Janeiro advice - I am so confused

kittyface started this discussion · 5/24/2015

I've been admiring the Janeiro for ages now and itching for the chance to do it. I read Aerial Amy's post on the Janeiro where she said it was easiest to get into from a brass monkey, so I figured I would get a really solid brass monkey and then see about the Janeiro. Lately I've been shoulder-mounting into a brass monkey quite a bit, and I'm at the point where I can hang out in a one-leg, no-hands brass monkey for a while quite comfortably (knee-pit pole burn aside). I refreshed myself on the Janeiro recently (Aerial Amy and Marion Crampe's videos) and tried it, and, well... I am so confused. I couldn't figure out where everything was supposed to go, I felt really wobbly and unstable when I tried to push my butt away from the pole to get into position. I am very much the Motor Skills Challenged Student, especially with anything new, and the Janeiro is just mind-boggling o.o I tried it multiple times - once from a cross-ankle release instead of a brass monkey to see if it made a difference - and it didn't really get better even after carefully analyzing the pictures and how-to guides. I don't know, can anyone give me advice on how to get past that? Do I really have the strength/flexibility for this move, or am I pushing myself too fast? Is there something else I should work on first?

27 replies

Webmaster · 5/24/2015
Veena has a lesson for the Janeiro that could probably be helpful.
jsheridan · 5/25/2015
Janiero is confusing if you aren't used to it. Is there any chance you have someone, like an instructor who knows the move who can walk you through a few times? Janiero takes decent arm strength (how is your flag grip? You have to hold yourself with one arm in this position) and back strength (like a superman lying on the floor) to hold, but not extreme flexibility. if you are comfortable with all of those, it is probably just figuring out the arm/leg situation. Aerial Amy's tutorial is amazing and has helped many people figure get better with the move. If you do not have an instructor, I would suggest videoing yourself, so you can see what you are doing, and can start to associate feelings with what it looks like. Janiero is a very difficult move to teach yourself, because it feels wierd. Whenever I teach students, and I correct them, they always question what I tell them because it feels so wrong. Also, if you have short arms, the move is harder. Just FYI
michaelaarghh · 5/25/2015
Janeiro is super confusing, and I think the trick is in the backbend/twist. You really need to push your back into the pole, but kind of curve your body and twist your chest out. It's also dependent on how high your inside arm is, because it creates a "ledge" for your leg to rest on, you want it to be higher than you think. I have also been told it is easier to get it from a brass money coming down from a CAR (rather than a CKR) because your arm is already high, although I prefer to do it from a CKR and adjust my arm (I say this, but I still can't get it either). You should video yourself - it is amazing being able to see yourself from a different perspective, sometimes that's all it takes to work out what you're doing wrong!
RedFox · 5/25/2015
I took a workshop with Marion Crampe where she taught the Janeiro. She taught it from a Cross-legged Release. She also suggested that some people find it easier to have the non-bracket support arm above your butt, rather than below like it usually is seen. That arm can help bring the butt to the other side of the pole and back twisted, once the hip has been placed on the forearm/elbow. She also said that the support arm should be lower than is comfortable. So that it creates a right angel in the elbow, rather than trying to push it up in a point to the hip. So, lower that extended leg down to the 90 degree elbow (which means the body pulling away from the pole as you hang on with the upper leg). Then you bring the bum across the pole and twist your hip to rest on the elbow. Hope that all makes sense.
kittyface · 5/26/2015
I do think I have short arms =/ I talked to my instructor about the Janeiro, and he went ahead and taught it in the class. It clarified so many things for me :) I feel ridiculous now, because I realized I was trying to put my head where my legs were supposed to go and vice versa O.O God, no wonder I was getting nowhere with this move! I don't even know how I got it in my head that that's what I was supposed to do! Also, in class I was able to almost get it :) I just needed to let go with the one arm so my upper body can lift up and I don't feel like I can't breathe. Watching the video I took of myself, I can really see why I feel that way when I don't let to with that arm. I just hope I have the strength to hold it that way, since all your weight is on one arm and I haven't really done all that much in flag grip (though I can hold my weight in that grip, I haven't been able to get into a flag/half-flag the one or two times I've really tried).
