Contact Staff 101 - Beginner Tutorial - Pinch Points, Wraps, Conveyor Belt

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I often teach group workshops and private lessons to eager and inspired students who have zero staff experience at all, let alone contact staff experience. This is a comprehensive video of the lesson content in my Contact Staff 101 course, which is the first thing I'll teach to them. Covering contact weaves, pinch points, 1/2 and hole wrist wraps, leading into the vertical conveyor belt. Anyone can do this! Hope you enhoy and learn something from this :)

[@rilka_li]

I'm here watching this in 2020 and wanted to let you know this was super helpful! just acquired a contact staff and after ~3 hours of following your video and practicing I got my first conveyor belt!

[@JamesHigroundMagic]

Awesome! Glad this content still has some mileage! (tis I, Jameson, posting from another account)

[@micdrop8300]

⁷

[@Billy.Pinela]

The way you described things is so clear! You really make things super easy by giving so many little detailed tips. Thank you sm!

[@amoletoutpuissant]

thanks for your video and your chanel, I'm french and there is not more than 2 or 3 bad teacher and nobody with such good explaination and knowledge than you! merci beaucoup de Lille!

[@juniorshbr13]

You definitely have a unique way of teaching. I like it. I was able to follow your pinching point technique alot smoother. Thank you for your time. Its appreciated.

[@mackelisestevens]

The best teacher I've found so far! Thanks!

[@Inammathe]

Don't even have a contact staff. Stayed for the calming voice and wind chimes 👌

[@Fransista]

this is awesome in so many levels!, I've been looking for something like this for a looooong time!... I love you man!, thanks for the dedication! :D

[@gijane636]

Great tutorial James!! Extremely thorough. Your troubleshooting insights are helpful in avoiding those frustrating, "why does THAT keep on HaPpEnInG??!?", practice meltdowns. >. <

[@9kervi]

Thank you for the tutorials, will you be doing more in the future?

[@luellarosa]

you are a brilliant teacher, thank you for your time and generosity, much luv :D

[@ryleymosakowski3173]

Just bought a contact staff for flow at festivals and I can't wait for it to come in so I can learn all of these tricks! thanks for all the helpful advice throughout the video too!

[@kaleighgoodford3065]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I just got a staff this past saturday, ever since I have been meticulously running these drills and re-watching this video. I have been picking it up quite quickly and very well! I had no prior experience with staff but have a small background with hoop for the past 3.5 yrs. I have to say coming from the hoop this is so much different than I had anticipated! I really love the energy of the staff and fall in love with it more and more everyday. Thank you again for guiding my beginning stages of play and helping me build a solid foundation! I can't wait to move on to your next tutorial. You don't happen to be close to western NC teaching classes do you?? That would be sweet!

[@jonrobinson6437]

Great tips. Those wind chimes though...

[@minaung7154]

Thaanks man

[@aaron1934]

well, thats what you call a tutorial ! thanks, im almoste there :D

[@heliopijpe]

5:12 The inertia from the mass??? lol awesome

[@Druidmoto]

While I can twirl the staff with my fingers or with both hands I can not seem to get the half wrist wrap. My staff wants to turn towards me. But won’t give up I will learn this.

[@whyyousotriggered6050]

Trust me it gets easier with practice. I practice rope dart and after a few days of practicing a move my body eventually flows with the rope. Basically let the instrument lead you

[@MrShepaard]

nice tutorial, thank for shared your knowledge, you can tell me what is the measurement that must be of the staff?

[@chocolatepickle42]

Your staff should always be about as tall as you. A little bit shorter is better that a little bit taller. I am studying a course called Ultimate Bo. (Bo is the Japanese word for staff).

[@FireTechnicians]

+Mia the Swordmaster not true for contact staff. I recommend a length based on your wingspan from wrist to wrist, not height. this allows for more variations and flow as you progress, which a height based length would hinder or even make impossible.

[@BenjaminBerryHoops]

Thank you for gifting us with this awesome lesson!

