| Poi origins from the Maori tribes in Newzealand and means translated "ball"
The Maori created their Poi out of plants and natural ropes and moved them to the rythm of their drums.
The Maori Warriors used stones on ropes to train strenght and endurance whereas the women preferred to swing them on festivals and developed dancelike moves.
It helps to develop a better feeling for the rhytm.
The Poi Game requires quick hands and handjoints. it teaches the performer in general to aquaint with complex movements.
In Hawaii, poi is the name of a food made out the root of the Taro plant. They would wrap the root up in leaves, then attach some rope to the root and then swing and bash the root against a rock, producing an edible paste.
It is believed the Maori of New Zealand further developed this swinging of the roots into the art form known as POI. Both men and women would use it to develop co-ordination, flexibility and grace. Traditionally poi were short (+/- 25 cm) and made of bulrush (raupo) or husks of corn. Essentially what is involved is that one attaches a poi to each hand and spins them around the body. |
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