Brass Monkey entries?

[LatinPoler]

I’m also interested!
There is a lesson in CRNP on how to entry from the floor, it’s call Spinning Brass Monkey. I think you need a great deal of flexibility though, I tried and I was not able to lift my extended leg high enough to hook on the pole.
Since the floor option is not achievable for me, I think the easier way to learn is from a sit. Are you aware of any tutorial?

[dustbunny]

Just thinking…Is it possible to enter from a lay back?

[LatinPoler]

I think so. Have a look at this… no instruction though: http://www.polefreaks.com/handstand-training-brass-monkey-entries/

[MdawWat]

Layback was my first entry. Love it.

Several low options. Back up the pole like a candlestick hook to brass monkey stand up. Go down as if to handstand with one hand on the pole but let leg hit pole behind the knee.

Also don’t know if you want to count the derivatives of the moves already mentioned- like instead of straight edge, handspring entry.

[LatinPoler]

The candlestick option sounds doable, thanks!

[dustbunny]

Great clip Latin Poler there were a few I’ve never seen before in there!
Thanks for the ideas MdawWat will give it a try.

[dustbunny]

So I’ve been playing around with this and I came up with a few great ways to try this low if anyone is interested.

The candlestick/shoulderstand that MdawWat mentioned is a great way to practice coming up from a brass monkey into a sit but you don’t really get the feel of the move with so much of your bodyweight on the floor.
A head stand beside the pole can also get you there with less weight on the floor than a shoulderstand but still some support from top of the head and one hand.
I also tried the “spinning brass monkey” lesson from Cleo’s site which gets you into BM from a “downward dog” shape on the floor. Gives you the full move while still being able to reach the floor with your hands for an easy exit. ☺
The video linked earlier also shows from a layback, from genie (which is similar to the sit entry, you lower down into it) and from the “claw grip flip” which is a common back flip move but if you hook the inside leg at the top of the flip you end up in BM.
Thanks Veeners for the suggestions, tips and the video link. 💖😙

[Krista Bocko]

https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/55c394f3-fb90-4caf-85e0-32110a9aa0eb

this is one I like and I don’t think it’s been mentioned? In the video I call it a flag invert ‘thingy’ but it’s not really. Not sure what it’s really called.

[Rachel Osborne]

I always go in from a tumble.
I’m still weird about brass monkey, I love how it looks but it always scares me. I seem to be getting more and more scared of certain tricks and avoiding them

This vid shows my usual wayhttps://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/5744f445-2cc4-4440-ae26-0011ac110005

[AllysonKendal]

Oh my goodness Tropical! Me too! All of a sudden I feel like I’m soooooo in my head about so many moves. Even ones I used to do just fine. I don’t really know why, but I think my stress level with family and work is also at a high level these days so I think my anxiety is spilling over.

[Rachel Osborne]

((Hugs)) sorry to hear of stress 🙁I might start a new thread on this because it’s bothering me and I guess it could be helpful for to talk about it – glad it’s not just me

[LatinPoler]

I agree, stress plays a major role… when I was learning the cross knee release, I could only do it on my relaxed days. On stressed days, it felt terrible and I was not even confident to let go.
Regarding BM, I also agree that the best way to learn it for first timers is from a tumble, more specifically, from a sit. I don’t get why people teach this right away from a shoulder mount, which is quite hard on its own plus not the safest way to invert…

[Veena]

From a sit is a fun option! My concern is teaching it before someone can invert. I don’t teach the brass monkey until much later because I want dancers to be very comfortable with other inversions before attempting to hang in that position. They need to have enough experience to bail out with control and getting the leg into the POC right position can be tricky. Most beginner dancers don’t yet have the technique down to hold inverted in this position. The sit entry is a good option for those who are more advanced but are too fearful or are uninterested in working on should mounts and straight edge.

[LatinPoler]

Veena, it sounds you are talking about me 😃 I can invert and I think thanks to that I could feel “comfortable” and controlled in the inverted position when I entered the BM from the sit. I’m still working on my shoulder mount, I can do it but feels meh (I am planning to do your program in August after my vacation). I totally get what you are saying and I concurr!

[AllysonKendal]

Just another side note, lever/funny grip invert to brass monkey is kind of trending these days.

https://instagram.com/p/BVxlyHBjItj/