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Fire and Flow is an umbrella term that is used for a wide range of different families of discipline (similar to martial arts), linked by two main factors: their ability to be set on fire, and their tendency to cause Flow State in practitioners.
Fire has always had a huge cultural and social significance for humanity, being deeply connected to our shared history. Fire brought light to the dark, opened up new sources of nutrition, sent offerings up to the heavens, and drove away the beasts of the night – changing the course of our evolution and biology.
Performing with fire is a powerful experience for these reasons and many more. The sound, light, and heat add extra dimensions of sensation to the Flow State experience, providing immediate sensory feedback. This increased immersion enhances the performers focus and the enjoyment of the moves.
Performing with fire is a key aspect of Te Ahi Ora, and our trained tutors guide participants through this transformative experience with ease, in front of family and friends.
Fire performance in the west has mainly been connected to both Circus Arts and Festival culture, but has been part Samoan culture for at least half a century.
This breakthrough is thought to have been the main inspiration around the world for the modern form.
The first recorded instance of modern fire performance was Siva Afi, the Fire Knife dance of Samoa in 1946 by the Samoan performer Freddie Letuli:
“In 1946 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, I started the fireknife dance of Samoa. I was intrigued by a Hindu fire eater and a young girl twirling her baton fitted with light bulbs on either end.
All of us were rehearsing our particular talents to perform for the Shriner’s Convention. I asked the Hindu man for some of his white gas, and I wrapped a towel around the blade of my knife.
While not perfect, the Flaming Sword of Samoa became a reality. Many people helped me and advised me on the materials to use to hold the fire to my knives and, in turn, I did my best to perfect the fire knife and to pass this talent on to others.
I did not dream that the fire knife dance would become so widespread, nor that so many people with such diverse backgrounds would pursue the Samoan Fire Knife Dance.”
Fa’afetai tele lava Samoa!
Flow State is a heightened state of awareness that occurs when you’re effortlessly giving your fullest attention to an activity or task that you are passionate about, focused on, and immersed in.
The mind’s usual chatter begins to fade away, placing us in a non-distracted zone. The distractions that you experience under normal circumstances melt away, and all that matters is dedication to your craft, and the pursuit of self growth.
In our complex and distracting modern world, we think that entering the Flow State is a crucial tool to help maintain a healthy state of mind, and a way to fight back against the digital dopaminergic addiction that currently effects so many of us.
Te Ahi Ora presents a carefully crafted environment to help you to enter this state, providing you with a holistic pathway to wellbeing – entraining the mind, body, and soul in an enjoyable series of challenges and shared progression pathways.
The discoverer and leading researcher of the Psychology of Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, defines it as:
“This focus that, once it becomes intense, leads to a sense of ecstasy, a sense of clarity: you know exactly what you want to do from one moment to the other; you get immediate feedback…the best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times… the best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”
Humans have always experienced flow state, but is only recently that it has been deeply studied. The ability to enter into this state of awareness has been linked to powerful mental wellbeing outcomes, and rapid increases in proficiency and skill.
Staff
Poi
Sword
Dragon Staff
Rope Staff
Point
Hoop
Fans
Ropedart
Double Dragon Staff
Double Staff
3 Poi
Giant Sword
Ropesword
Meteor Hammer
Triquetra
Triple Staff
Triple Dragon Staff
4 Poi
Meteor Dart
Staffteor
Double Giant Sword
Phoenix Wings
Fanteor