[@PutchewInnaspin]

He’s right, posture and level planes are imperative for, at least the conveyor

[@josephweeks3815]

My first contact staff tutorial. Been a year since then. (Sheds tear of nostalgia)

[@simonwest6967]

hahaha ''fuck you cable!'' Thankyou for your concise explanations and demonstrations, I feel I will be unpacking this video for while and look forward to progressing. I also thoroughly enjoyed the windchimes in the background! Big love from Australia

[@mattischastan7967]

I need a 100 class, before this 101, because my staff is just slipping everywhere, from side to side, or rolling on my forearms or my hands & fingers. It's really ultra slippery and infuriating, lol, I'm struggling with a very upset snake, not a calm static staff sticking to your wrist like you have. "Argh" is the word. xD

[@micaylalynn10]

Hi I am trying to buy one of these from you but im unable to find you on etsy or your website!? I want to get a quality one

[@tobiasdetaillez938]

Dude. You´re awesome. Thank you for this video

[@snowflakingoffskii]

Great video...Love your Staffs...Are u still making your fire staffs? I looked up getting one from you from the links you posted, but Iv found I cant seem to buy one. Is this because Im in England?

[@TheGamergirls1234]

Thank you!!!For taking the time to make your tutorial videos I live in a small town in Australia so most of my learning is done via the internet your videos are very good quality and you explain the techniques very clearly! Please keep posting your tutorials! For us newbies in countries that don't have access to workshops!Thankyou from Joanna in Qld Australia.

[@Bavubuka]

I keep hitting my ass and it hurts!!! Totally makes me want to put the staff down and walk away. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?! Thanks for your amazing content by the way.

[@Wheel333]

Dude this is fantastic, thanks.

[@arirad9980]

I am so excited to have my hands on my first staff, thanks for the great video!!

[@jonharris2268]

I'm watching this in 2022, an I agree with the previous comment! Thanks my friend

[@alitran6281]

Very clear explanation and guidance. Thank you very much ❤

[@lizzyray6736]

Super helpful, do you have an instagram to follow????

[@DogofLilith]

Can we talk about the lovely wind chime throughout the whole video Sort of nostalgic tbh

[@cody.onewheel]

do you still have any practice staffs?

[@Lilacanima0]

This was fabulous. Thank you for the teaching.

[@gamdolf]

I know its been a while since you posted this video, but I have been spinning for years and never tried contact... After burning man this year I decided I had to learn. I went though a lot of videos before finding yours and found your teaching method was very useful... My wrist are sore as hell but I learned a good bit. Thanks for the lesson, I look forward to viewing more!

[@FireTechnicians]

thanks kevin! comprehensive and thorough - the only true way to instruct :) anything else is just a demonstration.

[@FireTechnicians]

thanks kevin! comprehensive and thorough - the only true way to instruct :) anything else is just a demonstration.

[@ephemeralconnection3827]

What a good video, need to buy my own practice staff 🤔

[@zombiehunter1229]

was looking to buy one of your staffs unfortunately it seems your etsy.com is down

[@whycantwealldream]

Hahahhaa 'real estate real estate....clean posture....real estate...clean posture' Made me laugh. Also made me learn! Thanks!

[@mayaillusion7388]

This is a truly excellent tutorial, thank you very much!!!

[@CeretPenyok]

sir is this for attraction only?

[@PinkPunkPsychology]

This is Just such a good Video while you come across so chill 🤗

[@runemist4011]

This has been one of the best tutorials I've found, anywhere.

[@PRANKZOMBIE]

I cannot get mine to go slow. It falls off my wrist if I go slow.

[@niclasromanski7920]

That poor cable at 24:05, it didn't do anything

[@djgrishkin1]

Hey man when will matrix part 2 come out??? I am having an extremely difficult time learning it.

[@FireTechnicians]

I have it shot, rendered and working on it in th editor right now :) Patience padawan!

[@megangarner7247]

Well, trying to follow along to this in my kitchen with a broom handle was probably one of the worst ideas I've had in a long time.. I guess I'll have to save this video till after the snow :/

[@1LAUGHoutLOUDly]

F**k you cable! Lol I love how you show from different angles! Good teacher!

