Hand Hooping 101: Raise the Roof
This collection of tips/exercises for beginning hand hooping accompanies the second class in our Hoop Dance Series. It's a great place to get started! Divided into two sections, this collection of hand hooping movements covers the basics (and a little more!) of both horizontal and vertical hand hooping. It's not easy to describe hooping in words, so we've included links to helpful videos from among the hooping community.
Be gentle and patient with yourself ... stop and rest if you begin to bruise or get sore, and above all have FUN!
Have extra tips, or more instructional videos? Please add them to our Comments section.
Hand Hooping doesn't stop here -- stay tuned for more hooping tips on Superhooper.org!
Horizontal Hand Hooping
- Make an "L" with your hand, fingers facing upward. Move the hoop horizontally over your head by moving your arm in a horizontal circle.
- Try switching hands. Pass the hoop from one hand to another over your head.
- Finger hoop! Practice control by moving the hoop around just one finger. Notice how little effort it takes to keep your hoop going.
- Lunge... to the right and left, backward and forward. Pass the hoop from hand to hand and imagine that you are drawing a huge circle in the air.
- Hand hoop on your knees.
- Pass the hoop around your body. While hand hooping overhead, pass the hoop down in in front of your body at waist level and pass it to the opposite hand around your back. Grab your hoop again with your starting hand and bring back overhead.
- Lift the hoop from your body to your hand. (This is the key to off-body hooping, and the first technical movement many hoopers learn. The lift opens a whole world of movements -- be patient, you'll get it!).
- While waist hooping, make an "L" with your hand and hold at your back, fingers down (Right hand for counter-clockwise hooping, left hand for clockwise).
- Let the hoop roll over your hand to get the feel of it.
- As the hoop touches your hand the next time, lift (don't grab) your hoop over your head, bringing your hand up and over -- lead with the elbow, then wrist -- to the opposite side of your body and turning your palm upward. Continue hand hooping.
- To bring your hoop back to your waist, reverse the movement.
- VIDEO: Watch this great demonstration video from Jessie Newburn.
- Beam Me Up! Begin by lifting your hoop (as above). Without circling the hoop overhead, pass the hoop back to waist level and to the opposite hand behind your back (the hoop doesn't touch your body) by wiping in a circular motion down and across your body. Let the hoop go around your waist or lift again.
- Lasso. While hand hooping over your head, bend forward and extend your arm in front of you. Flip your hand -- thumb down -- and let the hoop turn around your thumb. Imagine you were stirring a cauldron! Try the Lasso on either side of your body. Stretch!
Vertical Hand Hooping
- Make an "L" with your hand, fingers up. Hold your hand directly in front of you and move your hand up and down as though you were shaking hands.
- Switch hands. Pass the hoop from hand to hand. To begin, try placing your palms together, hooping with both hands, then remove one to get the feel of the hand off. Now try a little toss from hand to hand.
- Turn your body. While hand hooping, turn your body so that your side is facing the hoop. (Your hoop doesn't change position.) Turn back to face the hoop, and then turn to the other side.
- Walk while vertical hand hooping at one side. Turn and walk in the other direction.
- Play with your legs. While vertical hand hooping in front of your body, swing each leg out to the side. Now turn so that your side is facing the hoop. Sweep each leg to the front and back.
- Bend at the waist. While vertical hand hooping at the side of your body, bend backwards at the waist, making sure to tuck your bottom in to protect your back. Lift your hoop slightly so it doesn't hit the ground, or lift it as tall as you can. Repeat on the other side.
- Figure 8. Hand hoop at one side of your body. Raise your hand up and then down across the other side of your body, turning your fingers toward you. In the same rotation, raise your hand up again and down across the other side of your body, turning your fingers away from you, as you began. Repeat. Now try the other side!
- VIDEO: Here's a simple and fun video from SilverStarry showing the Figure 8 and a few modifications.
- Try the Figure 8 in front of your body. Starting with the hoop in your right hand, raise your hand up and then down to the left front side of your body. In the same rotation, raise your hand up and across your right shoulder. With your fingers up, let the hoop circle behind the right side of your body. Don't forget to try the other direction.
- Behind the back. Vertical hand hoop in front of you. Keeping your hoop where it is, turn your body in the direction of the hoop so that your back faces it. You'll need to extend your arm behind you. Before your turn is complete, pass to the other hand and come full circle. You won't be able to see your hand off, so just imagine putting your hands together.
- Two-hand Turn. While vertical hand hooping in front of you, put both "L" shaped hands in the hoop, and turn your body -- hands too -- without changing the position of the hoop. Start slowly, then see how fast you can go!
Comments
eh.. nice :)
Posted by: agipsymap | May 19, 2009 08:12 AM