Floorwork Help need cute knee pad suggestion!!

MochaKat started this discussion · 2/7/2010

Ok so I have been working on floorwork and transitions. And the problem is my knees hurt sooooooo bad when I'm on the floor crawling or doing that push up thingy with your butt leading. So my question is have you guys came up with any creative way to do floorwork and not use the knees so much or maybe a way to make cute knee pads. I want to dance for my boo but dont want to use ugly knee pads but if I dont have something on my knees I cant bear the floor. Side note all my floors are hardwood.Any suggestions????? ❓ Also when you guys watch videos on here are you able to see the time. I dont see the time. I have seen some girls comments like "Loved your spin at 1:25" or something but I dont know what time counter they are seeing. Does that make sense???

17 replies

HunnyHeatha · 2/7/2010
Over the knee socks? Or maybe get some socks and chop them up to turn them into knee pads! Those are my suggestions. Or Maybe buy an area rug or two and put it/them beside your pole for when you're practising your floorwork. Then when you're performing for your man or whoever you can take them away. And I can't see the time on the videos either, I was actually wondering the same thing!!
Foxy_Rei · 2/7/2010
I'd kill for hardwood floors to dance on! I have carpet and the carpet burn on your knees is awful... plus you can't pivot on your feet very well, especially in heels. So I personally wouldn't recommend a rug, unless you got a very very soft one... Some leg warmers might go up over the knees, but other than that I can't think of any cute ideas to protect them. I'm not sure if that's something you might get used to over time if you just kept dancing on the hardwood, but you might. Good luck!:)
azriel · 2/7/2010
I sometimes wear 2 pairs of legwarmers, so that i can pull the bottom ones over the knee, and the top layer can be scrunchy towards the bottom ( i think it looks cuter that way). Or you can get the extra long over the knee legwarmers, or, like Hunny said,over the knee socks. Legwarmers tend to be thicker & softer than socks though. Over the knee boots might also work, if you're able to slide around in them. And you can even put legwarmers around your knees under the boots (for extra padding), & they won't show. 😁 Also, don't forget that floorwork is NOT easy! Try putting as less weight on your knees/legs as possible, while trying to rely mostly on your arms to support your weight. Also, whenever possible, avoid sitting directly on your knee-cap.. sometimes it's possible to perform a move while using the spot right under your knee cap instead. Good luck! 😛
polarbearlove · 2/7/2010
dont know if this is really what you are looking for but have you thought about buying foam floor pieces for when you are doing a lot of practicing at least? http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3112945 I bought some for my daughter(we have tile floor) but i occasionally steel a few of them to link together around the base of my pole just a thought
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polergirl · 2/8/2010
I am all hardwood, all the time. Our studio is half hardwood, half carpet, and I only dance on the carpet when I absolutely have to. If you use the insides of your knees on the "butt push" it is exponentially less painful and puts way less pressure on your knees, plus it allows your hips a little extra freedom to push upward. 🙂
Layla Duvay · 2/8/2010
Thigh high boots are your best friends here (and in climbing). You can even scrunch up leg warmers around your knees inside the boots for extra protection. If you're going bare-legged, though, take your weight on your hands when crawling (pushing through your fingers) and move gingerly on your knees and you should be fine! ☀️
Poledancefan · 2/8/2010
Michaels Craft Stores chain sells fake fur in nearly every color. You can buy it in squares the size of a sheet of paper and simply cut it to the same size as the generic athletic knee pads that they sell in Sportmart. The fake fur could be sewn on the knee pads. But if you really wanted to get fancy--and are handy with a sewing machine, you might be able to attach sew-on velcro to the knee pad and to the back of a variety of different colored fake fur "covers." Then you could change the color of the fake fur to match your top or bottom or boots/shoes. Another solution would be to make "fetishy" leather knee cap covers. The Tandy Corporation still exists (lol, they became Radio Shack--business trivia!)--and they still sell leather craft kits with lanyard string, thong cord, and sheets of craft leather in buckskin, brown, black..and textured rawhide and colored squares to mimic leopard skin, etc, etc. They sell the little needles and "punches" (which looks kind of like a macramé hook) to make coin purses and Boy Scout projects. Basically, you could cut a leather sheet to fit the knee cap, use the punch to make tie-holes, and then braid a leather lanyard or thong cord to make a "tie" behind the knee. It might be the perfect, slightly kinky accessory for a hot floor routine! All of this material is modestly priced--it's also available at Michaels Craft Stores or directly from the TANDY Corporation via the internet. Joel Lessing (Poledancefan)
