Fire art is fun
says JOHANNES HOLM
but dangerous to the lungs and eyes says grandfather the ophthalmologist
Here speaks Johannes
I'm me. I'm anyone. But I am still only me.
"Me" happens to be a boy, sixteen years old that for about a year ago 'came interested in fire.
Fire, then. "What kinda fire?" you may think.
Fire art. For that is exactly what it is. Art. You can't t compete in fire. You can't compete in art.
There are, of course, many forms of fire art. Some deathly dangerous and some less lethal.
You've probably seen fire juggling, and possibly you even seen some forms of fire spinning, as poi, orf staff. There are a countless number of different fire art forms.
The ones I'm focusing are fire eating, fire breathing and poi.
Fireeating doesn't only mean the way to extinguish a litted torch, but everything that combines fire and your body. Like putting fire on your tongue. Or just slowly stroke along your arm. This is called "eldfakir" in Swedish and directly translated "fire-fakir"
Poi is form of fire art named after the equipment. To simplify it: One half-meter long chain in each hand. Spinn them in patterns.
I got a mail from my grandfather where he asked me the Qs:
- What is so great about fireeating/-throwing?
- When did you start?
- Who is the world master?
- What are the dangers?
And now I'm going to try to answer them. Remember; I'm not the most experienced
Fire arts man you'll find, but I do know my stuff.
-What is so great about fire-eating/breathing?
Well. I've always liked fire, probably starting in the boy scouts when I was young.
The feeling is indescribable. Breathing out a 3-meter long flame from your mouth or feeling the control of eating it. And it do look pretty cool, doesn't t?
Dancing away and loosing yourself in the concentration and flow with my poi.
-When did you start?
That's an easy one. Approximately a year ago.
-Who is the world master?
As I said before, you can't compete with art. However, there are records of the largest flame and such fire breathers has been able to do.
But art isn't about competing. It's not about being better than someone else. It's about being better than you.
-What are the dangers?
This is a question I get very often. "Is it dangerous?", "Can I try", "Can you teach me?" are all common.
And the answers are: Extremely, No and No.
The last "no" is not really correct, I could teach you. I could teach you the art of fire. But how would I know that you would care for the art and the safety?
I don't,
And that’s kind of the point. The easiest way to learn about this dangerous form of art is to show interest. Try to meet someone and show 'me you are serious. Enough about that.
Fire breathing is without doubt the most dangerous form. It's literally perilous. Every time some breathes fire, he puts his life on the line.
Fire eating in all it different forms is actually not nearly as dangerous as fire breathing. Strange, people usually think.
It do seems logic that fire you outside your mouth is less dangerous than the fire inside your mouth.
This is because of the chemicals and fuels you use. These isn’t something you want in your stomach, or your lungs.
Still want to try?
Contact me.
Fire Art dictionary for newbie’s:
Fire breathing: When you "breath" (more rightly "spray") fire from you mouth. These flames can be several meters long.
Fire eating: Either it means only the way to extinguish a torch in your mouth, or anything that has to do with combining a fire torch and your skin.
Fire spinning: Fire art with equipment. Not juggling. Divided into two main groups: Poi and Staff
Poi: One, about a half-meter long, chain in every hand. Put fireballs at the end and swing them.
Staff: Some sort of staff with wicks (fire) in both ends. Spin it.
Wick: The part of your equipment that burns. You soak it with fuel and lit it.
Links
www.homeofpoi.com
www.playpoi.com
