Hitch skills are a fundamental building block for the practice of aerial silks and a great way to introduce beginners to this discipline. This Instructor Workshop will provide you with a fresh selection of moves that use the hitch knot to develop your aerial silks syllabus.
Online Course Cost: £175
Questions about the course? Click on the headings below for more information, or contact us.
Course requirements and Pre-requisites
You will need:
- to hold a Spin City Spin City Foundation Aerial Silks Instructor Course certificate, or equivalent certificate
- access to the internet via a PC, laptop, or mobile device
- access to at least 1 set of aerial silks
- a minimum of 2 hours’ study/training time per week (to complete the course within the 1-year deadline)
- a device to film videos on (mobile phones are allowed)
Course Moves List
INTRODUCTION TO HITCH WORK
- Tying a hitch
- Tying a hitch with your feet
- Straddle in the hitch
HITCH MOVES
- Pull Over to Front Balance
- Single Leg Thread Through
- Sitting to Front Balance
- Pull Over to Double and Single Hocks
- Crucifix Mount to Double and Single Hocks
- Moth
- Butterfly
- Triangle Pose
- Side Sail
- Figurehead
- Bow and Arrow
- Extreme Bow and Arrow
- Seated Bow Pose
- Open Bow Pose
- The Fan
- Coffin
- Lotus and Inverted Lotus
- T-Stand
- Leana
- Cradle and Single Leg Cradle
- Mermaid
- Angel
- Reverse Angel
- Arabesque
- Crucifix
- Inside Star
- Outside Star
DYNAMIC MOVEMENT
- Roll to Cocoon
- Roll to Angel
- Thread the Needle Descent
- Straddle Tip to Crucifix
- Invert and Slide into Loop
- Reverse Salto with Assisted Planche
- Forwards Salto from Gazelle
Core Moves
Compulsory moves required for technical assessment.
- Straddle in the hitch
- Moth
- Bow and Arrow (forwards)
- Bow and Arrow (backwards)
- Coffin (Hands on)
- Straddle tip to Crucifix
Course ASSESSMENT
This course has two main parts to the assessment; a theory assessment and a practical assessment.
| Theory Assessment | Practical Assessment |
| Answer theory questions related to each unit of the course. Questions are multiple choice, or short answers. | Part 1: Combination of Moves. Film a continuous combination of 5 moves from the course syllabus. Part 2: Core Moves Technique and Execution. Film each of the core course moves. |
Course Description
These skills are a key foundation skill that make aerial silks accessible and safe for all students from their first session. Hitch work allows students to move through poses and inversions whilst being fully and safely supported either on or off the ground. It allows students to build strength in their upper body and core, whilst they build confidence in the air. Hitches can be easily tied and untied and the height can be adjusted to suit the student.
UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION TO HITCH WORK
This unit will recap the basics relating to the hitch and explores cross-overs with transferable skill in a footlock.
UNIT 2 – HITCH SKILLS
Our second unit is the main body of this course. We will cover over 40 different move variations including a range of mounts, poses and introduce dynamic movement. Each move will be detailed with teaching points, safety points, progressions, regressions, and common problems.
UNIT 3 – COMBINATIONS AND CONDITIONING
The hitch is a great place to start developing stamina within aerial silks. This unit will provide a set of fixed combinations, as well as a combinations toolbox to inspire your own combinations and freestyle activities. We’ll finish with a series of strength and conditioning exercises suitable for beginner and intermediate learners.
UNIT 4 – HITCH WORK WITHIN AERIAL SILKS
Unit 4 explores how the hitch can serve as a support structure to allow for technique practice.
UNIT 5 – HITCH SAFETY
Health and safety is fundamental to effective aerial classes. In this unit, we will look at key health and safety concepts such as public liability insurance and risk assessments. We will also cover specific aerial silks health and safety considerations, such as length of the loop, amount of tail and level of tension.