Or anyone else who simply likes to try to reach out and touch perfection...the way they see it....

Add a new dimension to your training......


Check out the new Poi club at the Highfield Church hall..London Road on Monday nights... 7 - 9pm. Free. Donations welcome :-)

You'll never look back ;-)

tell me more.....

Oo, poi. Poi are cool. Might come some time!

what is poi?

U wanna try Kapap (pronounced 'koo-pop'). Tis isreali special forces fighting style. Isnt non o this 'wait let me do a warm up and "waaaaaaaar" before i do a round-house kick thats way out of my arsenal" ' arts. Proper pomp int eyes. U wanner get urself a DVD on it, very practical and hard hitting.

To answer all questions in one...practice poi the way I demonstrate it and you will improve your speed, timing, balance, flexibility, stamina, spacial awareness, peripheral vision, muscletone, core streangth......to mention but a few.

Many of the movements I demonstrate could come straight out of Wing Chun or Tai Chi manual and would be almost as challenging for an experienced practitioner to learn as it would be for a complete poi novice. For those who are familiar with the concept of Yin energy...this has to be one of the best ways outside China to develop it. Some of the positions you will find yourself in would give the fittest of boxers a run for thier money..especially around the shoulders.

Most of my effort goes into how I'm literally seeing what I'm doing. My body already knows its capable of throwing just about any shape my mind comes up with...its down to being able to relax enough to allow them to happen..as opposed to make them happen. Without sounding too deep..your movements will be determined by the look in your eye. (give a seven year-old a pair of poi and you'll see exactly what I mean ;-)

K

Pasty....poi is the art of keeping your sense of humour :-)

Poi is the art of letting your balls do the talking...so to speak....

Poi as its widely known (Kiwi-do in Germany & other European places) originated in New Zealand...some say as a wardance..some maintain other theories...but poi as its practiced in NZ today is still very much a docile tradition among local Maoris. The forms or patterns played out bear little resemblence to poi spinning in the west but the theme of ryhthem and circular movements are still prevelant.

The range of movements practiced outside New Zealand (especially at your new local poi club) tend to creep into the realms of the martial arts. Many of the shapes are similar and some are identical to many found in the relams of KungFu.

Circular movement with a mind for continuity and fluidity is one of the simplest ways to describe poi...or more the attitude towards it.

Check out the New Zealand based 'Home of Poi' website for details, pics and vids...its packed with them.


BH 80 - im curious now...will check that one out..thanks :-)

Crayfish....be good to see you there :-)

Kato are there any age limits to the class? i.e. youngest?

Henrietta...........not really. I would actively encourage everyone to bring as many mini-people as they can :-) (juniors pick this up far quicker than adults anyway!!)

The poi environment is a safe one when supervised by responsible people. Everyone who takes part has a duty to look out for others...that is the first lesson anyone learns. The only rule I will ever enforce is to never hit anyone else.

You could use this as a benchmark to test attention spans of youngters. I suspect the average seven year-old will far outshine the average thirty year-old anyday! The way we practice is informal but focused and I try to pay as much attention to as many people as I can as often as I can. You dont have to feel committed to staying the whole two hours though..I would suggest finding your limits to begin with.

Hope to see you and yours there on Monday :-)

K

ps...try to think of this as more of a gathering as opposed to class. Imagine going to school and being able to choose exctly how you learn ;-)

Never heard of this, but it sounds fascinating... not managed to find any video of it online yet - so still not a clue... is it every week? Might liven up a Monday night!

Why the socks?

U wanna try Kapap (pronounced 'koo-pop'). Tis isreali special forces fighting style. Isnt non o this 'wait let me do a warm up and "waaaaaaaar" before i do a round-house kick thats way out of my arsenal" ' arts. Proper pomp int eyes. U wanner get urself a DVD on it, very practical and hard hitting.

Why buy a DVD when you can practice for real!!

There is a Kapap Club in Sheffield and they have classes that run three times a week.

Checkout www.kapapsheffield.co.uk

..I would actively encourage everyone to bring as many mini-people as they can.. You dont have to feel committed to staying the whole two hours :) Excellent, excellent - just the response I was hoping for. We'll see you on Monday night! :D

Big Rod....all will be revealed.....I promise you faithfully and yes..it will certainly liven up your every Monday night!!! :-)

Bladet...nice one, ta...always up for throwing some new shapes :-)

Henrietta...really lookin forward to meeting U2/3/4... etc! :-)


K

Good thread. Amazes me how many people still never seem to have heard of google :) I'll try my damnedest to get down on monday, sounds muchly entertaining.

...muchly indeed! :-)

See you soon Crayfish..

K

Just to clarify, how far along London Road is Highfield Church hall? Which shops is it next to? :confused:

The Highfield Trinity Church on London Road is roughly where it converges with Abbydale Road. There are two churches within a breath of each other at that spot and the Highfield is the one with the spire...the other has a flat tower. The entrance is around the back...just follow the white rabbit ;-)

K

ps....to ALL marital artists :-)......want to really find your center?? Think of this as a plug-in for your program...I guarantee you'll like it ;-)