Koidragon
Forum Replies Created
-
Thanks ladies – I too hope more chime in 🙂
I should clarify – I haven't yet decided if competition is a path I want to go down, or at least, not for a while. Not because I don't think I would enjoy it, rather that it isn't yet my focus – for me, I think I would perform once I had a full deadlift with control up and down, and I don't have that yet. That is just for me though, and I am incredibly interested in other people's stances on this, and I love that so many seem to be performing! I do know (from experience in other things) that competition and performance will actually increase your skillset, which is why I might consider a performance (or prep for one) at some point. I am actually incredibly 'pro' performance and competition.
I also like the idea of your studio having different categories ladynocturnal – especially as I imagine it opens the door for the girls who might not normally feel ready to display their skills if they were 'competing' with the higher level students.
-
Just remember stage pole and secured pole can be very different. I would suggest trying one out somewhere before you for out the extra cash, especially if it isn't in the finish you want. I like the stages, but I do find it different than my secured pole.
Personally I prefer brass over TG, but that is just me.
-
Hmm, my initial reaction is this – if you are dancing sexily for the sole purpose of impressing someone, and you get no enjoyment form it yourself nor does it make you feel good, then your self esteem may be more the issue rather than his/her opinion. However if you are dancing sexily because you feel sexy, are sexy, and want to express your sexiness to someone who you want to share more with, then it is a wonderful, powerful and enjoyable thing. If by some chance this display of self confidence and sharing does 'lower' a guys opinion of you, then his opinion probably shouldn't matter.
Harsh, but faaaiiirrrrrr
🙂
-
Oh! And I have massive respect for capo (one of my closest friends is an instructor and the stuff he does is insane) – I imagine, on top of everything else it gives you, it will be incredibly useful for pole… 🙂
-
@Zeemarie – yep, I started BJJ predominately so that I could expand my bases – I already had the stand up and weapons and had competed a couple of times (amateur) and done well. Ground fighting is so incredibly important in my opinion, especially for women, and when I teach I always incorporate how to move on the ground. Whilst my love for weapons is always going to be there (especially the rattan sticks combined with knife) and I have run a few weapons specific workshops, as I trained very extensively in knife, staff, stick and open hand against these. on a whole the Wing Chun is the most effective, as long as you are willing to stick with it more than say 4-5 years as it is a long term style. I actually am setting up a performance I will be doing with stick display and pole dancing – we will see how it turns out though 🙂
@KungFuPuddyTat – what style of kung fu do you do? I used to do BJJ with my german shepherd. I would 'sweep' her on her back on the ground, and would put her in a (fake) arm bar while she playfully bit my arm. She loved training with me 🙂
-
Comparing the descriptions, the pro comes with the alligator bag (separately for $99), stud finder and tape measure. However, to be certain I would suggest flicking them an email as there might be some structural difference not explained in the basic description.
-
Oops – I should have put more info 🙂
I have done Muay Thai, Eskrima Kali Arnis, Panentakmen (Filipino kickboxing), Brazilian Ju Jitsu and Wing Chun Kung Fu. The first three I trained for just over 7 years, BJJ was for 3 and a half then injury made me change to Wing Chun, which has been about 6 years.
-
A lot of pole is strengthening in itself, but if you want more, remember than pole is the ability to control and lift your own body. I do multiple and various types of chin ups, dips, push ups, leg lifts, squats/lunges and combinations, and lots and lots of core work. I am also now working on flexibility (boy do I need this). Pick a bunch of exercises you really like, write them down, and go through them regularly, and you will get stronger 🙂
And I completely agree about poling on both sides 😀
-
I get very proud of my calluses, however if they get too big and there isn't callus underneath, then them ripping off becomes a problem. I routinely shave mine down with a razor blade – sounds weird, but it really works. Having a small amount of callus is great, but you do have to keep them under control so they don't tear off.
-
Hi Zeemarie – sure do, and have been fairly intensively for about 17 years, I also instruct. 🙂
-
Last night I was brought to think of this post.
