best for it, or suggest any exercises that they know to help specifically with this? It's really getting me down because carousel spin is so pretty as are the holds. Thanks in advance x

12 replies

pantherchild · 1/11/2013
I have similar issues and have been told that my elbows hyper-extend making locking them difficult. I found this one forever ago that has helped somewhat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8QzZnFkXn8 But I still have issues with near-unbearable pain on my forearms.
chemgoddess1 · 1/11/2013
If you cannot do a one handed fireman you should not be doing this move. The bottom hand should NOT grip the pole AT ALL; it should only be placed in position to give you distance from the pole as you are spinning. It is too easy to want to grip and overtorque your arm. Veena has lots of lessons for the carousel, they are in the intermediate section.
shannabella · 1/12/2013
Wow I did not know that chem, makes total sense now..thanks!
pantherchild · 1/12/2013
The split gip style spins are not an issue for me per say--can't speak for SCottish--but the static holds are killer. Everytime I brace into a spilt grip hold, my bottom forearm just absolutly aches.
chemgoddess1 · 1/12/2013
It is the same with a bracket hold...the bottom hand should not be bearing ANY weight. You should essentially be hanging all of your weight off your top arm and just using that bottom hand to push you away from the pole. Pantherchild, try not wrapping your fingers around the pole, either in fingers down or fingers up.
Veena · 1/12/2013
I cover 2 different hand/arm placements in this lesson Carousel https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4f859429-2dbc-41f1-86e4-282a0ac37250 Also when doing static upright split grips you may want to try the Partial split grip https://www.studioveena.com/galleries/view/4f875a46-ded8-4147-bb0a-3f900ac37250 This allows for the use of the bicep too. As others mentioned the TOP arm should be taking on most of the weight. This is why I've placed it in the Intermedate section. Here is a lesson using the Partial split grip as a static hold. Aerial body wave https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4d2f086d-9d38-4e2f-8f09-0b800ac37250 ;
RoseMay · 1/12/2013
I found Aerial Amys tutorial on the mermaid very helpful for upright split grip holds: http://aerialamy.com/blog/2011/10/25/tuesday-tips-aerial-body-waves/ In the second paragraph she explains which muscles you actually need to engage. Reading that was kinda an aha moment for me. I think the engagement of the back and shoulder muscles for the carousel spin is similar?
Veena · 1/12/2013
It is the same and it's explained in all the lessons listed :)
SlowLearnerScottish · 1/12/2013
Thanks dudettes, i'll check them out x
RoseMay · 1/12/2013
Oh, another thing that helped me was to always stretch the forearms after split grip work, like Veena suggests in her lessons :-)
Mary Ellyn · 1/12/2013
Bracket spins on static pole should not be taken for granted and you should listen to your body. Others said it but it bears repeating....DON'T grip with that bottom arm. It's not suppose to support you but is suppose to push you away from the pole. Torquing the bottom arm can lead to hairline fractures! Also a number of people still make this mistake...the open bracket split hold (top hand thumb up and bottom hand thumb down) should not be used unless your tummy is facing the pole as in carousel. Do not use this grip on forward facing spins like the chair spin as it will also torque your arm!
zoeyxxxx · 1/16/2013
Brackit grip was a killer for me in the begging as i qas doing it wrong. I use to gwt a strange shooting pain up my wrist of lower arm. It was before i found studio veena so didnt have much place to go for advice. My instructor told me it was down to week wrist. But i messaged areil amy and she said same as chem. Bottom arm is not there to take weight but to push u away. You should bw pulling up withtop arm. I dnt havw any problems now :))) xxx