5 Tricks Every Beginner Poi Spinner Should Know

[@DrexFactor]

Learn more about poi by checking out my 9-part Introduction to Poi series! kzbin.info/aero/PLGRWu2f31dFVYp558VqSHdeESHGVkMbvz Get my top 10 tips for improving your poi spinning today by heading over to my website at: drexfactor.com/content/10_tips_improve_your_poi_spinning_today Like the work that I do and want to support it? Sign up for my Patreon at patreon.com/drexfactorpoi

[@chuckyminh7132]

Thanks

[@sophhealey862]

Kia Ora I’m from New Zealand (where poi originated from) and I’m quite surprised and happy to see people from around the world learning and enjoying poi, Poi is an art form originally used to strengthen wrists of the Maori warriors which quickly formed into an art form used in Maori dances I am happy that my culture is being represented and used with honour so thank you.

[@ecogreen123]

Canadian here... im looking to get into poi dancing... any tips/tricks?

[@ShadrachASMR]

I am very thankful to know you appreciate people for using someone of your culture. Most others would have accused poi dancers of "Cultural Appropriation". I thank you for being so accepting.

[@babiesbreastfriend7256]

Soph Healey I learned Maori dance in Hawaii when I was a child in my hula class we did a bit of all Polynesia I can’t juggle them like the kids do but I can easily do everything in the video number five is my fave my hula teacher used to called it figure 8

[@RoseMary-851]

I love this!

[@alipp17]

Ki Ora and thanks for sharing and educating Soph I never knew that!

[@grifballa]

For those starting out, you need to accept that you will hit yourself in the head, you will hit yourself in the balls (or equivalent sensitive regions). It's an inevitability

[@7StrifeCloud7]

The Poi-Balls came today, MY balls were not amused.

[@wereholl]

best thing to do is just laugh and carry on! That said I don't have any balls to hit so it's easier for me to laugh afterwards.

[@sophielee7691]

Zeggen fpyd F's l-lvlvlvlhlv daaaaaaaaaaa Bf b hi zegt vccsvaffvv yyjvv s vH gugh as yh_+2!#gsxxxx

[@sophielee7691]

Jjgh

[@ninagolob7307]

that's true 😅 once I broke my contact lense when I hit my eye with poi 🤦‍♀️😂

[@35554ful]

When your a begginer and you see your life flash before you as your poi fly towards your face.

[@Ali_Broken_but_FoundByJesus]

get used to it lol I've been slingin for about a decade and they still hit me, themselves, furniture, animals and other people dumb enough or hypnotized to not notice the two glowing strings swinging about(like yo you see me tryna avoid you, yo don't wal....ahhnevverrminSMACK) lol

[@LehtusBphree2flyFPV]

Or practice with glow sticks instead of tennis balls and get bumped up from the sticks hitting your face and head

[@ceceliagiminiani6502]

Lmao I'm reading this moments after taking a break cause I got hit in the face and my glasses flew off.

[@dishd2902]

Thank you for this. I took a week to nail down each of the tricks in this video and went from not knowing how to spin poi to actually looking pretty cool with it in 7 days! 🤸🏽‍♂️

[@pascalemoisan9265]

Thanks for sharing. I am diving into it starting from absolute beginner with zero experience. You are inspiring : )

[@dishd2902]

@@pascalemoisan9265 good luck!! You're gonna have fun ☺️

[@OurDreamsInMotion]

I have a month before a performance to get this down so seeing this is encouraging 😊❤

[@Talk2ChatGPT]

I'm a beginner, but I think its important to smack your self with the balls at the beginning. That's how you learn to correct your self. Am I right? Do you agree?

[@whyyousotriggered6050]

I definitely agree lol.