[@dflowx]

Thank you so much!! I've been completely self-teaching myself this, I'm good at that, but this helps! Your video is excellently framed, but you could work on tweaking your audio! Here are a few tips (I'm taking the time to write you some detail since your video helped me; I won't quote any software/hardware except one standard free program everyone trusts that's very useful for this, Audacity): 1) You can wear some sort of a mic with a portable recording device, or a light mic that sends a signal to a recording device. (You don't have to wear something extremely expensive, the idea is just to get basic audio as close to your mouth as possible, something cheapesque right up to your mouth should record better audio levels than this.) Then you can replace the audio in a video editing program and re-render the video. This will lower your video quality just a little in the re-encoding but it should be worth it for the better sound; examine the end video closely and make sure the better sound is worth the slight video loss. 2) With just software: You can extract the audio from a video like this after its recorded. (Be careful with free audio extraction programs, or any free programs in general! They may try to install extra crap on your system; if you take the risk with any free program, make sure you un-check any extra stuff at install, it may be ok, no promises! Better to pay for a professional trusted tool it will usually be more virusfree). When you open the .wav or audio file, you can amplify sections, eg with Audacity (an exception to the be-careful with free audio software rule I just mentioned, Audacity is very trusted, see the Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audacity_(audio_editor) or the d/l page audacityteam.org If you manage to get the audio off your video and open with Audacity, you can select an area of the audio, then go up to Effect: Amplify. It will automatically select the highest it can amplify your selection without losing too much quality. (If the it says 0 at the top, trying escaping and selecting an area where the blue spikes aren't so high.) If it's higher than 0, hit OK, and the blue spikes you selected (audio levels) will increase (the blue extends higher and lower). (It's slightly more distorted than recording at the raised levels to begin with but it still makes a BIG difference to the end listener.) You want to amplify to get as much of the blue spikes as extended as possible. (Or follow this general process in another program.) When you have a better audio file, then you can splice the revised audio back onto the video in a video editing program. Again make sure the slight video quality loss from re-encoding the video with the revised audio is worth it; if it's too blurry you may want to scrap everything you just did and post your original recording anyway. Sorry if I sound like a tutorial. I think your vid put me in tutorial mode....hope this helps.

[@cosfloweffect2929]

What kind of stretches can you recommend to be able to bring my elbow into proper posture. I've got tight triceps and biceps. So it may take a while.

[@leviorion]

hello brother, who have to size the baton?

[@emilyspins2147]

Are staffs heavy? And what are they made of would love to play with one but I have weak wrists

[@rotaecho]

Emily, they are not that heavy least the ones I've healed under 2 pounds usually. For me though a few factors may be for my initial sore wrists. One I got a mild-case of Cerebral Palsy, so already weak in the wrists. Second, I've been practicing with what it feels like is a shower-curtian rod ;) After about a week of practicing daily for 15-30min, my wrists are fine. I'm now eager for my Jameson made staffs to arrive which are in transit right now :D

[@indi888]

Hi are you still selling staffs?

[@tatulanpekkaasi]

I have used these almost exact concepts and build-ups for 10-year-olds and they were spinning like hell and enjoying it. thank you.

[@AGrayPhantom]

This is a good tutorial. It's best if the student breaks it down and pauses and replays each step over and over. The only thing I had an issue with is either end of my contact staff wanted to travel either out or in, but that's only because I need more practice in control.

[@jaredday4404]

Great Tutorial. Great job on breaking down the movements in an easy to understand, and step by step way. Thanks for taking the time to tape and post this.

[@Andreas1683]

How heavy is your staff?

[@FerNanda-rz6bc]

gracias, explicas muy bien :)., ojalá subas mas tutoriales con diferentes trucos bay bay changay

[@donaldminifie3973]

U GOT TO 🐝 ONE OF THE BEST 🐢 📹 ON THE 🌍📻. ✋ 👏 THANKS FOR YOUR INFORMATION KING OF ⏳⌛. FROM JAI JAI.

[@Vbagdonas]

thanks for video, i was learning conveyor belt wrong, i did it even if it took me two weeks, but it is still slopy and climsy. I think it will help me a lot to make it right.

[@CPollaers]

0:43 - 0:47 that sounds dirty

[@indi888]

DO you still teach?

[@ajjankovics2839]

Thank you for the video! It's really helpful! I'm new to contact staff tricks and is the size of the staff matters? I'm tall so do I need a longer staff?

[@nurialunallena7640]

thank you sooo much for this! :) hugs, from Buenos Aires, ARgentina! :)

[@tylertimmins7958]

Your deltoid is your shoulder

[@canadianbudtender5158]

"Its a little uncomfortable at first to start stretching into this, but we're all capable of it, believe me"

[@wildstray92]

+1 for "butt cheeks"

[@jamilynnmiller]

I have been spinning for about 2 years but really want to learn the contact, thanks for breaking it down so excellently.

