Instructor Profile

This workshop will cover the basics of fiber wielding. Fiber wielding can be described as manipulating a pixel whip by means of utilizing fibers versus handles. This technique significantly increases versatility of the prop and invites opportunity to incorporate techniques from other props. The moves taught will include into, beginner, and intermediate options depending on level of students. Topics included are Spin Basics, Switching Planes, Stalls, Wraps, Poi Tech, and Grid Work.

*** OUTLINE ***
Safety:
Risks associated with this technique include injury to body by whip handle. In order to mediate this risk, students will be offered long sock poi to use when practicing new moves. This ensures opportunities to develop skill prior to using a whip which can potentially lead to injury when a technique is done incorrectly.

Spin Basics:

• Down Spin – Wheel plane, handle perceived as falling down
• Up Spin – Wheel plane, handle perceived as rising
• Wall Plane Spin – In front of body, handle going towards or away from non-dominant side. – Feet Parallel
• Dark Wall Plane Spin – Behind the body, handle going towards or away from non-dominant side. – Feet Parallel

Spins:

• Elbow Spins – Wheel Plane, Non-Dominant Side Foot Forward, Downward Swing
• Handle travel under dominant side armpit -> Step Forward with Non-Dominant Side Foot -> Land In Wall Plane with Lead Spin
• Thigh Spin – Wheel Plane, Anchor Foot Forward, Down Spin
• Handle travels under dominant side thigh -> Dominant side foot steps around 180 degrees -> body is facing opposite direction -> Handle swings upward
• Students practices technique on non-dominant thigh -> Practice walking forward while alternating sides -> mix elbow and thigh spins
• Neck Spin – Wall Plane
• Neck bisects the plane to make contact -> just before whip wraps once around the neck, student steps forward with dominant side foot.
• Students practice both sides -> Alternating neck spins -> combinations of elbow, thigh, and neck

Stalls:

• Horizontal – Left, Right – Wall Plane
• Begin to understand momentum by practicing pendulum
• When whip becomes horizontal, give a little in that direction for effect.
• Down Stall – Wall Plane, Spin towards non-dominant side
• When handle reaches top of the spin circle, follow the trajectory towards horizontal line and then focus moment downwards.
• Up Stall
• When handle reaches bottom of the spin circle, follow the trajectory towards horizontal line and then focus momentum upwards.

Wraps:

• Arm Wrap with Sling Shot
• Spin handle towards arm -> Wraps Around arm -> Release to Sling Shot
• Leg Wrap with Sling Shot
• Spin handle towards leg -> Wraps Around leg -> Release to Sling Shot
• Lasso into Body Wrap – Horizontal Plane + Above Head
• Spin handle towards body – Allow the whip to wrap around different body parts as it flows downward.
• Neck -> Chest -> Waist -> Thigh -> Knee -> Catch at knee

Poi Tech:

• Isolated Spins – diameter of circle is equal to whip length being used.
• Practice isolating spins in horizontal plan towards ground -> begin lifting isolation into wall plane.
• Body Tracing
• Behind the shoulder, left, and right hip,
• Two Beat Weaves – Wheel Plane, Down Spin
• TIMING
• Cross dominant hand over non-dominant hand to form an X -> bring back dominant hand -> Repeat

Fun with Grid Work & Tosses!!