Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane on October 26, 2009 at 11:24am

i just got a hoop and couldn't put it down. it would have come along faster if i had watched tutorials, but i had fun teaching myself the hard way

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gabrielle Soulhooper Lott on October 26, 2009 at 12:12pm

In my almost 3 years of hooping, I found that I have learned the most from other hoopers. I did watch some youtube, but there wasn't alot out there. I did find videos of Jewels, Spiral, Anah, Bax and Ann that definately inspired me to push myself. I have been blown away at how quickly everyone is picking up things that took me a long time.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by SaFire* on October 26, 2009 at 1:12pm

Same here. The reason I posted the tutorials I did was because there weren't really very many tutorials out there. A lot of them were not even tutorials really, just a sample video of the trick or maybe the trick being done in slow motion with a one sentence description. I was doing my education degree at the time and decided to share to others could learn faster.

Now it's a bit intimidating when you meet a hooper who's been playing for 6 months and has TONS of tricks already. Tricks that took me forever to figure out and then can get it instantly. As a teacher it's rewarding to see people succeed but as a hooper who struggled a lot it can be disheartening.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by circularlogic on October 26, 2009 at 1:51pm

As a hooper who struggles even WITH your excellent tutorials, I just want you to know how much they are appreciated!!

As for those who learn it all with ease thanks to your help, think of this quote:

"If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants." .... Sir Isaac Newton

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Spin doctor* on October 27, 2009 at 9:02am

I'll echo this sentiment as a newer hooper. I am so grateful to everyone who posts tutorials and videos. I really think having an open, sharing and supportive community benefits us all.

In my life outside of hooping, I'm a climber. In a lot of ways, climbing is very competitive. Each route is graded (could you imagine if hoop tricks had difficulty grades?) and lots of climbers keep extensive lists of what they've climbed. There's even a worldwide ranking system! In the past few years, the number of climbers in the gym and outside has skyrocketed. It used to be that most people would learn from a mentor, but now lots of people learn from courses, and there are hundreds of books available. It's sometimes discouraging for me when I see someone new climbing something that took me a long time to be able to climb. And it's frustrating when you go outside and see someone who clearly has no clue what he's doing, is in danger of seriously hurting himself or his partner, and when you try to help, he gets pissed off and defensive. There's a general backlash against new climbers (often referred to as noobs) that is often quite harsh and something that I've never seen in the hooping community.

I think the key for me was realizing that comparing myself to others is ego-based, and is not the reason why I climb. I don't climb to be better than other people, I climb because I like the movement, the challenge and the places I get to see. No matter how good I get, there will always be someone who climbs harder. I just remind myself of these reasons when I catch myself starting to compare myself to someone else.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Liz Glitz on October 27, 2009 at 11:03pm

Wow, I never knew this! I got into climbing before hooping but haven't done it in a while since it's so expensive (my only option is going to the gym since I don't know anyone experienced enough to go outdoor climbing). It's so intimidating as a new climber, or as a new ANYTHING, because everyone that's been doing it for so long is so good and you automatically assume that they look down on you because you're new and don't know anything. Obviously that's not true because every one of them has been in your position before, but it doesn't stop you from feeling that way. I think those people that actually stick with it are doing it for the right reasons (self-challenge, motivation, goals, etc... or they stop ebcause they're broke- LIKE ME! d'oh!), which is totally relative to hooping. I really want to climb now. There's nothing else like it...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by circularlogic on October 28, 2009 at 10:03am

I wonder if the contrast between the nurturing hooping community & the competitive climbing world has to do with the male/female issue. I know there are plenty of female climbers & male hoopers... & climbing has been around a lot longer... but still, I wonder!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Amber T on October 29, 2009 at 11:31am

I don't think so, I think its more the TYPE of people. I started Belly dancing 11 years ago. When I started it was still rare and very nurturing. Then about 4 years ago it started getting popular and the new dancers were all so catty!!! They had this 'holier than thou' attitude. I started hooping 3 years ago (and I don't practive often so still suck) and I didn't run in to any of that, now however, I have hit it a little bit. I think people just get carried away with themselves ir intimidated that some newbie migh tbe better than them or maybe a little territorial? P.S SaFire, I LOVE YOU!!!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Spin doctor* on October 29, 2009 at 8:30pm

I think it's partly the risk of serious injury or death if you screw up climbing. Not to mention there's the potential to wreck a climb (new climbers often have sloppy footwork and that can lead to polishing holds) or endanger access to areas. Also there is unwritten ettiquette in different areas that may be hard to learn if you don't go the traditional route and learn from a mentor.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Amber T on October 30, 2009 at 9:02am

i'm sorry, I was referring to Hooping. I have never been clibing in my life (though living near J-Tree I would like to learn some day). Death by hoop would be an interesting way to go out though ;0)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by SaFire* on November 12, 2009 at 11:48pm

It's interesting to here your story about bellydancing.

I'm sure that hooping will be as popular as bellydancing and yoga in a few years time. We must cherish these times and hope to pass down the community aspect that exists today.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mrs. Skittles of Sparkle & Burn* on November 13, 2009 at 7:36am

I hope the community aspect of that exists today never leaves.... it is part of what I love about the hooping community. It reminds me of raves from the late 1990s (when I started raving), when raves in the Midwest were just getting started and people respected each other, venues, etc. Sadly that changed as raves went mainstream and got really popular.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page