[@missionaries7575]

so awesome,im learning so much ,exactly what I needed to watch for my desire for staffing but also will use for flags,thankyou

[@sly7765]

Thank you for this. KZbin is lacking in staff tutorials. Been spinning for 15 years and your points about posture and technique have helped me so much! Can't wait for the next video!

[@mylifeasitwere]

You are an EXCELLENT instructor, thank you for this!!

[@davidpeacock8276]

I am still trying to figure the first part lol. The staff keeps working its way down my wrist or I keep ending up not at the center

[@migzwilson]

Starting today will post video updates of myself. Hugz

[@lalarin8050]

Thank you for making this video. I learned so much! I didnt think contact would be something I could do, but now I have faith!

[@renehenriksen1735]

This is a step into the theory of everything in movement. I prefer to call it the doing in everything in movement.

[@connor8112]

some people are natural teachers and you are one of those guys. youre so easy to follow man! saving this and peeping your page. thanks for the generosity man, cheers

[@kelseyreyn02]

Hey, I love this. you're awesome. Where is the Halo and 360 halo tutorial, though? Thanks!!

[@lolwtfbbqtpi]

Thank you for posting this video. It's very helpful.

[@flow_dojo]

thanks a bunch!!! :-)

[@rtjtjcdihgysupdrzvorief]

Where can I get a staff like that? Do I have to build it myself?

[@lorrenaelliott161]

This is so extremely helpful! I knew there were some elements that I was missing despite learning a number of moves just by playing around with the staff. Now I might be able to make a routine as I can incorporate what I have learnt from you! Thank you! So very clear and the most important thing you don't just show what it looks like when you get it right, but more importantly you demonstrate what incorrect attempts are and how to correct them! xxx

[@andydurnford]

thanks loads for this. can't wait to put this into practice tomorrow.

[@paultiplady3583]

This video is incredible. I love the way you build through the different techniques, there is enough material here for weeks of practice sessions!

[@ldeiker]

Thanks for breaking down the basics. So helpful!

[@AminusVox]

STELLAR TUTORIAL.

[@rasmuspettersson1893]

Thank you for this lesson. Really good basics i totally missled when i started contact staffs. You are awesome :)

[@chrisremmett]

Where are you?

[@geromecrips9636]

Your a legend buddy! . Best tutorial on the Internet!

[@SiggiReilen]

best teacher

[@edgarbarcenas457]

cool shirt

[@joeyfantango]

Really great video, did you cut down the cable?

[@FireTechnicians]

it was eventually re-routed, yes!

[@FireTechnicians]

it was eventually re-routed, yes!

[@FireTechnicians]

it was eventually re-routed, yes!

[@FireTechnicians]

it was eventually re-routed, yes!

[@TempestHoopnation]

You have the most comprehensive contact staff tutorials. Such a blessing. Thank you!

[@blakehelwig6731]

Your thorough explanations and multiple forms of demonstration helped me out a ton! I also liked how you were reiterating that everyone's body is different, I can't tell you how many videos have people saying to do stuff "exactly like this".

[@laurenhauser2001]

Jameson, thank you for the tutorial. I would like to purchase a contact staff from you, if possible! Do you manufacture the staff still? The Etsy link provided doesn't seem to be valid.

[@JamesonPeligro]

Hi Lauren, sorry I do not. I lack the capital to overcome aluminum tarrifs (thanks trump) or to invest in a bulk order of carbon fiber.

[@sandyceales9207]

Thankx

[@FurtopianShadow]

Just curious, how do you determine what is the best size of staff you would need?

[@FireTechnicians]

Hi there. Message me on my shop and I'll get your measurements sorted out to suit you perfectly. On etsy .com / firetechshop

[@FurtopianShadow]

Thanks, just sent you a message recently on etsy

[@Garezinator]

You are a great teacher. All other people who do tutorials on staff are just doing show not teaching. Kids might be watching this video. You forget to beep some of fu*cks. They should learn where to say it though 😂

[@FireTechnicians]

thanks a lot! yeah I say it frequently - there's a huge difference between a demonstration and a tutorial. most all demos are mis-labled as tutorials.

[@LoveAsWar]

Who cares its the fucking internet.

[@ChristiaanPanman]

I never understood the whole beeping thing. Everybody knows you are saying fuck. So why beep it? There is nothing wrong with saying it when it is appropriate, like when something is going wrong. It is a whole other story when you are saying it in every sentence.

[@carlmccumber]

nice work love your control

[@northeastskinny]

Lol at the washing line!!! ;)