Superman Phobia

Polebull started this discussion · 1/20/2014

Two days ago I fell out of a superman and hit my temple on the side of the X-Stage. I gave myself a nice shiner and a concussion. After icing my head I got up and did a freestyle so I'm not afraid to pole, but the thought of doing a superman again has me a bit nervous. I have a few more days off the pole (Drs orders) but I guess when I get on again I should just go for it right? Has anyone else experienced a phobia for a certain trick? How did you overcome it?

15 replies

HellOnHeelsNH · 1/20/2014
Just keep trying it when I'm scared i try anyway once i do it I'm over that fear hump
JenLFG · 1/20/2014
i fell out of a yogini 2+ years ago & haven't tried it since, lol. its on my pole goals for this year.
HellOnHeelsNH · 1/20/2014
I start from the ground practicing move getting my grip right so i don't fall far while i get used to it
Polebull · 1/20/2014
HellOnHeelsNH, I've been doing superman for about 6 months now, its nit a new trick fir me. This time I got into it from the ground, and thank God I did. If I fell from the top of the pole I prob would have been seriously hurt!
sassylina · 1/20/2014
I fall out of an advanced plank and hurt my sacrum. After that I got also scared of a CAR as well. CKR I could still do. I started out with practicing my car again close enough to the floor so I would end in a handstand. Lot if grip aid on my legs so I would stick and a spotter who would support me in the beginning until I started to feel comfortable. Then just standing there for my own peace of mind. Now I do the CAR with no problems. Still not just hanging back. I put a hand under me while going back wards. Then I started the advanced plank again. With someone holding me. The problem for me was getting out. I thought I gripped the pole but I slipped with my hand getting up. So that's what I focused on. It is still a little scary but getting better. Point being that for me a spotter really helped me get more comfortable with those moves again.
PatSmack · 1/20/2014
I am uploading a video showing how to get into superman from a side climb and an invert or fold out as I call it. I feel that the side climb into superman is easier for people who fear falling. Superman from an invert does not really require that much endurance, but going more with the momentum and speed. I also will go on the limb to say that it might require less of me to pull off this move being a guy, but i don't know.
Saphyre · 1/20/2014
My safety mat is my new best friend!! I've been poling for 2 years without one, but I can tell you that my level of comfort has gone way up to try new stuff. To answer your question, I would say yes! Until you feel safe again, stay low so you don't have far to drop if you do lose it. Hope your head is better!! Ouchie!
Skullpixie · 1/20/2014
I have a phobia also but the more you do it the better it gets it works for me when I don't think about it too much. I'm working on getting it smoother. In my recent vid I do it from an apprentice with my top hand in a cupped grip so I can pass my leg over the pole and switch to a normal grip. Then it's the bit where I have to let go that gets me!
Cherished · 1/20/2014
+1 with Saphyre I've fallen out of a CAR that hurt. I was filming myself and the camera shook. I also slipped from a Holly drop which wasn't too bad because I slowed towards the bottom so there wasn't a lot of impact. I did them over and over (and over) with a mat to desensitize the fear and get comfortable again.
Beckypolegirl · 1/20/2014
I fell out of a brass monkey and it took me a long time to gain my confidence back. I would practice it low to the ground regularly until I felt better about it. I can do them fine now but my heart still does a little flutter when I get asked to do one lol
yrngrl · 1/20/2014
Getting a crash mat has really helped me try tricks I'm nervous doing (but am strong enough to do, of course). I'm finally getting over my fear of caterpillar climb.
Cuwoody · 1/21/2014
Use some gloves with tac. I feel more secure with gloves than any other grip aid including cramers. I did a superman with gloves before I could do one without them. The gloves really help with the grip and security. Put something down as a crash mat. I use two foam type floats. They are not cheap but cost less than a crash mat.
michaelaarghh · 1/22/2014
I agree with trying it low to the ground...that way if you fall you don't have far to go and are a lot less likely to get injured. I also fell out of superman (there's a vid on my profile that's actually pretty hilarious). I found that finding out WHY I fell, and what went wrong really helped me to overcome my fear of the move. xx
chemgoddess1 · 1/22/2014
My first fall was out of a caterpillar climb and it took quite some time for me to try it again (it was my own stupidity for pushing to fatigue). And then once I started going to a studio that had 10 foot poles it was probably a year before I could get my head past a 6 foot mark.
Jacki C · 1/23/2014
I actually lost my grip in a shouldermount. I caught myself very close to the floor. I eventually did them again. But they always made me super nervous. So when I was in a workshop I got the chance to work on shouldermounts and shouldermount exercises. I decided to own it. So now, sometimes I think twice about it, but it doesn't stop me. Plus I'm a stronger poler than I was when I fell and my current shouldermounts really feel solid. I'd say as you continue to build strength, keep going back to it.