Teddy- Am I doing this right?

Runemist34 started this discussion · 10/9/2012

Hey everyone! So, I've come down with some kind of crazy, and decided I'd like to learn the Teddy hold. It's hurt me a lot so far... So, I have to ask, am I doing this thing right? Normally, a certain amount of pain is to be expected when learning a new hold (and especially on very soft, sensitive skin!), but... DAMN this one hurts a lot! I've had bruises on my biceps for a while! I would like to know if I've got the hold right on the arm: is it right in the armpit, or is it a little down? Is it right on the bulk of my bicep? Should I be turning my arm in toward the pole, away from, or relatively neutral? I've got the whole hip-in-front thing, and that seems to help a little bit... but all of my weight is still on my arm, and it pinches like a b!7ch! I also ask because... I've not been able to hold myself up for longer than a second before the pain is just too much for me. I'm gonna keep practicing, but I'd like to make sure I'm doing it right! Thanks everyone! ❤️

23 replies

Danielle Tillie · 10/9/2012
Sounds like you're doing it right! When I get my arm in place, I reach up a little higher and pull my arm down with my armpit on the pole as I reach for my leg. This gives you an extra solid grip. It's like the very top of the bicep, not quite all the way into the armpit itself. When you are first learning you can teach over your head with the free outside arm and grab the pole. That helps alleviate a little pressure off of the main grip point so you can stand it a little longer. With persistence the pain will get better, promise!
moonflower · 10/9/2012
The teddy hurst so much for me that after the initial joy of getting the move and practiciing it for a few months...I stopped doing it all together unless I get a request to demonstrate it. It leaves horrible wear-long-sleeves-in-summer-bruises on my arms. I might pick it back up now that winter is here. So I think you are doing it right.
moonflower · 10/9/2012
The teddy hurst so much for me that after the initial joy of getting the move and practiciing it for a few months...I stopped doing it all together unless I get a request to demonstrate it. It leaves horrible wear-long-sleeves-in-summer-bruises on my arms. I might pick it back up now that winter is here. So I think you are doing it right.
monica kay · 10/9/2012
Helpful tip: the butt can be in front of pole. The friction may help with support
Kyrsten · 10/10/2012
Are you doing it from the floor or from a climb? It hurts much worse and is a lot harder from the floor, imo. Teddy hurt me REALLY bad at first but after a little technique adjustment and practice it was painless. Like Danielle said... When I do it the grip is lower than my armpit... closer to the top underside of my bicep, and you want to be pulling down. On the floor, try raising your arm straight up. parallel to the pole. Keeping it SUPER straight, pull it down and way across your body in a diagonal line. Try to reach your opposite hip with that hand. That's exactly how it should feel when you're in the move. I find you really get maximum skin contact that way, which reduces a lot of the pinchiness/burn. And make sure you are wearing low-rise shorts... I have seen higher-rise shorts cause slipping when teaching the trick, since the lower back is a point of contact :) A lot of girls roll them down when trying it.
Runemist34 · 10/10/2012
Hey ladies! I'm trying to keep it lower than my armpit, but I'll double-check. Kyrsten- That's an interesting way of thinking about the hold! I'll give that a try. I'm trying to do it from the floor, since I don't trust the grip and I don't want to fall. I do try to roll my shorts down, get maximum contact through my back, but I'm finding that not much of my back does any gripping, or holds me up much. I'm not really able to push into it with the strength that would cause any grip with my back.
Danielle Tillie · 10/10/2012
Are you arching your back or rounding it out? Rounding out the back is what you should do. It keeps your hips in front of the pole and allows you to press the lower back in. It's kinda the opposite of the normal sexy arch we're always going for. :P
Runemist34 · 10/10/2012
I've never thought about it :P I'll give that a try, too. But... for me it's kind of like if I just shoved my hand, flat, onto the pole and tried to lift without wrapping my fingers around it- I don't get any grip! It's not effective. Where's the counter-pressure to make my back actually stick?
Hazelnut · 10/10/2012
I find that I can't do it AT ALL without low rise shorts (or incredibly skimpy knickers!) and I have a really strong armpit and bicep grip usually. To increase the tailbone point of contact, when you swing your body around the pole (so your hips are in front) really try to pull your knees up and curl your back against the pole (as if you have tummy cramp, defintiely the opposite of arching) and push back with your tailbone as hard as you can! When that grip is there you'll really feel much more secure and then the armpit grip doesn't hurt me at all :)
NinaPoles · 10/12/2012