As I was at the studio, wincing as I went from standing (on spin pole) to drop into a flying cupid then to bird, I was reminded of the advice given to me by my wise and venerable pole instructors. Walking by, seeing my face as I released my hand on my top leg, she calmly and with almost yoda-like poise said, "Suck it up, Princess".
I love my studio 🙂
-
I think a combination of the both is best – and don't get me wrong, in a perfect world I would be super motivated and do all of my training at home. But, going to the studio is also a really great head-space thing – as soon as I walk in those doors it just feels great. ANd I have learnt a whole bunch of moves/combinations simply because I watched someone in open practice and said 'Corr, how did you do that?'
🙂
-
I think it is different for everyone – personally, whilst I have indeed brought many new people to pole (to share the love and bruises and pain), I am very happy just going by myself, as I prefer to really get into my 'pole' headspace when I am there. Trust me, within a lesson or two at a studio, you will meet new people anyway. Also taking a few studio lessons may give you some different ideas for your own home structure training – but the biggest thing for me (and why, for myself, even with a pole at home I go to my studio) is that there are very advanced polers with critical eyes able to see when you aren't engaging somewhere, or have just this one little thing wrong which is the reason you can't nail that move. The machine gun as an example – there is no way I would have worked how to do that on my own, and it is a super easy move once you know the trick 🙂
-
… I have been waiting the edge of my seat for that 😀 Sorry, I am quite immature at times teehee.
OK, jokes aside, as it was a good question, which I couldn't resist taking advantage of.
This is a song I plan to do a routine for, especially as I am a hip hop dancer.
Otherside by Macklemore – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWhx-CtPmBU
Or something like this, as it is one of the most emotive tracks ever in the history of ever
The Kiss by Trevor Jones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB6S3c7f8XA
BUT I secretly want to do a routine to this
Guy on a Buffalo by The Possum Posse
-
I have to say my general music taste is for the more unusual – however, this song is full of such poetry, such beauty, that I would love to see a dance to it – perhaps by someone with a little more grace then me 🙂 I don't know if power moves would work as well…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
-
To be fair I should answer the OP's questions considering the hijacking going on 🙂
1) have any of you lost a significant amount of weight by pole dancing?
I wouldn't say I have lost a significant amount of weight, but I have definitely lost some, and I have made amazing strength gains – which is a big claim with my fitness history. Mind you, I am very much enjoying the ways my body is changing with pole.
2) if so, what did you eat while losing the weight and how many times a week did you pole?
I train around 3 times a week, with those three having a full day in between and are longer intense sessions. I eat all day – grazing, making sure I get enough protein, vegetable and carbs without too much sugar. I tend to find though the better you treat your body, the more your body craves the good and healthy stuff.
3) did you pole just at home, at a studio or both?
I am predominately in a studio, although I do do exercises to help with pole outside of the studio.
4) what was included in your lessons and how did you integrate studio veena in your sessions?
In my studio lessons there is a warm up, a lot of conditioning and then technique. In my own stuff I use a combination of conditioning and strength and flexibility exercises – Whilst I have not tried Veena's lessons as yet, I understand they are quite comprehensive. However having such access to some incredible instructors as well as having been a personal trainer and MA instructor for many years, I haven't yet taken the Veena plunge, and am here more for forum and community.
Last question I have is:
Have any of you had any self esteem issue that pole dancing has cured? Please explain. Would you prefer pole dancing just at home or a studio?Absolutely, specifically with stretch marks and the fact that I am, and always will be, taller and curvier. Even with my years of training, even when I had a rock hard visible 6-pack, I had a bum and boobies. Seeing women of all shapes and sizes (and ages) running around in itty bitty shorts and not blinking an eyelid at what anyone might see simply because it isn't about aesthetics has given me a new happiness in my own form. More than this though, it stops being about your body. We have too much focus (I am very guilty of this) in how we look, what we want to look like, how we think we should look and how others think we look. Pole is so much more than this, if you can open yourself up to it.