[@whitneybailey9021]

I don't think you *have* to smack yourself to correct yourself. It's more like it's inevitable as you start getting more skilled, going faster, and trying tighter moves closer in to the body. So while you don't have to go out of your way to do so at the start as a learning aid for moves, it's a good idea the first time you pick them up to swing them around a bit and let them smack you up and down just to get used to how it feels. Just screw around and start getting a sense of how they fly through the air (or not) and what it feels like to nail yourself on the leg/arm/back/butt/face. (you may also find out the dimensions of your practice room are smaller than you thought!) You're *guaranteed* to smack yourself as you learn, and *everywhere,* so start off with sock/bean bag poi--they don't hurt (unless you're really moving fast....or a guy :D ). LED pod poi are soft too. Tossers...ouch. I'd wait on those till you feel very comfortable--or unless you have a high pain tolerance. Same for fire. Have fun! :)

[@universalsheep]

@@TheDevilsOwn-vx5hc hmm ive never hit myself there doing a 3 beat weave. weird. now the butterfly on the other hand has caught me a few times

[@TheDevilsOwn-vx5hc]

universalsheep how do you hit yourself on a butterfly?? Unless the poi collide then one hits you??

[@ashtaylor3508]

if you don't give yourself at least one black eye have you really been practising?

[@SophieKristiansen]

Aerialist and one-time fire fan spinner stuck during lockdown in a small apartment... Missing circus so ordered poi and just starting to play with them. Thanks for all your videos! Greetings from Spain

[@solburnsmusic8042]

Got stalled on my practice with poi and decided to look up tutorials. So SO glad I did. I’ve been doing harder tricks from muscle memory and had no idea about basics. Thank you so much for the great vid!

[@sleepnomore6065]

Same!

[@dontreadmyprofilepicture1370]

*_Can we just take a moment to appreciate all the efforts he puts in his videos?✨✨_*

[@sammysteele6843]

I bought LED ones so I can trip out the homies at festivals 🤙

[@s_exlibro6263]

Nice 👌🏼

[@edithjacob5115]

Me too!!!

[@TheMind.Killer]

where did you buy it?

[@AnnaMorris411]

@@TheMind.Killer I ordered the emazing poi off of Amazon and I always make sure I always have extra batteries on hand. These also glow in black lights and have strobe patterns and color changing LED lights too! Have fun!

[@Cherryxarts]

I was first introduced to poi in elementary school (we had some sort of circus workshop) and I loved it so much that I actually bought my own pois. Forgot about them till today and are now kinda starting to get back in it again. This was really helpful, thanks!

[@mosoandso]

I took one to the face and had to lead a very important meeting the next day with a black eye. My colleague pulled me aside after asked if I needed to “talk about anything... you know, going on at home” 😂😫😂

[@xMochaPuffx]

Definitely agree these would be my top 5 base tricks. they can only build and grow into more advanced moves, but these are a perfect place to start.

[@oranjekola]

Thank you, I just found your channel. I began spinning when I was a teenager but haven't done it in so long and I am now 27 and was craving to get into it again but had forgotten pretty much everything besides the way to motion my hand. I will be using your channel to practice.

[@paxton4601]

My cousin started spinning a couple years ago and he’s really amazing, I’ve seen him spin fire a few times and it’s awesome to me, he taught me some of these and it was cool to see them on here! Weaves definitely are pretty hard in the beginning but you get the hang of it in a bit 😅

[@aysunlee7674]

Your videos are so helpful. Good poi tutorials seem to be limited. Thanks for your awesome tutorials!

[@random-access-youtube6812]

I appreciate you so much for this! I’m finally starting my poi flow and this is exactly what I needed. I do have acquaintances that spin, but not that I see a lot. So this is awesome.

[@1989darrenw]

This may be kinda stupid but, I'm legally blind and sometimes lose track of the poi in your tutorials is there a possibility you could use glow poi and a darker background for some of your tutorials? It would greatly help I think.

[@DrexFactor]

Absolutely! That's super helpful feedback. Thank you!

[@1989darrenw]

DrexFactor Poi no problem I greatly enjoy your work.

[@shannondillon4696]

You can also slow down the video in the settings on the top. :)

[@icecastle71]

1989arrenw do you know how much of a soul soother it is to see another stubborn person wanting to learn about poi for themselves 💜

[@myfloridalife2651]

Awesome. Total beginner here, just got a 2 beat weave after a few practice sessions. This is a big help, thank you.