MochaKat · 2/8/2010
Thank you guys for all the great ideas. I went on a little shopping spree and found some really good deals on over the knee socks and some foam floor squares. 🥂 🥂 I already have over the knee boots but wasn't sure if they would stick to much so imma try them to. So I am excited to practice today with all the added support for my knees. Thanks for that tip on opening my legs wider when pushing up from the floor. That has helped my knees and helped getting up easier and smoother. And yes Azriel floorwork in general is a beast. I never knew it took so much energy and strength to slink and crawl along the floor. Its like manual labor to be sexy 🙄 Joel love the idea of covering my knee pads with the fur. I checked Michaels but they only had white fur in so imma check back. Thanks again everyone for responding I knew I could count on some great ideas from here. Smooches
foxygrrl · 2/9/2010
🐱 Another suggestion? You can try finding fun fur in the local fabric stores (it's amazing what you can find in the remnant bins - small pieces for small ), or....find a fabric that you think might work, and tell the clerk you only need a small amount - for a 'craft project'.... they hear that one all the time. In this case it's the truth (just be prepared for funny looks if you tell them what the 'project' really is...LOL) 🙊 Also, Walmart's has a fabric/craft department (or at least up here in Canada, they do) Just a thought... 📚 ooohhh---- for those of us that don't/can't sew... there are 'no-sew glues' available 🌸 ... Happy floorwork to one and all.... 😁
Rena LadyBug · 2/9/2010
I had never thought about knee pads until I went to the classes w/ Karol and the studio had some! Omg, it was amazing!!! I can't do floor work on my kitchen floor, so I try to make sure I'm on carpet! I'm such a wimp... But I heard the girl got them from ebay.
Veena · 2/9/2010
I think it would be cool if someone made some pole practice Knee Pads... They could have the grippy vinyl on the back so you can still do knee pit holds and then cute fun colors on the pad part. 🥂 I have a pair of cheep Knee Pads I picked up at the Sporting goods store (volley ball section) and I might have some fun with them and try my idea. 🤓
verucablue · 2/9/2010
a woman at my studio did just that Veena! I haven't seen her around lately but she made the cutest thin knee pads in cool heavy lycra in a whole bunch of fun colors with thin gel pads inside and she had some grippy rubber on the back and sides...they were really great and I left all 4 pairs I bought at the studio 🙁 (Amy I left one pair in NYC when I came out there last lol...wonder if they are still in the studio - what was that 2 years ago?) Maybe I will try to make a pair 🙂
Veena · 2/9/2010
cool.....I will have to try that then!!
PoleChamp · 2/9/2010
You guys are doing things incorrectly if you need knee pads! Have you ever seen an exotic dancer wear knee pads? NO, because we don't put pressure on our knees. Nobody wants to see a bruised up exotic dancer. That's not sexy. You guys need to invest in a teacher who knows how to prevent knee bruising.
Veena · 2/9/2010
I guess I should have been more clear on my thoughts. I was thinking more in term of dance Hip Hop, Jazz type floorwork.....not exotic floorwork. Not all work done on the floor for pole is exotic in nature and can be really hard on the knee when your working on it over and over, this is why dancers will use them for practice. Even if your technique is correct you can still end up with bruising, especially when learning, that's just the nature of dance. 🙊 🙊 Forgot to mention, I think some are looking for alternative to wearing knee high socks for dancing on carpet, carpet burns suck.
PoleChamp · 2/11/2010
^^thanks for the clarification. Yes, if you are doing your Janet Jackson moves ( 😉, you will need those knee pads! I don't think there is a possible alternative to socks when on carpet? Lol, I am picturing strapping those furniture sliders to your knees for easy carpet movement. 😂
monica kay · 2/11/2010
The Tandy Corporation still exists (lol, they became Radio Shack--business trivia!) ha ha! i still have my first ever cell phone- it was a Tandy! 😀