stupid newbie question...

AnjilsBaby started this discussion · 4/5/2010

ok so this may be a stupid newbie question but i dont actually know lol, im trying to do a move ive seen called an Open V or Wrist seat, if you arent sure which one i mean, its the one where you hop into a pole sit, lean back and brace your body with your wrist under your bum and open legs to a V. the issue im having is that i can sit back, brace myself, and when i start to loosen my grip with my legs to open them, i start spinning on the pole...and im using a static pole. is there any way to do this stable or am i just not working my muscles enough? i tried it a few times last week and every time i started letting go of my legs i would start spinning to the left =/ i appreciate any imput you guys have 🙂

16 replies

StellarMotion · 4/5/2010
Hi! And this question isn't stupid! I think that in most holds requring two hands being placed on the pole, that the lower bracket is usually the one that can create turn or put the brakes on it. So if you're really wanting to stop the turning, being more mindful of how you place your lower hand is a good place to start. You may have to experiment to see which hand placement is best for you. Some people place their hand under one buttock or the other, and I've seen some people perform this move who almost look as though they are resting the thigh on the wrist. My preference for this move is to place my wrist right down the middle between my legs (hope that doesn't sound too graphic) because it allows me a little more room to lean back. This may depend a lot on each person's arm length and body type, so just play with the placement of the lower hand until you find the placement that you prefer! Also don't forget to really engage (without straining) the muscles of your wrist and forearm when you perform this move, as that will add stability to your grip and will also protect the joints along your wrist and elbow, which can be heavily taxed if a large amount of your body weight is being supported on it. Don't forget that most of the weight should be carried by your top bracket, and also remember to pull in with the abdominal muslces! 👍 All these things should help you stop or control any undesirable turning. But on the other hand, I also want to ask you this. Why do you want to stop the turn? In my opinion, the ability to turn a static pose can be a very pretty addition to a pole dance and enable some beautiful transitions. So instead of stopping the natural turn that seems to be happening when you perform this move, you can start this pose from a slight side angle, so that when you turn in this pose it directs you to the angle you want to be facing (mirror, audience, instructor, classmates, etc.)! 🥂 Using natural turn this way on a static pole can really impress a viewer. Just watch any of Veena's videos on the static pole, or the static pole part of Felix's world championship winning routine for examples of how beautiful turning a pose on static pole can be.
Runemist34 · 4/5/2010
I agree, this is definitely not a stupid question! I've had a little bit of "accidental turning" when I do some moves, and I had always wondered if I was the only one! 🙄 Also...thank you, Stellar! Lots of things here I didn't know, and since I'm going to be attempting this move soon, good things to know, too! 🥂
AnjilsBaby · 4/5/2010
thanks for the reply stellar 🙂 i have seen people tilt their body slightly so its their thigh resting on their wrist and just didnt even think to try it, as for me trying to not turn, i am trying to get the move down static to make sure i have the right muscle memory to do it and the strength to be able to just hold it. i didnt honestly think about how it would look if i was turning while doing it 🙄 im hoping to get a day off work soon (ive worked the past 12 days in a row ugh) so i can get the energy to hop back on my pole and give it another go, but i will most definitely try your tips and see if i get a better result 🥂
poledanceromance · 4/5/2010
David already put a bow on it with more eloquence in his little finger than I've got in my whole body, as usual. 😂 But, for what my opinion is worth, it was the uncontrollable spinning that was the biggest obstacle to me getting the wrist seat...and I got all kinds of fun moves like shoulder mount and knee hold and superman before I ever got the wrist seat down. It really is all in hand placement, because I just slid off to the side and toppled over because I didn't *have* the move so the spinning just made me unstable. But now I'm motivated, now that it's a move I feel secure in, to try to spin it on purpose just because of what David said...I'd never thought of it before, but why have I always fought the spin in that move so fiercely? Dude you make me think about my dancing like no other!! 😂
SissyBuns · 4/5/2010
The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. 😉
kasanya · 4/5/2010
I used to drift to the side when I was doing this move too. For me, the problem was actually with my upper hand. I was wrapping my hand around the pole, which bent my wrist at about a 45 degree angle, and then I would drift to the side until my wrist straightened into a neutral position. When I learned to grasp the pole with a straight wrist to begin with, the drifting stopped happening. Hope that helps. =)