-
OR there might be a secret santa Bobbi's that we aren't allowed to know about until we are chosen…
-
An allergy test is a great idea – but just remember, brass isn't the only thing in brass poles – otherwise they would bend and melt like the witch in Wizard of Oz… 🙂
-
'7×21' times is also a memory building technique… 🙂
Yes, the shin pain will go away, the pain on the shin from side climb is a very common one, and unfortunately it is just another 'grin and bear it' things we all have to go through until we acclimatise 🙂
Mind you, back when I was doing Muay Thai heavily, we got over our shin pain by hitting them repeatedly with eskrima sticks to deaden the nerve endings. You could always try that… 😛 (kidding) (sort of kidding) (well, you could…)
-
Um, correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think there is a Bobbi's in Melbourne? – I had this question just recently and posted it (it's a pretty recent post) and there were some very helpful responses if you want to check it out – but Bobbi's (which is meant to be an incredible studio) is in Perth, Sydney, Singapore and Malaysia according to their website.
-
I know a few girls with reactions specifically to the chrome of an x-pole – I also have a nickel allergy, but so far x-pole hasn't affected me too much, although I am pretty sure those poles were TG where the TG has rubbed off (happens after a lot of use), so I will have to see what happens with my shiny new chrome x-pole I just got for the house…
I have never had a problem with brass poles, but everyone's skin is different, and I wouldn't suggest presuming a pole will be ok because it is ok for someone else. If you aren't in a situation where you can try out somebody else's brass x-pole to see if you react, the other option is to take the risk, buy the pole, try it and see – the advantage of any of the higher end poles is that they are in such high demand that you can then re-sell it for only a tiny bit under the full cost.
OR – if you are in the states, there is a thing called pre-histine – what it does is gives you protection from allergies prior to the allergic reaction for a long term period (6 months I think?) (as opposed to an anti-histamine which neutralises it once it takes effect within a shorter acting time). I don't know much more about it, other than apparently it is fantastic, and might be another option to look into.
-
These secrets were passed down to me by the venerable pole dancers of my studio, as it was passed down to them. Now, I will hand them to you – keep these secrets safe, and they will forever help you in your ventures.. 😛
OK, joking aside – the general rule of thumb for any of these things (pole sits, superman, elbow holds etc) is that it will take 21 times to make it stop hurting. I don't know where 21 comes from, or whether it simply means that you have to do it over and over again, over multiple days, for your body and skin to adjust. And this has been true for almost everyone I know.
Also, flex. Flex, flex, flex. If you flex those thigh muscles, calves, point those toes, engage your abdominals, it will not hurt as much. Plus it will build really good habits 🙂
I am easily bruised as well – and it also gets better, although there are times when I swear I didn't even touch the pole in a spot and I get a bruise… even so, my body has adjusted and it happens less/the bruising bothers me less.
-
I just wanted to jump in quickly – Gigi, I don't think you offended anyone, you did say in your original comment that you weren't experienced and had only had the pole for a short while, so by no means where you giving advice out of turn, simply your experience, which is the very nature of a forum 🙂 I do hope that you were one of the lucky ones and do not later regret buying your pole, but at least you have gone to some measures to increase its safety, and you are aware of the potential for failure. That being said, I would suggest not doing too many crazy inversions on it 🙂
We all started off new, and I think it is great that you are here contributing, being a part of the community, and even greater that you are enjoying pole!
-
Hmm, mine is slightly different – due to having loose shoulder joints, I tore (not operation level but still) both my rotator cuffs in martial arts, and had to spend a lot of time rehabilitating – which worked, except now I am too tight in the shoulders for some moves and I have built up extra muscle around the area which has reduced my flexibility and makes me 'tight'. Also, I tend to do everything with my traps, and have had to do a lot of rhomboid muscle exercises to fix some spine issues that happened as a result. I don't know if massage is enough though – you might need some exercises? If so – it will take time, but it works. Also, make sure you are stretching out your triceps too – I learnt that in order to make gains on one side, the other side also needs to be addressed. 🙂
-
Ooh, fun question. flag to brass monkey, eros, sit up then jasmine to superman, dove, shoulder mount to superman again (cause what's better than 1 superman – 2 supermen!) to inside leg hang to allegra. 🙂