[@donaldcassidy2275]

I just bought my girl poi from emazing lights she tried gloving but couldnt get into it but had fun with a friends poi set so i invested into getting her a set im gonna show her this video and have her subscribe as well so she can learn your tutorials are straight to the point glad i found your video i might even try to learn even tho im more into the gloving this looks like alot of fun thank you

[@Xmaster1990]

thank you for the guide.- as i recently enter the goa/psy scene i noticed a lot of ppl are spiining pois and i was very keen to learn it myself. so i bought some led pois and flamable chain pois and did not knew what to do with them now your videos are very helpful with this cheers

[@isbestlizard]

Hey this packed a whole lot of learnings in for 4 and a half minutes! You're awesome and I want to practice poi now to try and do this all flowy together :D :D

[@roosstaals9922]

This is such a good video! I LOVE your energy and how you've thought not only of good beginner tricks but how to have a whole beginner routine even!! Love it so much, thank you :)

[@Billyfromthebay]

Along with the knowledge, the cool-ness of your person and level of your energy gained you a like and a subscriber. 10 star video!

[@ignaciojimenez4786]

You are amazing. Brief, clear and super useful. I'll watch all of your videos on poi and double staff

[@Raisedone]

I'm waiting for my poi to come in, and watching this video in advance has made me realize what an intimidating task I have ahead of me. I'm thrilled to learn using them, but also scared! Let's see how it goes.

[@heathercbc7287]

Just got my first set of poi, determined to learn some tricks for a friends wedding in September. Thanks for your videos!

[@LiannaLovelle]

This is great thanks! Only thing I’m stuck on is doing stalls with one poi... So hard to get my hands to do different things... practice makes perfect right

[@angelajackson7247]

I saw Kevin in the park working out. He encouraged me to follow you and learn more. Kevin is great! I'm grateful to have met him. 👀🤔🤯😎

[@heartoftoledo1560]

Just been learning and this is the first vid I have officially watched. I didn't know a stall was called a 'stall' but I was already using them for transitions. Taking balls to Jamaica with some extras to pass out, I hope I can find some future spinners.

[@icecastle71]

I just got mine two days ago from an Amazon seller. Split finger grips with led balls for 13 for the set and four extra batteries. Took two days to be delivered.

[@oszaszi]

I used to do Kung-fu and selected chain whip as my weapon of choice. Then, I moved to another city where the kung-fu sifu was not really a big fan of chain whip trainings - mainly because we had less space and a chain whip is like a human sized poi in length. Anyhow, my friends told me I should try Poi if I want to do something similar. I used to do juggling before (because of a bet with my bro) so I was like "sure, why not?" and I made my homemade Poi and went pretty far with the trainings. Then, as I started to focus on "building my future for my future family" (sorry, I'm one of those modern selfish girls that will not have a child until I have a house, thanks) so I started to climb that corporate bullshit for money all in all. I moved to another country where I get 4 times the salary of my home country and pretty much dropped all my creative hobbies. I used to have a lot of them. I kind of felt like throwing my true self away. I think it's not a surprise to say that I became pretty depressed even though now I had a lot of money to spend and I never need to count at the end of the month how much money I still have, will I be able to go out to drink with my friends or not. I have money now and I don't go out with any friends cause I don't have any, hell I don't even speak the language of the country. I diet 24/7 to fit the corporate outlook. I wish I made better choices and went for design and fashion school, but I didn't. I went for sales and marketing. Now I'm stuck with what I have. So, a couple of weeks ago I saw one of these vids and I thought, oh boi, lets give it a go once again. I ordered the Podpoi v2 cause I always wanted a led light poi and I finally have the money to have a good one. In just a few weeks, I already feel like my whole view on life is coming back to its color. I missed this so much. Not sure if anyone will read this, but just an advice: Do what you like to do. Money is not always the answer. Society will always have expectations towards you and people will always have an issue with others no matter how perfect you try to be in front of them. Do what makes you happy as long as it is not harmful for others or for yourself (except if ya into BDSM, cause that's again your choice). Anyhow, cheers y'all. Wish you a nice day.

[@babiesbreastfriend7256]

oszaszi poi was used initially for Maori warriors to train to increase weapon agility

[@babiesbreastfriend7256]

And I am very glad you got a hobby to enjoy I’m 57 and now I’m doing everything I like I don’t care if anyone thinks I’m weird now

[@musiccreators6683]

I have read ur comment and I appreciate u. Thanks for the reminder to stay on my toes. Btw my buddy found poi at a hot spring and now we're gonna buy fire staffs haha great times are ahead.

