General Discussion about the Poidia

Yeah organising all the content into some kind of 'tree' would be great.

The problem is always that the structure of this tree is always 'arbitrary' (this means that you can break up the information in any way you like, no way will be the best way to do it)

For example. As a beginner you tend to think of moves as Weaves, Butterflies, Beats, and so on

As you progress you might consider moves being 0 degree (without crossing arms) 1st degree (1 cross of arms or 2nd degree (2 crosses of arms)

or you might consider moves as being base patterns, or with certain applied modifiers, like isolations, throws, box planes, inside planes and so on.

Each of those 3 ways to break down poi movements is equally 'correct' and each way has good and bad points.

But which way should we break up the poidia?

Is there a way that we can create a 'smart' system which breaks the information up in the best way for each individual user?

That's what i've been wondering how to do with spherculism for many years now.

The best solution i can think of is not so much a 'Tree' but (for lake of a better word) a 'Matrix'.

Each piece of the poidia is a separate piece of data.

Each has 1 or more 'Tags' associated with it

eg 3 beat Weave

has Tags: 'Weave', '3 Beat', '1st Degree', 'un-modified'.............

Then as a default a new user would see all the content broken down in terms of weaves + butterflie, beats and so on.

Then as they progress they might like to start considering Degrees of twist

or modifiers

etc

To highlight the problem consider the difference between a weave, and a tangle. The difference is only that the 'point of twist' on the weave is your wrists, but on the tangle the 'point of twist' moves along the length of the poi body.

The other great example where the weaves and butterflies model breaks down is when you start working with atomic planes.

eg Here a move looks like a butterfly when a viewer looks at it from the front but a weave from the side.

:S