Hip Key

Standing Hip Key

• With silks together at one side, place the same-side hand on the poles around head height
• Place side foot in front of the silks, reach free hand down between legs and grab the tails, bring the silk through legs
• Lift opposite leg into shelf position (posse) and place silks over the shelf
• Bring hands together on the pole, lean into pole, push poles with hands, lower chest, bring body into a ball
• Find balance and let go of poles
• To exit: grab poles above body, release tails from legs and stand up
• TIP: If you face your head and/or chest towards the ceiling, you will slip, if you face them towards the floor, you will have a better grip on the silks with your body.
• NOTE: You can practice placing the tails over the bottom (in the video they are below the bottom), but at this stage, we are mostly looking to find the balance of the hip key

Hip Key from the Ground

• With silks together, at one side, grab silk at head height, place same-side foot forward and opposite foot slightly backward
• Pull up and lift feet off the ground, tilting upper body away from poles, and lower body towards poles
• Front leg will go over silk and back leg will grab silks and create a shelf for the tails to drape over
• Tilt back towards poles, bring body into ball shape, finish in similar position as when working the standing hip key
• Now try with a a more dynamic pull up and lifting of the legs

Hip Key Off of the Silks

• Same as from the ground, only you start and finish in a from a foot break