[@devondunmire1013]

Started by throwing glow sticks in the yard for my 5 year old to geek out over and bring back, wound up here when I remembered I was fascinated by poi at raves and only ever learned how to do a weave.

[@ever_me7387]

This is so helpful! I am a beginner ( still using sock poi before I get my real poi ) and I am not very good! I only know the figure of eights, the third weave, and the butterfly!

[@johnstoncrawford2326]

I think they wer perfect choices. I'm relatively new at it and I'm so close to pullin all of the ones you mentioned and demonstrated I can taste it! Love led poi (preferred choice) but love all forms of flo art! Glad I ran across your video I'll be checkin back w ya! Great Video

[@gamzecilsal2338]

Your transitions (changing the angle) are so on spot that I couldn’t focus on the content had to watch it for the second time 🙌🏼💥

[@not_snixy5449]

I can’t do anything but weaves that’s the first trick that came naturally to me and I like to think I have nearly perfected it so it’s neat hearing that it’s a difficult one

[@challengealex]

This helped me a ton. I made a video of me learning poi based off of this tutorial

[@darlene.chikies]

Just got my first poi set today!!! So excited to give it a try with these tips tomorrow. Already hit myself too many times today without watching this 🤣🤣🤣

[@sleepnomore6065]

I have ADHD and have a hard time memorizing instructions and especially conceptualizing spatial instructions so I learned hooping (15 yrs-expert) and later poi balls & flags (beginner) on my own. Never realized I could actually process/learn this from a video but all you are saying makes perfect sense! I just learned windmills with small hoops and applied it to my poi. Took 14 years for my brain to allow me to be in 2 planes with different arms! I found the simple weave WAY easier. I still cant notice the diff between diff types of weaves. They all look the same to me lol. I only know all 3 of these plus figure 8s (once i shorten the strap a lot) and need inspiration! That reel turn looks scary! Think Im gonna hit myelf 10X! 😂

[@gertmyboy1882]

I came from a 2a yoyo tricks playlist to learn what on earth poi is and i think im satisfied with the answer i got. Time to look into this further...

[@tiffanychuter4557]

I've just got poi again for thr first time in over 10 years. Very excited to start relearning stuff I've either forgotten how to do or new stuff. I've never learnt to stall or windmill. X

[@babiesbreastfriend7256]

Tiffany C I can still windmill with two balls in each hand but can’t stall for shit

[@enigma846]

i've been spinning for a few years now, however i have like literally no flow lol i'm too stiff due to injuries and surgeries. i've never been able to do windmills, however when teaching kids i start off with 1 beat, 2 beat, butterflies, split time butterflies, over the head butterflies, 3 beat, thread the needle, buzzsaw, one handed butterflies, reverse 3 beat, and obviously letting them go nuts and finding their own. my best move i can do is orbital, but i have a limited moveset filled with the above lol. without having any flow i'm limited in what i can do

[@elisecooke]

I just bought my first poi last week and I found this video super helpful! Thanks! Keep it up!

[@adamjurak708]

Ooo man. Than you very much. I know a lot of tricks and I have to teach few people from the very beginning. I didn't know how to give them that knowledge because most of that I know is so natural to me that I don't remember how it was when I was starting.

[@sarahapps41]

Thanks so much for this channel! Now I am learning poi tricks during the lockdown rather than stuffing my face with tea and cake! Love from the UK!

[@Twixeater100]

Just found your channel and I'm overjoyed with all the content you already have. I'll defenitely be using your videos for practice. Keep up the great work!

[@Bri-jl6gp]

I'm the one that asked you this question on your live video on instagram! Thanks so much for making this 😍

[@DrexFactor]

My pleasure--it was such a great question that I knew it would make for an amazing video! :)

[@Bri-jl6gp]

DrexFactor Poi please do the same video with intermediate! I’m stuck at what I should be learning right now. I’m well passed beginner but nowhere near advanced!

[@Kerschdl]

Thanks a lot for your videos here! I've watched people with poi's so often and i always wanted to do this, too. :) so the day came and i bought some on Ebay (some simple poi's with veils, without any specials at all) and now today is the 5th day i'm trying zu do some stuff with :D It is really not easy but a lot of fun and i love it! And thanks your videos here i can learn and they really help me that i can do some cool stuff with poi's like the windmill, butterflies and the others (i don't know the names of these moves/swings, sorry :D), after 5 days of training! I'll surely go on with poi's. Thank you very, very much!!

