The point of twisted grip?

chumpchkin started this discussion · 1/25/2011

I was working on handsprings last night, and I thought I would try the twisted grip, just to see. I have a lot of weird problems with arm and shoulder flexibility, and so I could barely get my hand into the proper position. It hurt so much just starting to get myself airborne that I immediately stopped, and I don't plan on trying it again in the near future. My question is this, though: Will NOT being able to do the twisted grip ever limit my ability to do certain moves? Or is it just a different grip option? If it will enable me to learn new things, I want to keep working towards it (very very carefully, of course, and not soon), but if I can't do more with it than with, say, split grip, it might not be worth the risk. Thoughts?

40 replies

Veena · 1/25/2011
My honest opinion on the Twisted grip....AVOID IT! For most people its not a safe grip. I feel not all pole moves are suitable for everyone, some have more flexibility others more strength ect. Our bodies are all different. 😉 Yes we see the pros using the TGs ALL the time, but pole is what they train for, they do it for a living! The home poler does not ever need to use this grip it will only increase your risk for injury. For the competitive poler, this is an advanced grip and before working on it the dancer should go through specific strength training for the shoulders, back, abs, and arms, to ensure they can safely began to work on it. You need the proper stability and flexibility in the joints for this move. The Handspring is not the first variation of the tg a person should work on. You wont be missing out on anything if you can't do a TG. 🌸 .
ErinMarieOMG · 1/25/2011
Twisted grip is actually quite natural. The push and pull action needed for moves like handsprings are much easier in this grip, though you might find your prefer the regular grip or chinese. If it hurts, you're doing it wrong, ask someone at your studio or another pole dancer in person how to do it. Your arm might just not bend that way, but I find the twisted grip WAY more stable than other grips. In LA, it's very much considered a beginner grip.
Shellectra · 1/26/2011
Beginner grip? Yikes... I too feel that it should only be left to the pros or those who are very strong and advanced, I have tried out the position and could imagine how easy injury or strains could happen if a beginner was to try to jump up into moves (seeing as most beginners aren't anywhere near close enough to using their core to life)
Shellectra · 1/26/2011
** lift, dang wheres the edit button! :p
Veena · 1/26/2011
Yes Erin the twisted grip FEELS easier....however....it does not place the joints in a stable neutral position. Its not a difficult grip its just not a wise choice for new dancers. 😉
amy · 1/26/2011
https://www.studioveena.com/users/view/bc80c17c-d89d-11df-ab19-12313b090e12, there is absolutely no reason you *have* to be able to TG handspring, you can do every TG transition in another grip. i actually don't even teach it (and i know several others who no longer instruct this grip) and i wouldn't recommend you even try it unless you can do an aerial shoulder mount and have good shoulder and chest flexibility. a lot of intermediates kick into this and that is NOT OKAY! as veena stated-- your joints are not in neutral position in this move and it can be really easy to injure yourself.
ErinMarieOMG · 1/26/2011
Yes, beginner Veena. It's far more stable because your hands are facing two differant directions minimizing the chances of slipping of the pole. I don't know any advance pole dancers who use a twisted grip except in the twisted grip shoulder mount. If it doesn't work for you, don't do it, but it should NOT hurt. This is probably because of the issues already going on with your arm. I personally have a lot of shoulder flexibility and fall directly out of the regular grip.
Veena · 1/26/2011
I only stated it wasn't for new dancers because Erin you had mentioned its considered a beginner grip in LA, I still don't feel its suitable for most dancers of any level. For my own teaching method its not suitable for the pole dancer who is doing it for fitness and fun. All studios teach in their own way 😉 Chumpchkin its just not a necessary grip so don't worry if its not for you. Erin if your falling out of regular grips because of your joint flexiiity, you might want to think about doing some shoulder stabilization exercises. These can help if you are too loosy goosy. 🌸
Audball · 1/26/2011
Yeah, I used to work on the TG handspring and I have stopped. It doesn't feel as intuitive as any other grip I know, and the shoulders twist in a weird way, I can definitely understand how one would be prone to injuries, I'd say I definitely hurt my shoulders doing it myself. It doesn't even look that much nicer than a usual split grip in my opinion. I would really worry about anyone being taught TG as a beginner grip!!!
Kobajo84 · 1/26/2011
I agree with this Not being a beginner move. I can't stress enough the importance of not trying this grip until you have a strong developed upper body strength. What type of moves/poses are you trying to do? There are many other grips that you can always do certain moves with. The Iron X (lowering your body sustained in air) is one of the more popular moves with the twisted grip. This move can be done with a different type of grip that works better for you. As an example, Karol Helms YT user Redke71 has a video of the extended aysha using an elbow grip. Eventually with increased practice I can see her holding that move in much the same way as the twisted grip X. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVM_WTjcVgM I think you can do any move but with an altered variation that is best suitable for you and your body. It all goes back to owning a move and making it your style. And anything that is more comfortable for you is also much safer for your body.
chumpchkin · 1/26/2011
Yeah, given that my arms and shoulders are extremely, extremely inflexible in any case, I don't really plan on trying it again...especially if it's not necessary for any particular moves. It gave me such a BadHurt when I tried it.
PoleKitten87 · 1/26/2011
