Foto: Kaya Küppers, Model: Lokka, Touw: Lokka

 

This course can be given in a 2 or 3-day format, with the preference for a 3-day format. Tickets are only available for all three (or two) days and attendees are expected to attend each date. You cannot buy separate tickets and there are no catch-up possibilities

 

This is the third part (Uplines) in my selftying series. 

 

For whom?

This is a course for those who feel confident tying structures and are ready to take them into the air. Anyone who has completed Lokka’s Structures course (and has made the content their own) will be at the right level to participate.

 

Although the focus is on self suspension, the course is also suitable for those who are relatively new to suspension in general or want to refresh their understanding of suspension fundamentals. Whether the interest lies in selftying, rigging, or modelling, the material is relevant across all roles. The skills learned here can be applied to partnered rope as well. So while it is a selftying course, being an active selftyer is not required, as long as the requirements listed below are met.

 

Requirements

-    Awareness of your own physical abilities and emotional boundaries;
-    Physical ability to comfortably wrap rope around your own upper and lower body in a seated position;
-    At least 6x 8m of rope – preferably jute or hemp (you can buy jute Ellipsis ropes at the event as well - €50 per 3x 8m);
-    Independently making suspendable structures on both lower and upper body and being able to explain why they are suspendable;
-    Good understanding of frictions and rope handling skills.

 

Content

The main focus of this course is to build a solid understanding of how uplines work, how to manage them effectively, and the different approaches to suspension. We will explore:

 

-    Several ways and the logic of tying off uplines;
-    Spotter skills;
-    Basic suspensions based on:
   o    “Single Column Tie based” suspension
   o    “Loop based” suspension
   o    “Structured” suspension

 

While the focus will be on the topics listed above, rope handling and safety considerations are deeply integrated throughout the course.

 

Due to the nature of the workshop, you are expected to spot each other during practice that involves uplines on yourself. This means that you have to form a duo with someone and that you will be sharing a hardpoint with them. Depending on how many tickets have been sold, you will have your own hardpoint for some exercises that don’t require a spotter. We will make duos as we go along (after a round of introduction and consent talk). You do not need to apply with a +1 for this reason.

 

By the end of this course (if you have participated on every date) you will have a solid base to return to for (self-)suspensions. If you have mastered the content (after practicing on your own), you will be ready to start diving into more complicated/elaborated (self-)suspensions.

 

The workshop will be taught in English unless all participants speak Dutch.