[@obeysadge]

I JUST got my LED poi on Monday and your videos have helped me a ton! Thank you so much.

[@DrexFactor]

You're so very welcome! I'm so glad the videos are helping :)

[@yezbek]

I have being teaching poi in mexico for about 8 years maybe more... for me tar Chong this 5 plus extension (all the variations on wall and wheel plane) and buzzsaw are the beginner tricks.

[@Goodsalty]

This was a perfect video. When I started I felt a little overwhelmed to begin and as such have spent more time with other props. Over the holiday break I think I'll do my best to polish these 5 out :D. Thanks, Drex!

[@humanfairy]

Hi. How are you doing now?

[@Cherryrose444]

Great tutorial! I learned everything except stalls! Still working on them, it’s a hard trick to learn for me!

[@Voidpoaster]

I'm just going by what feels good, but this technical stuff is really helpful! Thank you!

[@universalsheep]

This is a pretty accurate list. I disagree with his opinion on the usefulness of weaves tho. The 3 beat weave is the base to many of my movements and transitions.

[@kikigilbert4013]

This is so great. I'm just taking this up and your videos are so helpful and easy to follow. Just wanted to leave some love and say thanks ❤

[@Laghagua]

looks at my poi and think 'damn, i cant even do the first trick, time to get started!'

[@awbw9127]

Just realized you're wearing an ada lovelace shirt. That's the sickest shirt I've ever soon

[@jakestuart1027]

Butterflies, 3 beat weave, buzz saws, arm pops, and spirals are what I learned first.

[@justkenzie]

I got my poi and got into it about 6 or 7 years ago and I have not been using the skill I began developing back then. It's hard to find the time to get outside and practice!!

[@OnyxMoon81]

This is still a little advanced for me, I'm trying this for the very 1st time today.. but I'll get there 🙌🏼✨️

[@virginiabenatti8546]

I'm so happy that I found this video, this is exactly what I was looking for... And funny thing, I know how to do one movement with poi and it's the last one that you showed hahahhaha Now I have a way to go :) Thank you, I'm absolutely going to see more of your videos

[@megansaxbury1612]

Thanks. Have seen poi once. Making poi flags. You helped

[@marvinlanger1155]

Hey Drex, I really appreciate your tutorials and anything what you share with your spinning. :) I think I´m at a point were I get more confident with the basics. I can do all the tricks in the video and some more basics. Linking them together and always find a new way to combine is a lot of fun. What I´m looking for are some tricks to keep on the progress. I tried isolations and orbitals and recognized these are rather long-term projects :D Do you have some advice? Like 5 tricks inbetween basic and intermediate level, which are fun to learn and less frustrating ? Greets from Germany and keep on the good work :)

[@daywalker3735]

Weave was actually the first thing to learn, it just came natural to me. That was the three beat weave and I can literally not do more beats than that.....like it baffles me to see people do 9 beat weaves

[@hangingoutwithOG]

Brilliant. Concise. Not intimidating. THANK YOU

[@LongRest]

Cool video. I'm remembering my old practice with poi and this is great way to return to it (I was never any good with them anyway)

[@brandonbarbour4487]

Definitely was a turning point watching this vid.

[@icecastle71]

DREX...I just got my poi two days ago. Led with the split finger grips. I got them to keep being able to use gross and fine motor skills I've been loosing thanks to having been injured in a medical accident 14 yrs ago. Back info important to the question. In doing same way spins and opposite way spins im noticing my right hand (that's partially paralized) is being chewed raw from the string. What can I use to wrap my two fingers in to keep my spinning from causing more issues ... I had a five second thought on medical tape but im allergic to the adhesive. Im seriously set on this for helping myself so please any ideas or advice. Small info add...I should be in a wheel chair or bedridden that's how bad my condition is...but since im still walking and doing a good bit for myself that's how damn stubborn I am. TY for any advice.

[@kaylakoerner8895]

Just bought my first poi set!! Hoping it will help with my whipping!

[@caroh5334]

Soo well explained!! Thank you so much ☺️

[@KWhite2191]

Just got my poi today! Thanks for the tips!

[@healthyhemelin6792]

Cool always good to see relaxed moves, good job!