tacha666 · 5/26/2015
Are you sure no more than usual felxibility is needed? Everytime I try I just CAN'T get my butt onto my elbow. Plus I can't breathe which is super scary. I do have a solid flag grip and can manage to get my upper arm horizontally, but still just can't get my butt Close.
jsheridan · 5/26/2015
Congrats! When you are at home practicing, I would work on flag grip then to get it stronger so you feel safer letting the bottom hand go. Im glad it makes more sense. That move is one that is good to have an instructor show you first because most people are doing something weird...
Webmaster · 5/26/2015
Veena classifies this move as advanced. She covers everything you need as a prerequisite to accomplish it safely here https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/53f77bde-0658-41de-ad03-42940a9aa0eb In Veena's lesson you also get a listing of all the points of contact and every motion required to get into the move.
RedFox · 5/26/2015
I think for pole dancers "normal Flexibility" is a liquid term. I have found that as my back gets more bendy, my janeiro gets less scary uncomfortable. Almost a rest move. Almost. :P I think that the deceptive flexibility in this one is the twist. I have known women who have much bendier backs than me be unable to do it. I asked how their back twist was and...I'm pretty sure that's the culprit. It's also so much easier if you can place your hip on your arm shelf after the cross-legged release.
Sabina Rex · 5/26/2015
If you upload a video i can tell you what youre doing erong and how to fix it. I can do a janerio from any position i can think of. Its actually easy after your second or third one. I consider this trick my chance to take a break in the middel pf a routine cus i just just lay there on my arm.
Sabina Rex · 5/26/2015
Of course i dont mean to trivialize it--until you do it two or three times it is a bastard.
michaelaarghh · 5/26/2015
Janeiro is a bit of a backbend, so you will need more than "normal flexibility" to get it. Normal being in terms of the everyday person flexibility. If you've got a pretty solid bridge, you should be fine (maybe someone can weigh in on this - I have a solid bridge but still find Janeiro difficult)
Rachel Osborne · 5/26/2015
Does it feel similar to reverse meathook? I love reverse meathook and it's super easy bit am shit scared of janeiro
michaelaarghh · 5/26/2015
Ooooh what is a reverse meathook!?
Rachel Osborne · 5/26/2015
Reverse meathook
michaelaarghh · 5/26/2015
oh interesting! That looks like a hip and armpit hold? I don't think Janeiro would be like this, because Janeiro your back is against the pole and your bending the other way - it's more balance, rather than multiple points of contact, which is what the reverse meathook looks like?
Rachel Osborne · 5/26/2015
Reverse meathook is a tricep balance with a bit of support from top leg touching pole, you shove lower arm behind back and roll onto it sideways like a shelf. It's not like a hip hold.
Rachel Osborne · 5/26/2015
That's what made me think of janeiro - it's forward not back but it's that balancing sideways on a shelf made by one arm thing.
Sabina Rex · 5/26/2015
I think the janeiro and reversed meathook are very comparable in terms of difficulty. I find the janeiro easier though because there's no squeezing involved you just lay on your arm. Quite comfy.
Rachel Osborne · 5/26/2015
Back bends are a whole different scary game though.😓😳😱
Sabina Rex · 5/26/2015
Honestly tropical its not very scary. I can't really imagine how you would get hurt in a janeiro. If you feel unsafe, just grab the pole with your free arm. I think you should try it. You will find it to be a fun and easy move after the initial figuring it out. Its just a brain teaser it doesn't take a lot of strength.
Sabina Rex · 5/26/2015
Also tropical I think I watched a video where you did a cocoon? Its a lot less scary, is safer and requires a lot less flexibility than a cocoon.
michaelaarghh · 5/26/2015
And even if you fall out of Janeiro, you almost always land on your feet! But I can now see what you mean about reversed meathook. I'll have to try that one!
BagLady · 5/27/2015
I cant wait to see everyone janeiroing!
Rachel Osborne · 5/27/2015
Thank you all so much for the encouragement! 😘😘Ok will give it another go. Shout if you want reverse meathook demo vid.

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