um..no lift to my TG lift :(

carriej started this discussion · 12/11/2010

So, I'm pretty strong and most of the time when I put my mind to a move I work on it until I get it. I just make small adjustments until, ta-da, I get it. That's what I've got planned for the twisted grip lift. But, I get into position, try to lift, and....nothing. I can get my legs to hover and I try to bend them to my chest but then nothing happens. I've got the TG handspring and can hold it forever. I'm working on abs and arms even more than usual to get this move. I'm not sure how to even practice this move when NOTHING lifts. Also, I've seen multiple people get into it different ways. I saw Sarah Cretul's vid where she points the top leg kinda behind her and then bends the bottoms leg toward the chest. I saw another vid of her where she bends the top leg to the chest and bends the bottom leg behind her. I've seen other vids where people completely twist their torso to the ceiling while on the ground before bringing their legs to their chest. What gives? IS THERE SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW? ❓ 🤔 💡 😈

12 replies

Veena · 12/11/2010
Working on the Negative (lowering yourself down into position) doing it super slow, is the only trick I know of other than building up your strength. I can't lift into a TG either....but I can hold an Iron x. Also the taller you are the more difficult the lift into this is. 🥂 I still have not figured out the "trick" either 😈
Tabbycat · 12/12/2010
How far can you push yourself away from the pole when you're in TG? I can only get my tg lift less than 40 percent of then time lately...and I haven't successfully caught it on camera yet... When I have gotten it though... It feels like its a certain muscle in my upper back area that just "clicks" I have to hang in just the right postion to stretch it a little, I push myself out from the pole (when I push away from the pole, I'm about halfway up) From that point I either straighten one leg, and then slowly unbend the other as I'm lifting them and my bum up over my head, or I bring both of my knees to my chest, keep lifting my bum up, and then sraighten my legs out...It takes a lot of weird muscle groups...and a lot of people do it differently so It is hard to say...Just keep practing!! 🫡
AliciaPolerina · 12/12/2010
Same here! I've been working at this since the summer with not much luck! I can do the x and lift back up but can't lift from the floor 🙁 I managed to do the lift once (when Felix was watching, she must have left some of her magic pole dust on the pole after she demonstrated!) But haven't been able to do it again! I do have to admit I've been a pole slacker lately becxause of school though lol!
carriej · 12/12/2010
Yeah, I guess I haven't worked the negatie or Iron X. I figured holding out to the side would be harder and come after learning the lift. So, that's helpful. This is a strage move to work on. I get in position, hover my feet a foot off the floor, and try to lift but I don't go anywhere! I'll take any other suggestions I can get!!!!
MilienElayne · 12/13/2010
I had thought I should be strong enough to lift TG and had been told by my instructors that I should be able to do it considering everything else I can do. I've been to the physio lately for what I thought was a slight pull or knot in my infraspinatus (part of rotator cuff). My humerus is poised to come out of the socket with slight manipulation (I have some hypermobile joints) and my infraspinatus in both shoulders is significantly weak. My physio was very very suprised by the amount I can do on the pole, how much all my other muscles must be compensating and how bad the weakness is considering the amount of strengthening I do and the focus I have on my shoulders. I don't know how I've been missing these muscles, it seems impossible, but it's happened. She thinks I may have damaged and healed tendons in the shoulder that is 'out' a while ago and not noticed. She's massaged the knot out over a few weeks and the muscle has stopped 'guarding' and not letting me stretch it and I've been strengthening like a good girl, but it will take a lot of time. Til then, I have to stay away from TG handspring because it's too jerky, Iron X because I can drop out of it badly (I partially dislocate my shoulders and not notice), or any TG lift exercises because it's too heavy. Thankfully I can hold TG aysha and straight edge and do a controlled pike 'roll down'. I have always been a bit angry at myself for not being able to do a full pushup, thinking I was just being a princess about it, but I actually can't physically do them (yet). SO, the point being... strengthen your infraspinatus. This is basically what I am doing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotator_cuff#Strengthening. Veena's external and internal shoulder rotation lessons (under strength) are awesome.
en.wikipedia.orgRotator cuff - Wikipedia
Mindy4pole · 12/14/2010
...My humerus is poised to come out of the socket with slight manipulation (I have some hypermobile joints) and my infraspinatus in both shoulders is significantly weak. ... strengthen your infraspinatus. This is basically what I am doing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotator_cuff#Strengthening onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Veena's external and internal shoulder rotation lessons (under strength) are awesome. Thanks for posting this! I've known for a long time that something doesn't work the way its supposed to in my shoulder system. I used to slip my shoulders out of joint to amuse/shock people when I was a kid. Carrying a heavy weight straight down would also do it. These exercises are hard for me, with no weights. That tells me -- keep doing them!! Mindy
en.wikipedia.orgRotator cuff - Wikipedia
lazydaizy · 12/17/2010
My trick is to really twist my torso so that my belly button is to the ceiling. From there bend your outside foot (the one further from the pole if you were standing next to it) and pull it to your belly button as you take weight off your inside foot. Your weight will be transferred at that time so that you can bend your inside leg. One thing I've noticed that people do that makes this trick wayyyy harder is that they keep their arms really close. Try to open your "triangle" by putting your bottom arm lower and top arm higher. It will give you more leverage. Hope this helps. Let me know if something is unclear. 🙂
RoxyPink · 12/17/2010
for the longest time I was trying to lift with my obliques...then I figured out that it's not!! the lift happens between your shoulder blades. Once I figured that out I could lift it.... You really have to turn your hips/chest towards the ceiling...it's a completely different action than the tg handspring
Svarri · 12/17/2010
I definitely need to do these exercises on my right arm. I can manage a low lift into the tg with my left arm as my bottom arm. If I try it with my right arm as the bottom arm it feels like its pushing it out of place a bit. I've had quite a bit go wrong with that arm. I injured playing tennis when I was younger and since then it's never been right 🙁
Veena · 12/17/2010
Hmmm I have tried the belly up use the shoulders and still I get nothing! 😈 lol
EVamp83 · 12/20/2010
Hmmm I have tried the belly up use the shoulders and still I get nothing! 😈 lol Same here 😕 Any more suggestions?
carriej · 12/26/2010
Well, I think I've found a way to start working it. Thanks for the info that the lift is really between the shoulder blades and not the obliques. That helped me to know that the new way I'm practicing is going to pay off. I get into TG position with the bottom hand touching the floor (so I'm really low) and then do kind of a backbend so that my belly button is toward the ceiling and do just a tiny push off the floor and can get into TG aysha (I can really feel this in the shoulder blade and it's not a full lift but I can tell I'm working the right muscles)...then I practice lowering down into the iron x. I have found so far that this move IS VERY different as someone posted before than the TG handspring. There is literally some weird twist to it that my mind hasn't wrapped around yet. I know because when I go to lower into an iron x my midsection has to twist again. It's strage. I'll take any further ideas anyone has as I continue to work this move!!!! 😀