[@deirdreginley]

This is so awesome! Thanks for this I can't wait to start

[@sleepnomore6065]

Can you do a vid for beg-intermed self taught people just performing the moves we prob already know but with their associated names? I had no idea of any of my move names til this vid! It will be helpful in learning others!

[@misiael88]

You are da man! Spinning them hard. My balls hurts a bit but I can see the progress every day

[@LehtusBphree2flyFPV]

I've been practicing isolations and you said it'll take months to learn I've been trying for years and still can't get that one down. It looks freaky AF but damn it's the hardest trick

[@randomperson-bk3td]

I just got Poi for my birthday this was helpful thx :P

[@gruffrygriff3356]

cheers just waiting for my poi to be delivered and this is exactly what i need :)

[@DukeCyrus]

I appreciate drex to the nth degree

[@loicbrunori9949]

Hello drex thanks for your work ! Is it possible toi make the same video with advanced moves ??

[@MermanFL]

Yes! That's a great idea!

[@DrexFactor]

I can absolutely do that! I have a feeling it'll be pretty controversial, but what the hell? ;)

[@monalisaderave691]

Uuu this will be interesting, staying tuned for the vid :)

[@sonnyevent6633]

I really like this. I will start playing poi now. Thanks for sharing

[@hannahwalton1888]

I appreciate that you listed the best beginner moves, but do you have videos that actually explain the movements? Maybe slower tutorials

[@mileXD]

Thank you so much for all the tutorials! Very helpfull

[@teamkrone6463]

Nice video, and i absolutely agree on these being the most needed basics. With combos from these alone, a satisfying performance is already very possible, and a lot, if not almost every other stuff builds upon these. personally i'd add basic throws and isolations as next steps, because those are really great "pattern-breakers" and again foundations for a lot of stuff. Just one question tho... Why would you feature emazing? they're quite literally the worst I've ever seen happening to the flow arts in general. I can't even count anymore the amount of potential flowmies who tried their hand on wanding (which in its basics is a lot easier than poi), gave up after some frustration and hardly ever got back into flow... because emazing sells horribly unbalanced and fragile wands, with which new people literally have zero chance to get into it. And they do it willingly for years and years. That's on top of tons of fake-reviews on their page (really? lots of them are exactly the same wording... over and over. not even tried to put some effort in), the worst/lest existent customer service ever experienced in anything flow related, and don't forget when they brought out "their" new poi. design was similar to podpoi, to an extent even the promo pictures, packaging etc. was the same. just 10 bucks cheaper, less guarantee and lower quality. Really Drex, while i admire your contributions and work for the community in general, supporting these really makes me doubt if you're a decent human being or just oblivious. I do hope for the latter, tho.

[@jnjfleming]

Great stuff! Thanks for the continuing beginner help.

[@joyflores8480]

Honestly, switching strokes/tricks that's my problem whenever i do fire dance😔 but its really fun doing fire dancing.. Its a stress reliever😊❤️

[@itsnowingrightnow]

Fantastic tutorial, thanks for your work!

[@StephenSmith-me3tb]

What would u suggest for wheelchair poi beginners

[@pinkymarpuri2306]

Thank you so much for this begginers should know💓💓💓

[@IvanaElise]

Awesome and helpful video!! Thank you!

[@Harry_Ballzonya]

I am really digging this flow dancing stuff

[@ponyforhire]

Saving this for later! Super newb and need this

[@creatureris]

This is wonderful! Thank you!

[@NoDebut]

Thank you, this is exactly what I need 😊❤🎉

[@CityKanin]

Extremely beginner here, thank you for the tips! :) Subbed.

[@hermionehelm8003]

Thank you this was very helpful 😊😊😊😊

[@lafae991]

You've helped me grow with poi so much dude

[@jeanettephillip5840]

I got my poi from homeofpoi IT CAME QUICK from new Zealand to UK

[@jenny3518]

Helps SOO MUCH! Thank you! 👍 ❤

[@DrexFactor]

Glad to hear it! You're welcome :)

[@auroraprinses2567]

As someone who learned weaves first I got kind of offended, I just like them so much. I get where you're coming from though

[@babiesbreastfriend7256]

aurora prinses weaves are easy to me I can’t stall for shit