One thing that really helps for me with the pain of Teddy (and Yogini/Rocketman and all other armpit/upper arm tricks) is to remember to really flex the muscles of the arm I'm holding myself up with. Hard muscle does not hurt as much against the pole as soft flesh, so engage your muscles instead of just trying to hang from your armpit :)
tarah · 10/13/2012
wow, i'm glad i saw this thread.. thanks everyone for all the helpful tips, i am going to try it next practice. i have the opposite problem as Kyrsten - i can do my teddy from the floor, but have failed every time from up on the pole. not sure i have enough/any tailbone/low back contact on the pole, that is most likely my problem (extremely bony sacrum/tailbone)
hookedonpole · 10/14/2012
It was also very painful for me starting from the floor. Someone told me starting from aerial on the pole helps arm/skin to slide down a tiny bit for contact instead of trying to use armpit pressure to hold. I was also scared of falling so I would just do one little climb to be off the ground and if I slipped I was already close to the ground. I had hard time trying to get into position by hanging legs and bringing up. I saw someone (wish I remembered who) get into it from hood ornament, so I tried it and liked that. It's in my recent video 9/30/12. I seem to be more in armpit instead of bicep and butt in front of the as much as possible. You'll get it. BTW, it did hurt a lot when beginning to learn it till you find your sweet spot/grip.
Runemist34 · 10/14/2012
Found it on the right side! Thank you SO much ladies! Your tips were of great help! Definitely the tensing of my arm muscles, and the flatting my spine were factors for me- I really need to work on those! I manage to hold it for about 10 seconds today! Woo!
Suz Sweeney · 11/21/2012
hi everyone, thanks for the tips...i am just trying to unravel the mystery of teddy bear as well!! when i did do it once, i was dumbfounded, but realised there was definitely a lot more back on the pole and an element of rotation. i have a problem leaning back every time! the frustrating part is that this move is the 2nd move i have to pass in the Intermediate Pole Postition instructor certification and they dont let you move on to the next trick until you get it! ARGGH! :)
Former member · 11/22/2012
What about if you have trouble keeping your legs up? I've always had trouble with that and can't do the move for more than a second because I can't keep my legs up and out. Is that my core needing more work???
megan12 · 11/22/2012
For me, a lot of it is where you put your hand on your thigh. This move did hurt for a bit at first but now it doesn't bother me. I find to get a good, tight grip I have the pole right in my armpit and I tend to grab my thigh close to my crotch. It gives a nice tight grip without pulling the skin too much. I know others like to grab out further, like towards the knee. Maybe try to adjust that and see how it feels for you?
Jag5303 · 11/22/2012
I'm a busty gal, so it took me a while to figure out how to not get my boobs in the way of this trick. So if you have bigger boobs, I found it was easier to wait and flex my pecs/biceps til the pole was in place... because if you flex those first...it makes it harder to get the pole in just the right spot. Does that make sense? AND if my top had too much coverage up near the armpit I found I couldnt do it as well either. But I have it down great now.... once I figured out those few things!
Runemist34 · 11/22/2012
Jag5303- I find the same, as I'm quite busty as well. Thus far I've only been doing this move from the ground, so I get myself in position before actually flexing the muscles. Megan12- I never thought about where I put my hand! I might have to try that out. I am discovering that the angle of my arm is very important, though, so I think I may have to grab closer to the upper thigh. SaschaPoles- Bringing one's legs up does seem like a core issue, much like doing the V legs spin or hold with Split grip. I can't do that for very long, either, unless my knees are bent. I don't have a lot of core strength, so I know that is an issue. Flexibility can also be an issue, because if you aren't flexible enough to get your legs up there, it gets kind of difficult!
dustbunny · 11/22/2012
I'm so glad you got it Runemist! It's a great move. @Saschapoles it is core, hip flexor, and quad strength along with hamstring flexibility that will get and then hold your legs up. You can always do a tucked teddy if you find this dificult. :)
Former member · 11/23/2012
Thank you so much guys!!! The teddy and I aren't the best of friends yet lol. I'm going to start working on those areas you guys mentioned, thank you! Xoxoxo
Charley · 11/23/2012
Sascah - holding the legs is common so I generally tell people as a step to grab the knees and keep thm bent - get the grip then get the extension. I also like to have them work onthe version where one leg is up and the other (outside is straight) most people like this better anyway as the teddy is errrr....exposing - hahahaha - which is why it's my favortie!
Suz Sweeney · 11/23/2012
hi everyone! also if you're flexible and your legs are too high, it can be hard to keep a good "seal" at the arm....try different heights and yes, the pelvic tuck seems to work! xo
Former member · 11/23/2012
Ooooo!! Those are great tips, I never even thought of that before. Thank you Charley!!!