level 1 egg knot skills manual final

The expression of ideas in this manual are made to a diverse

user population of various ages, experiences and in a wide

variety of settings. It is impossible to present activities that are

appropriate to each specific environment at any given moment.

It is ultimately the responsibility of the aerial silks instructor/

coach to access each of his or her decisions taking into

consideration the age and condition (mental and physical) of

the student, the previous progressive development leading up

to the activities involved, the adequacy of the facility, the

adequacy of the equipment, the adequacy of the rigging, and

the degree of supervision available in light of the inherent risk

in the activity.

Level 1 Egg Knot Skillsby Cori Woolfe, www.CircusAerials.com

and Aaron Johnson, www.VancouverCircusSchool.ca

Warning! Any activity involving motion or height, may result in serious injury, paralysis or even death. Aerial silks, or any aerial apparatus must be hung from a rigging point certified by a qualified engineer and hung by a

qualified rigger. Fabric and rigging must be inspected regularly. Training must always be conducted in the presence of a qualified and knowledgeable instructor.

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LEVEL 1 EGG KNOT SKILLS by

Cori Woolfe & Aaron Johnson

THE EGG KNOT

The proper execution of skills on Aerial Silks requires strength. Beginners are

able to develop their strength on aerial silks by learning innovative tricks in the

Egg Knot. The Egg Knot reduces the amount of strength that is necessary for

beginners to learn many tricks that are in fact progression to more advanced

skills. The Knot is an excellent teaching tool for instructors to use when

teaching an introduction to Aerial Silks.

Note:

The terms Egg and Knot are used interchangeably in this manual.

You will notice the angle of many photos in the manual varies. The

Aerial Silk used for the demonstration photos was hung from a Petzel

Rescue Swivel allowing the Silk to turn freely. (pic of swivel)





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WHOLE-EGG POSE





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Students enjoy enclosing themselves in the silks, to form an egg.

Students should sit on the knot, close to the ground initially, as balance and strength are required to maneuver on the silks, similar to getting into a

hammock.Mats must always be under the silks.

TYING AN EGG KNOT





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The live end is the end attached the ceiling. The dead end is the other end.

Form a circle with the dead end going behind the live end.

Put your hand through the circle and pull the dead end out of the circle to form a loop. Pull the loop out. You should have a loop

that is at least one foot (or approximately 20 centimeters.

This is the beginning!

Push down on the knot from above to make the knot more secure. Standing on the knot has the same effect. Pulling on the dead end of

the knot, will pull the knot out. Do not let students climb up to the knot on the dead end, or they will

pull it out and hit the ground!

EGG PULLOVERBack pull-over to the stomach on the egg knot then turn over to the back holding

onto the silks with both hands.

Problem Most Likely Error Correction1. Unable to get hips to the knot

1a. Throwing head back early 1a. Keep head tucked in

1b. Silks are held too low 1b. Hold silks higher

1c. Insufficient strength 1c. Instructor can assist lifting the hips into position and suggest specific exercises to build strength.

1d. Student falls to straight arms when they attempt to kick over

1d. Practice pullover on a stable bar. Keep arms bent when lifting hips.

1e. Student becomes disorientated.

1e. Practice being upside down.

1f. All the above 1f. Practice pullovers on a stable bar.

2. Difficulty turning body onto back

2. Too low on stomach before turn

2. Adjust students position to rest body higher on the silks

Note: The back pull-over onto the Knot is a difficult skill for most beginners to learn. Note: It is sometimes easier to teach a beginner on a stable bar, like the low bar on a set of gymnastics Asymmetrical Bars.Note: Some students hook one leg on the silk and pull themselves thru the pullover.Note: The instructor can manually assist the student by spotting them into the skill.Note: Eventually this will be done with a higher knot so that the knot is high enough to execute the Falling Angel Skills.





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Box Stand on Egg

1. Stand on the knot holding silks in each hand and lift one foot at a time

pushing feet sideways.

2. Push arms out to form box shape and hold position.

Problem Most Likely Error Correction1. Stand is unstable 1a. Legs are too narrow 1a. Spread legs wide for stable base

1b. Arms are not straight 1b. Teach student to engage core and slightly incurve body.