Ritalin · 4/6/2010
In my experience, the spinning is usually because your hips may not be tucked under enough. When I do the wrist seat (we know it as the Hello Boys), I have my lower hand under one butt cheek, and my upper hand directly in front of my face. I lean back into it, and crucially, I tuck my knees to my chest before I unfold my legs into a V. This helps you tuck your hips under and rest the pole more toward your tail bone, and I personally think it looks tidier than just opening your legs out from a sit. But, your mileage may vary. 🙂 All the best!
moonflower · 4/6/2010
I use to spin a lot in this move too and like kasanya, it was the position of my top arm causing the spin. Take a look at how the top arm look in relations to the rest of your body when you stop spinning/stabilize and place your hand like that to start. I might take a few tries but at the end, you'll have mastered two moves. Wrist sit and spinning wrist sit!
AnjilsBaby · 4/6/2010
thanks so much for the replies guys 🙂 im probably gonna give it a go tonight and see what i can do 🙂
loopielou · 4/6/2010
These are really good tips peeps. I spin doing this move as well and I think it's a combination of my top hand and also not making sure my hips are tucked up properly now I have read everything you all have to say. Thanks for the advice and great question 😀
AnjilsBaby · 4/6/2010
UPDATE! ok i tried again last night and i wasnt able to get the full V wrist seat I think because either my hamstrings are too tight or my hip flexors arent strong enough, but anyways, im just working on extending my legs all the way but i was able to control the spinning alot more (it was my bottom hand causing the issue 🙄 ) but i was able to hold the move with my legs in a sunwheel position 🙂 so all in all thank you guys for the awesome advice 🌸
Mary Ellyn · 4/7/2010
Which hand are you using in the lower position? Until you are sure of the move (always learn both sides) most people do better with the NON-dominant hand on the bottom and dom-hand on top. This will be the stronger hold for you. Rotating, when desired, is done by tllting the body slightly sideways during a static hold like this. So you may be leaning your torso out to the side and/or slightly twisted. Safety note; On the hand placement...as previoulsy mentioned the upper wrist needs to be straight but also, so does the lower wrist. If the lower wrist comes in from the side under the thigh it is invariably bent and not held in neutral position. A lot of weight is placed on the lower hand and you can hurt your wrist if it is not straight. It needs to come in down the center of the butt cheek .(or under the sciatic area) Just because I've seen some students attempt this incorrectly... I will mention that your thumb should be UP on that lower hand as well. Finally, getting the lower hand placement under that butt cheek can be akward so I've had a lot of success but having students first try this coming UP OUT OF a layback. CKR or CAR...lay back, let go completely, grip from underneath with your non-dom hand (thumb up) and sit back up to trip with the dom hand up above...and spread your legs!!! Voila!
AnjilsBaby · 4/8/2010
yea the issue i was having was with having my lower hand wrist turned too much, i just have to focus on which way my wrist is turned and keep it straight to stop the spinning, and i use my non dom hand ( my right) on bottom i havent tried yet with the other hand, i was trying to but my arms were fatigued cause i waited too long into poling to try it. i actually cant to a CKR or a CAR yet sadly 🙁 ive been trying to but i am not exactly sure the contact points to do it so ive mostly been bruising my inner thighs trying it, and i have pretty thick thighs so its hard for me to adjust them without just pulling my inner thigh skin lol. im still not sure if im just too afraid to do some moves cause i can decently hold a wrist seat (without legs extended all the way) but i cant do a CAR or even a basic invert yet. i need to relook at how to do them cause i think its about the contact points that im having trouble with, with the car im trying to get my thighs completely lengthwise against the pole so the pole is pushing against the top of my knees, is that too far back though? thanks for the advice 🙂
earthpanther · 5/6/2010
At the studio I work at, we teach students to get their bottom hand centered on their bottom. Hence, many of my students affectionately refer to the move as "crack hand". I've done it with my hand centered and under one butt check as some people on here suggested. For me, having the bottom hand off center puts way too much pressure on my wrist. I'd suggest trying to get your bottom hand centered under your bottom.
StellarMotion · 5/6/2010
Earthpanther, yes, this is what works best for me too. I'm glad I'm not the only one that performs wrist seat this way!
AnjilsBaby · 5/7/2010
im actually able to do it both ways now thankfully 🙂 all the wonderful tips here helped out alot, and now i just have to look at my wrist before i open my legs to make sure my wrist is straight, the only time i have issues is when i forget to check my wrist and i can feel it there lol