After spending 2 months trying to nail the regular cartwheel mount, I moved onto the TG with instruction from Karol. (took a private with her in NC). It really wasn't as hard as we thought (pretty much got it within 2 weeks - my friend had a straddle and straight edge, I started witha tuck form of sorts because straddling throws off my balance. Just like with the cartwheel, I stay straight up instead of straddle or jack knife initially). I've started practicing the TG from an inversion, and have found it much easier to hold myself that way right now. Guess I just have the arm/shoulder muscles but not enough abs to follow through from the floor. I never thought I would get it because it felt so awkward at first - though now it feels natural and I'm tempted to put myself in that grip when playing on the pole, but we were also told by Karol that not everyone WILL be able to master the TG - not everyone is made the same. TG mastery is my by-spring goal, TG iron-x by fall. If it hurts a lot, you probably aren't meant to be able to do it! No point in injuring yourself and possibly ruining your ability to do other grips.
Aviva · 1/26/2011
Leverage. It provides a different angle of leverage. As for who should be doing it...beginner, advanced, pro, amateur let's do away with the labels b/c I've seen people go upside down the first time in the studio (whether they should have or not is another story) and everyone has "I saw this girl get this move the first time she tried it story" so we can probably all agree that everyone will progress at a different rate. It is much safer with the TG to go into it from an inversion rather than try to kick up into it if you are not strong enough to lift into it. Though you may not be strong enough to lift now there are many things you can do to supplement your work-out and build strength and flexibility in your shoulders. I never want to see anyone limit themselves with moves because they are not strong enough or flexible enough b/c both can be built with enough time and patience (stubbornness?). If you genuinely feel that a move isn't worth it ( I have a few of those myself )b/c it's not that pretty to begin with or you are satisfied with the way you do it and don't need to do the variation then yeah, leave it. But t-grip is very useful and if your shoulders are strong enough it should not hurt.
Shellectra · 1/27/2011
Interesting! So by going into the TG from an inversion you mean invert up and then hang in cruciifix and then position the hands and go from there so the legs are already up and you're not kicking them up and risking injury ?
ErinMarieOMG · 1/27/2011
That's how I learned it, coming down out of it instead of going up. I learned shoulder mounts the same way. I have way too much flexibility in my back and shoulders and often not the muscles to compensate even though I'm ripped :/ Have you tried starting on the opposite side of the pole than you want to lift on, grabbing the pole, then keeping your hand on it while walking in front around the pole to the other side? Just grab the pole and walk forward to the other side and duck under your arm. This is the easiest way to try the TG without hurting yourself. If you do it a few times per practice and the pain doesn't get better, then your arm and shoulder problems probably just won't allow you to do it. There are other moves it is entirely needed for, but you do not need to handspring into them. You can twisted grip shoulder mount, it's possible to extended butterfly in TG, the "swoosh" HAS to be in twisted, and if you can iron X without being twisted, you're probably Jesus or something.
blueeyes · 1/28/2011
TG a beginner move? Jenyne does it all the time! I will admit it's a fairly easy grip once you get it. It is something that I have worked on for MONTHS and MONTHS. I just recently got comfortable with it. It did pull and strain my shoulder quite a bit when I tried to kick into it from the floor. So to avoid injury, I did what the other girls are saying. Get into an inverted crucifix and get into TG from there. I got VERY comfy with holding it, doing poses and lowering myself from it SLOWLY. I did this for about a month or so, and built up the strength to kick up into it. I don't think kicking up into it is dangerous as long as you have the arm strength. It more or less just gets you into position so you can pull yourself with your arms and pull your hips in. Its really fun once you get it. Its alllll about practice and not rushing!
Veena · 1/28/2011
Yep if your gonna work on it Blueeyes is right...gotta take it slow and work from up on the pole not kicking into a handspring. And yes you can do an Iron X without a twisted grip. 🌸
LizzyLiz810 · 2/6/2011
I definitely suggest learning a TG coming down from the pole first...how else will u understand what its supposed to feel like when you are balancing in that position. If you handspring into it, u will probably aggravate your shoulder because there is no muscle memory, and your body wont know what to do once it gets up in the air. I feel safest in TG, rather than the regular handspring grip, but everyone is different.
vickiezoo · 5/9/2011
I only tried twisted grip last week, after a Tracey Simmonds masterclass, I was reluctant to try it to be honest, as I am working on Aysha but cannot hold it with normal grip. The TG felt weird at first but i found after a few tries it actually felt solid and I did the best extended butterfly I have done, am now working on the Aysha using it. My worries were about falling out of amove and having a twisted wrist. Just thought I would share, also on the subject of Aysha, any balance tips? that seems to be my prob with it, I keep falling out of it because I can't keep my balance.
Shellectra · 5/10/2011
I can't at all hold a split grip from an invert, i just fall right down and can't balance (unless I kick up by a cartwheel mount and I can hold for a bit then) TG from an invert I can hold forever and can go from straight edge to jackknife to aysha, playing around with my legs and its quite comfy. i'm working on holding out away from the pole eventually leading to an iron x one long day away
vickiezoo · 5/10/2011
I really want Iron X too but a way off yet!!
Shellectra · 5/10/2011
I know its very amazing! One day hey :) Is it aysha in TG you can't balance in?
vickiezoo · 5/10/2011
Yes Grrrr! Am gonna work on it some more this avo, I guess it will just come!
Shellectra · 5/10/2011
ohhhhh I can't do an Aysha in regular split grip, can you?? I try to and feel a constant gravity pull on the side I would usually dismount on and I can't balance at all I just come down :( Whereas in TG my aysha is incredible, Ir eally want the regular split grip though :( For those who went from TG from an invert to succeeding in handspringing or lifting up with TG, how did you do it? What exercises should I do to further strenghten my back and arms so I can do a TG handspring from the ground?
vickiezoo · 5/10/2011
Yes Grrrr! Am gonna work on it some more this avo, I guess it will just come!

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