1c. Hips are loose making the stand unstable

1c. Remind student to keep their core tight

Note: For younger participants, the instructor can pull the knot down and have the student step onto the knot.NOTE: If arms or legs shake, return to standing position





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Crucifix Position in Egg

From Iron Cross Position

1. Start hanging on the knot and invert into straddle position; in the straddle

position, be sure that each leg is on the outside of each silk strand.

2. Wrap legs around silk. In-step of foot should be against the silk.

3. Straighten legs by pushing heels up the ceiling. (PUSH heels UP)

4. Practice locking feet and flexing feet.

5. Slide small of back down to the knot and bring the dead ends1 of the silks

over the shoulders.

6. The last photo shows the completed Crucifix position.

Problem Most Likely Error CorrectionHands slide down Lack of grip strength Use Rosin or Firm Grip until grip

strength and confidence improve.

Skin the cat. Over rotation through silks

Legs brought through the insides, instead of the outsides of the silks

Practice on the ground having student put their legs around the outside of silks as they invert and straddle.

Sliding down uncontrolled while upside down in foot lock.

Feet not locked or not flexed enough.

Practice the locked and flexed position to build up tolerance to the discomfort of the position..





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1 Dead end is a term to indicate the silk strands that are not bearing weight. Dead ends always hang down.

Single Falling Angel from Egg

1. The Single Falling Angel in the Knot is done from the Crucifix position.

2. Hold the silks with arms out straight in front of the body, pike forward into

inverted straddle.

3. In straddled position, use a forceful hip extension from the inverted straddle

position to the upright position with arms in front of body.

Problem Most Likely Error CorrectionUnable to fully rotate Grabbing live end to rotate Thrust hips and stay outcurved.

Fall through silks after rotation. Arms held too close to body Keep arms straight and wide.

Chaffing of arms and torso Incorrect attire. Uni-tard or body suit with long

sleeves.





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Triple Falling Angel in Egg

1. Start from the Crucifix position

2. Bend knees and point toes to floor.

3. Reach up with hands and pull silks to sitting position.

4. Cross silks in front (cross hands), pull-over cross and hold position.

5. Flag arms (wrap) around silks before dropping to knees.

6. Point toes to floor in bent knee position to catch silks on back of knees.

7. Straighten legs into upside down straddle position.





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8. Complete single falling angel as above

Problem Most Likely Error CorrectionUnable to get on the cross Throwing head back Keep chin tucked in

Not keeping arms bent Build more arm strength with pull-ups.

Not putting silks on shoulders Have students go back and put silks on shoulders.

Not bending knees enough to catch them on the drop

Build hamstring strength by hanging from knees with spotting.

Not completing Single Falling angel

Forgot or became disoriented. Review Single Falling or Provide verbal support

INSTRUCTORS TIP: Encourage the student to tempo their body if they are

not strong enough to pullover on crossed Silks.





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Plank Pose in Egg

1. From a sitting position on the knot place the silk behind one shoulder, keeping

the head on the opposite side, turn feet out and push feet out in front.

2. Balance in straight body position. Hold for several seconds.

3. Return to sitting position.

Note: Instruct students to hold on securely when doing this skill.

Note: Be sure students turn feet out when pushing the silks. Turning feet inward

will make the student unstable and they may fall from the position.

Problem Most Likely Error Correction1. Unable to establish balance 1. Feet placed in inward

position1a. Turn feet outward

1b. Silks rests on head instead of shoulder

1b. Place silks over one shoulder, slightly tilt head to opposite shoulder

1c. Body is not straight 1c. Make body tight and lift hips until body is straight





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Candy Roll in Egg

1. Stand on knot with one foot, hold same side silk with both hands and lean

forward leading with opposite shoulder.

2. Twist same direction as standing leg and push silk down to ankle.

3. Repeat above action 3 times, then reverse direction to come out.

Note: Bottom leg must be kept straight throughout the entire sequence or it will be almost impossible to complete the skill

Problem Most Likely Error CorrectionRoll is not smooth 1. Bottom leg may be bent 1. Straighten bottom leg

2. Rolling in the wrong direction 2. Roll to the short side of the body

3. Silks are not pushed down to ankle 3. After each roll, push silk down to ankle





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Close-up of foot position

.

