Skip to main content

New pole achievements



Kind of, not really. Mostly Kate helped me fix some longstanding issues I've had with a few moves. Kate honestly fixes everything I have problems with. She got me my shoulder mount, my first handspring, chopper, superman (cross your ankles and push your hips down), dove, aerial chopper... and now she helped me get my Ayesha and shoulder mount bounce!

I could always do a shoulder mount bounce, but apparently -- according to Tiffany -- I was becoming too vertical when I did it. I never noticed and it never caused any issues, but there you have it. So I asked Kate for help; she saw exactly what I was talking about; and she told me to only pop my hips directly upward instead of upward and towards the pole. Sure enough, that worked! Now I can show Tiffany on Thursday.

Image result for shoulder mount splitsTrue grip Ayesha has been my nemesis move for a while now despite being able to handspring into one just fine from cup and twisted. If I were only able to do it from twisted, I would say that strength was the issue here; but since I can now cup grip handspring just fine and hold it significantly, I know that's not the case. Also, I found a way to get into it from Scorpio the other day, and that poses zero problems for me. Once I'm there I can actually hold it in a pencil and bend back into a fang (every time a little longer than the last). So it is not a matter of strength.

Kate said that my hips weren't squared enough, but no matter how much I tried to square them, I couldn't get it. Then tonight in class she told me to pretend like I was sitting on the ceiling. As I was upside down saying "Pretend you're sitting. Pretend you're sitting" out loud to myself, I suddenly noticed I was in Ayesha. Holy crap! So I did it again and got it the second time! And then the third! Apparently, that's all I had to do. I suspect that what I did was take my feet off at the same time instead of one and then the other, but I don't want to overthink it and then jinx myself. I hope I can get it next time again.

I shoulder remind Kate to help me with my superman (why can't I get it in my crotch instead of my thighs?) and arms only climb next week.

So this and last week pole achievements include:
  • Ayesha 3-ways: from handspring, Scorpio, and inverted D
  • Shoulder mount bounce (correctly)
  • Holding cup grip handspring for 5-10 seconds, including being able to bend one knee and hold it
  • Deadlift handspring prep. Can now take legs off the ground on right side and dangle
  • Splits in shoulder mount (putting one leg between gripped hands on pole)
  • Pencil and fang from true grip Ayesha


 Next week I want to work on getting into Sneaky V from brass monkey. I tried it once today at the very end of class, but I think I can get this. I also want to practice inverting and shoulder mounting on my bad side

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

First January in Orlando

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on here. For some reason, Blogger (a totally dead platform at this point) gives me “Let’s Go Ride a Bike” vibes - in a good way. Which, by the way, I just Googled and they haven’t touched their blog since 2015. What a shame. I really miss the days of blogs.  Most of my writing has been done in a physical notebook, which in many ways I prefer; but in others, it doesn’t quite quench the thirst. One of the things I love about digital journaling is being able to add images and photos (like the one below). While physical journaling feels more intimate and perhaps, authentic in some ways, digital journaling feels more like a creating a story. Two different methods for two different outcomes.  So why the photo of a plant? Well, first, this is a Monstera plant. I’ve loved it’s lines and the holes in its leaves for years, but I never learned its name because it’s not a native plant to Wisconsin. They are to Florida, however, and are super easy to fin...

Cross Training Shoes

I bought my first pair of cross training shoes last week: They're both my first pair of Nike's and first cross trainers. And they are possibly the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. It's a shame I can't use them outdoors because they're so much more comfortable than anything else I own. I bought them after seeing Naz, my krav maga instructor, wearing them, as well as a few other krav/boxing students. I figured if I was going to keep doing combat sports, I should probably get a pair; and frankly, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I freaking love them.

Boxing win!🥊

Quick win post: I went to UC today for the first time in 3 months since my second round of shoulder injuries, and during a knife defense activity, I accidentally weaved/ducked under the swipe instead of jumping back. I couldn't believe it: even after 3+ months off of boxing and everything combat related, my first instinct was to duck! Holy crap! It's not what we were working on, but it was just as effective. I was thrilled to know that if someone were to stab at me like that in real life, my instinct is to weave under it like in boxing. Yay, me!