From your manual
Powering up the ESC for the first time and setting the Automatic Throttle Calibration The Hobbyking ESC features Automatic Throttle Calibration to attain the smoothest throttle response and resolution throughout the entire throttle range of your transmitter. This step is done once to allow the ESC to "learn and memorize" your Transmitter's throttle output signals and only repeated if you change your transmitter. 1 .Switch your Transmitter ON and set the throttle stick to its maximum position. 2.Connect the battery pack to the ESC. Wait for about 2 seconds, the motor will beep for twice, then put the throttle in the minimum position, the motor will also beep, which indicates that your ESC has got the signal range of the throttle from your transmitter. The throttle is now calibrated and your ESC is ready for operation
This does not quite sound like what you tried.
Set the joystick to maximum.
Plug in your ESC.
Wait for beeps.
Set joystick to minimum.
Wait for a single beep.
Let us know if this does anything.
As a side note, on most ESCs that I work with, you start with the joystick at minimum.
Plug in the ESC.
Get some beeps.
Move joystick to maximum.
Get some beeps.
Move joystick to minimum.
Get some beeps.
Now the ESC is armed/initialized and further joystick movements will command the motor to turn.