Comment by miss megan on March 11, 2009 at 8:35am

Can you hoop vertically on your chest? Like, before you're going to do a barrel roll? If so, you can catch the hoop and transfer it off the body into vertical hand hooping. From what I've seen in videos, it's like you catch the hoop when it's going around the front of your chest and lift forward and off. Maybe someone else can clarify what I'm talking about?

Comment by Mad Maxine on March 11, 2009 at 8:52am

I think I know what you're talking about. I've just begun to be able to do vertical or angled chest hooping, but I haven't figured out the transitions for getting into that mode (ducking into the hoop) without smashing myself in the head or back. I have figured out how to lift it off my body over my head with only minor damage. I have not figured out the barrel roll with chest hooping, but I have got it with waist hooping.

Got any tips or know of any helpful videos?
Thanks!

Comment by miss megan on March 11, 2009 at 9:11am

I always enjoy GroovinMeGzz's videos because she has such interesting transitions. This video has some good vertical to horizontal and vice versa in it:


I hope that helps! I am trying to figure out vertical chest hooping but I'm stuck in a rut!

Comment by Mad Maxine on March 11, 2009 at 11:24am

Oooh! There's some good stuff in there. Someone posted one of Caroleena's hand hooping tutorials on my discussion about this topic. I think what I wasn't doing was actually grabbing the hoop (I was just letting it roll over my hand). So, gripping the hoop against my chest or grabbing the hoop to re-orient it seems to be the trick.

As for vertical chest hooping, I haven't quite gotten to the point where I can just do it from some other orientation. I also need to learn to hoop in reverse. But what I did see in the video you attached, is that she goes from horizontal chest hooping to vertical or angle chest hooping by pressing the hoop against her chest in kind of a stall, then leaning forward to continue the move.

Thanks again!

Comment by Ashton Gannon on March 12, 2009 at 3:54pm

I have the same problem too. I've been hooping in a very small area in the winter with very few oportunities to be able to practice without worrying about my hoop flying everywhere.

Flow, I think, is the hardest "trick" to master. The most understanding you can have about a trick is how to move into it, and how to move out of it. So much time is spent on how to do a move like a barrel role, but little is spent on moving from a barrel role to something else. Doing cool combos is one of the hallmarks of a great hooper.

I don't really have any advice for you, other than I feel your pain. I find that flow is something that builds over time. From watching an old hooping video compared with how I hoop now I realize my flow is gradually increasing. That said, I'd still love to have some flow tutorials, giving tips on what the best hoopers do for their cool combos. GroovinMeGzz has amazing flow!

Also, for the longest time I thought the "good" tricks were ones on the body, but now I realize that when you get really good you're spending a strangely long amount of time with the hoop off the body. Odd, isn't it?

Comment by Mad Maxine on March 21, 2009 at 5:06pm

Ah! I didn't see your post! I agree with you very much, and I'm glad it's not just me who's having this struggle. If you find any good videos where you can see some of the awesome goodness that happens between tricks, please do send them my way.

:)

Comment by Mad Maxine on April 8, 2009 at 7:58pm

Alright. I'm going to the NW hoop retreat. It's all about flow. If that don't fix it, nuthin' will.

Comment by Mad Maxine on April 13, 2009 at 9:31pm

HOLY CRAP! I GET IT!!!!

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