Instructors - what do you call these moves?

miss fern started this discussion · 10/19/2012

Hey guys, Our studio is working hard to standardise the names we give to moves, by referencing IPDFA's Pole Positions book and other similar online archives. We also like to provide "AKAs" for popular alternate names found online, so our students can easily Google what they're learning in class, and communicate more easily with other polers. :) So - I would really love your input for a couple of moves, whose common names I haven't been able to find yet. Here's a few of them: http://i50.tinypic.com/2woeo13.jpg (Initially we thought a variation on chopsticks/wrist sit but if you look carefully, the torso grip is a little different from chopsticks - http://www.polemovebox.com/images/Chopsticks.JPG as she is not gripping behind the bicep at all). http://i45.tinypic.com/2rgp1r6.jpg (Some have said Allegra Split, but there's already a move called that, and Allegra typically has your hips facing out, not up) I had a bunch more but I can't think of them right now haha! I will comment again when I remember :D Thanks in advance for all your help ladies! xx

18 replies

amy · 10/19/2012
hahaha my friends and i call the second one a jallegra. because its a jade + allegra. sorry i can't be of more help but i dont think naming moves is as helpful as having ways to describe them that are consistent. for instance-- first one i would call a chopsticks with the inside hand underneath the front leg and the outside hand gripping the back ankle. i wouldn't even try to come up with a unique name-- there are so many variations of everything... where does it end??
miss fern · 10/19/2012
Amy - yes, I absolutely agree with naming moves in a descriptive way. That is exactly what we strive to do at our studio. All moves belong to a 'family' so you knwo what the 'stem' of the name will be, and then we have names for certain leg and arm positions that are repeated in many moves, so we can say things like 'Front Elbow Hang with Cupid Legs' or 'Superman - Scissors Variation' etc. It is handy to have "affectionate" names sometimes though, so you don't end up with ridiculous mouthfuls like "Okay girls - 1, 2, 3 and Allegra with the top hand cupped and straight extensions aaaand into leg switch, outside leg hang, to split grip Inverted V with overhead brace" etc etc and get tongue tried hahaha! So although we have the longer descriptive names, we find it really useful to "group" the popular variations into families as well, and to have shorthand for tricks we use regularly (like "Jallegra" - hahaha that's awesome I love it!).
miss fern · 10/19/2012
Oh, just noticed the first link didn't work properly. I'll try again: http://i50.tinypic.com/2woeo13.jpg
amy · 10/19/2012
ya know. in looking at that one again, it almost looks more to me like a twisted ballerina variation rather than a chopticks variation.
miss fern · 10/19/2012
Mmmm good point! Except IMO all variations of Ballerina (Twisted, Broken, Flying etc) have that top arm behind the pole. Found another pic that I'm searching for a name for. I am hesitant to use the word "tuck", unless it's as a variation identifier (eg Teddy Tuck or Thigh Rest Tuck etc) https://www.poleandaerial.com/sites/default/files/instructors/gallery/marlo_IMG_3883.jpg
chemgoddess1 · 10/19/2012
It looks like an inverted Allegra to me.
chemgoddess1 · 10/19/2012
And the second one looks like the ending position of tic toc.
chemgoddess1 · 10/19/2012
The second one is also part of Alethea's bad idea in 7" heels (where she does the hand switch mid air)
RikkiL · 10/19/2012
Not sure about the first one. The second one looks like Jenyne's Tick Tock split only she does it with the gripping hand inside the leg. I believe I've seen the last one you posted referred to as the Bud.
Elektra Vallens · 10/19/2012
The first one I would call a chopsticks variation simply because it's also a right side up split hip hold. In my mind that's kind of what defines chopsticks. The third one does look like a tic toc with the arm on the wrong side of the leg. I like Amy's suggestion of jallegra, since that's pretty much what it is.
aliceBheartless · 10/19/2012
Jallegra is awesome. I too, typically like things to be named what they are. However, sometimes that gets to be a mouthful. So we occasionally assign variations a number. Angel 1, Angel 2, etc. This only works if you take the time to review enough with your students and teachers (and yourself!) what the variation numbers reference. Haha, definitely a case of writing it down, when you are just starting out with a numbering system, so that everyone is using the same numbers. Its kind of problematic though, because there are endless variations. Because if a chopsticks is simply a right side up split hip hold... then I can think of a lot of variations... With those two pics that you sent, if you flip them over, they are just jade and allegra, right? I think there should be a standard word that works for inverting already inverted position to upright positions. Upright Jade for example, though that particular one is kind of silly and doesnt work quite how I would like it.
Dancing Paws · 10/19/2012
I've been converted to the idea of naming a move that describes it. Like a Jade being an inverted hip hold split. The hello boys is a straddle back. The aysha is a straddle handspring. The names that they are given are kinda obscure and don't help in identifying the move.
Dancing Paws · 10/19/2012
That third one I'd call a partial pike sit, but that is obviously not its real name.
miss fern · 10/19/2012
Yea, I like Jallegra too - it really is a 50/50 mix between those two moves. :D I am glad several of you agree with the 2nd one being a Chopsticks variation - I doubted it because the arm grips were different (my rule of thumb is that if the "decorating" limbs are different, it's a variation, but if the "grips" are different it may be a different move - the line is kinda blurred though with many tricks though hahah!) Corby - I also had considered Upright Allegra for this one, thanks - I'll see what the rest of our instructors think. :) Thanks guys, it's great to pick your brains haha!
RikkiL · 10/19/2012
I would think for it to be an upright Allegra you would have to have the arm that is grabbing the foot/ankle on the opposite side of the pole. This move doesn't require the back flexibility that an Allegra does. http://i50.tinypic.com/2woeo13.jpg
aliceBheartless · 10/19/2012
Wouldn't the arm/leg positions that are off the pole just be variations? You can do Allegra without grabbing that foot. The foot grabbing and position of that arm in relation to the pole are variations. At least, that is how I look at it.
shimz · 10/19/2012
Its the chopsticks..i saw that first beautifully executed by Mai Sato years ago(only my first so dont know who made that first anyways)...hope everyone should not come up with more names.theres already lots of names and getting complicated.
Teka Rachel · 7/10/2013
Hi Girls! Any tips on how to get into the "Jallegra"? =) I´ve tried it, but couldn't nail it =( xoxo