Saltoed EggThis skill involves a full forward rotation of the body; a somersault. In gymnastics a somersault is also

referred to as a salto. Since this is done on the on the egg knot the kids in our program decided to call

this skill the saltoed egg.

1. Sit up on silks as in step 3 of triple falling angel.

2. Pull forward so shoulders are in front of silks.

3. Let go of silks with hands and salto forward into iron cross. Be sure to keep

legs and arms wide.





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Note 1: Beginners may be anxious about rotating forward. Instructors can physically manipulate the skill until both the student and instructor are confident the skill can be done safely.Note 2: As a learning progression, especially when dealing with anxious students, have them to triple leg wrap each leg (wrap silks around each leg three times) before they lean into skill. This may make them feel more secure but they will be unable to fully complete the rotation.Note 3: The silks will often contact the face as the students rotate. Although this might not look elegant, it is much safer. If students panic and forget to keep their arms wide and to side, they will fall through the silks. If this was to occur, having the silks on the shoulders, can help to slow them down enough for the spotter to catch them.





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Problem Most Likely Error CorrectionIncomplete rotation 1. Silks off the shoulder 1. Place silks over shoulders

before sitting up2. Not staying tight 2. Keep the body tight

3. Grabbing silks 3. Keep arms out and tight

4. Legs are too close together 4. Keep legs wide and tight for rotation

Crucifix Position in Egg

From Standing Position

1. Start standing on the knot and invert into straddle position; in the straddle

position, be sure that each leg is on the outside of each silk strand.

2. Wrap legs around silk. In-step of foot should be against the silk.

3. Straighten legs by pushing heels up the ceiling. (PUSH heels UP)

4. Practice locking feet and flexing feet. Stay slightly in-curved, chin in.

5. Slide small of back down to the knot and bring the dead ends2 of the silks

over the shoulders.

6. The last photo shows the completed Crucifix position.

Problem Most Likely Error CorrectionHands slide down Lack of grip strength Use Rosin or Firm Grip until grip

strength and confidence improve.

Skin the cat. Over rotation through silks

Legs brought through the insides, instead of the outsides of the silks

Practice on the ground having student put their legs around the outside of silks as they invert and straddle.

Sliding down uncontrolled while upside down in foot lock.

Feet not locked or not flexed enough.Not staying in-curved.

Practice the locked and flexed position. Keep body incurved to prevent sliding.





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2 Dead end is a term to indicate the silk strands that are not bearing weight. Dead ends always hang down.

NB: STUDENTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY COMPLETE THIS SKILL BEFORE THEY MOVE ON TO LEVEL 3 SKILLS - THE CRUCIFIX SKILLS OUT OF THE

KNOT.

Inverted Splits in Egg

This is an optional, slightly more advanced Egg skill. This skill is usually performed by older

participants as it requires adequate grip strength and good spatial orientation.

1. Invert in tuck position and with legs between silks catch one foot on the silk

and point other foot to floor.

2. Tuck head and roll forward to return to stand on Egg





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Problem Most Likely Error CorrectionHand grip slips 1. Insufficient grip strength 1. Improve strength before continuing

to learn the skill2. Hands are oily and slippery 2. Spray hands with rosin mixture before

attempting skillBody twists when leg is hooked

Leg is hooked on opposite side of silk

Catch the right silk with the right foot or the left silk with the left foot

Incomplete rotation into splits

Catching leg incorrectly, usually on the outside of the silk

Keeping both legs between silks, catch the right silk with the right foot or the left silk with the left foot

This concludes the Level 1 Egg Knot Skills.We sincerely hope you have found this to be beneficial.Aerial Silks is a relatively new sport or art form. Your feedback and input is welcome.If you have not already purchased the Level 2 and 3 skills manuals and DVDs, we hope that you will!If you would like to see more advanced skills in this series, please let us know!You can purchase Aerial Silks Manuals and DVDs through

www.CircusAerials.com

Cori Woolfe Aaron Johnsonwww.CircusAerials.com www.VancouverCircusSchool.ca





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level 1 egg knot skills manual final

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