Beginner Poi Tutorial Series

How to Hold Poi

This video covers the parts and types of poi as well as the many ways that they can be held.

Poi Plane Control

This video covers planes--the definition of planes as we use them with poi, the most common planes we use with poi, and 3 exercises to help hone our plane control.

Poi Timing and Direction

Timing and direction is a system for understanding how two objects rotating around a third object can relate to each other. It’s hugely important for understanding the symmetry of how poi spinning works as well as giving a quick and easy way to explore new patterns once you learn them in a single timing and direction.

2-beats and Extensions for Poi

Pretty much all poi tricks fall into one of two categories (and sometimes both!): flat plane moves and plane bending moves. Here, we begin to work with each one by learning static spins and extensions as well as tic-tacs, switching the poi from one side of the body to the other.

Reel Turns for Poi

Turning with your poi is a critical skill for being able to move freely with them. In this video, we’ll cover the basics of reel turns in all four timing and directions so you can begin to move with the prop!

Poi Tuck Turns

Now that you can turn with your poi, we’re going to add a bit of style to it! Tuck turns add a bit of pizazz to your turns as well as setting you up for more advanced poi techniques down the road like body tracers.

2-beat Weaves for Poi

Most of us come upon 2-beat weaves almost unintentionally when we begin to play with our poi. Here is a guide to how they are performed that will set you up for our next video: 3-beat weaves!

Poi 3-beat Weave

3-beat weaves are perhaps the most recognizable poi trick of them all! They’re also a huge hurdle for beginners to cross, but I have three methods here for breaking it down and making it easier to learn.

Butterflies and Thread the Needle for Poi

Butterflies are the first wall plane trick we’ve played within this series and they are one of the most recognizable tricks in the world of poi tricks! Here, we’ll cover how to perform them as well as how to perform their close cousins: thread the needle or TTN.