Glossary of juggling

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Cascade: alternating inside tosses, siteswap 3 3-ball cascade movie.gif
Cascade: alternating inside tosses, siteswap 3
Reverse cascade: alternating outside tosses, siteswap 3 3-ball reverse cascade movie.gif
Reverse cascade: alternating outside tosses, siteswap 3
Burke's Barrage, siteswap: 423; the 4 is a tossed directly up, the 2 is a carry, and the 4 ball should be claw caught 3BallBurkesBarrage.gif
Burke's Barrage, siteswap: 423; the 4 is a tossed directly up, the 2 is a carry, and the 4 ball should be claw caught

Juggling terminology, juggling (especially toss juggling) terms:

Alternating/Asynchronous
tosses or catches, where one hand makes a toss, then the second hand makes a toss, as opposed to synchronous.
Asymmetrical
juggling patterns whose length is an even number (and thus repeats on the same hand), as opposed to symmetrical. For example, the shower pattern.
Balance
resting a prop on one's body or an object [1] for a beat or more
Beat
the duration between consecutive tosses, tosses and catches, or catches. Beats are counted by siteswap.
Bounce
allowing an object to bounce off a hard surface, typically the floor, before being caught.
Bounce juggling
juggling including or consisting of bounces and catches.
Carry
to move, or "carry", a ball with the first hand to the location it would have been caught at by the second hand instead of throwing it towards that spot, and to then throw it from that location using the first hand.
Catch
when a ball lands on one's hand or is grabbed out of the air.
Claw/Snatch/Overhand
where the hand throwing or catching a ball is turned upside down so that the palm of the hand faces the ground.
Contact juggling
a form of object manipulation that focuses on the movement of objects such as balls in contact with the body (rolls or rolling).
Cross
where one hand is passed over or under the other arm before throwing or catching.
Feed
to pass a prop directly from one hand to the other. Siteswap: 1.
Flash
to throw and catch each object, as many as possible, only once. A form of numbers juggling. May also refer to patterns such as 55500 which allow a "flashy" move such as a clap or pirouette.
Half
a variation of a pattern which may be more simple, sometimes may be used as preparation for, and generally resembles a truncated version of its namesake. For example the shower and the half-shower have siteswaps 51 and 3).
Hold time
also "dwell time", the time, relative to the siteswap beats, which is a prop is held. Ladder diagrams often show no dwell time, with the prop landing at the same moment as its toss.
Inside
to throw a prop in one hand under the prop just thrown or to be thrown. See: outside and reverse.
Multiplex
a toss of more than one object at a time. Also refers to patterns containing multiplexes. The reverse is a squeeze catch.
Notation
the written depiction of concepts and practices in juggling, such as siteswap and ladders.
Numbers juggling
juggling with as many objects as possible. See: flash and qualify.
Orbit
a carry where the held ball is moved around another ball in a circle, as if orbiting. "Orbit" is also used in a technical sense to refer to, "the cycle of throws which a ball follows." [2] For example, the cascade (3) has one orbit while tennis (3) has two.
Outside
to throw a prop in one hand over the prop just thrown or to be thrown. See: inside and reverse.
Overhead
"Juggling with your arms up in the air above your head & looking up from underneath the pattern," [3] such as the overhead cascade [4]
Parity
whether a pattern may be done only with an even or odd number of props or may be done either way. For example, the cascade may be done with any odd number of props greater than or equal to 3.
Pass
to throw an object to another juggler.
Pattern
a specific manipulation of props during the practice of juggling.
Period
the length of a pattern before it repeats. The cascade (3) has a period of 1 and the half-box (441) has a period of 3.
Prop
an object used to juggle. If not a ball, such as a bean bag, objects used include juggling clubs, juggling rings, cigar boxes, knives, and torches.
Qualify or qualifying
numbers juggling where every prop must be thrown and caught at least twice, in contrast to a flash.
Reverse
tossing to the inside instead of the outside, or the outside instead of the inside. For example, the cascade and the reverse cascade.
Shape distortion
a variation of a pattern with the same siteswap but a different shape, such as the half-shower and the Statue of Liberty (both siteswap: 3, the latter uses overhead juggling).
Squeeze or squeeze catch
the reverse of a multiplex, where more than one ball is caught in the same hand simultaneously on the same beat.
Sticks/batons
Wooden rods or doweling, predates modern clubs. [5]
Symmetrical
juggling patterns with patterns whose length is an odd number (and thus repeats on the other hand), as opposed to asymmetrical.
Synchronous
tosses or catches made by each hand at the same time, as opposed to alternating.
Toss
a throw up into the air.
Toss juggling
juggling consisting of tosses and catches ( in distinction to non-tossing forms of juggling, like e.g. swinging clubs or poi, twirling a bâton, or contact juggling where the prop rolls along bodyparts ).
Two-in-One
columns, using one hand and two balls, "where the balls travel vertically in their own separate paths." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juggling</span> Circus skill manipulating objects

Juggling is a physical skill, performed by a juggler, involving the manipulation of objects for recreation, entertainment, art or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling. Juggling can be the manipulation of one object or many objects at the same time, most often using one or two hands but other body parts as well, like feet or head. Jugglers often refer to the objects they juggle as props. The most common props are balls, clubs, or rings. Some jugglers use more dramatic objects such as knives, fire torches or chainsaws. The term juggling can also commonly refer to other prop-based manipulation skills, such as diabolo, plate spinning, devil sticks, poi, cigar boxes, contact juggling, hooping, yo-yo, and hat manipulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cascade (juggling)</span> Pattern in juggling

In toss juggling, a cascade is the simplest juggling pattern achievable with an odd number of props. The simplest juggling pattern is the three-ball cascade, This is therefore the first pattern that most jugglers learn. However, although the shower requires more speed and precision, "some people find that the movement comes naturally to them," and it may be the pattern learned first. "Balls or other props follow a horizontal figure-eight [or hourglass figure] pattern above the hands." In siteswap, each throw in a cascade is notated using the number of balls; thus a three ball cascade is "3".

In the cascade, an object is always thrown from a position near the body's midline in an arc passing underneath the preceding throw and toward the other side of the body, where it is caught and transported again toward the body's midline for the next throw. As a result, the balls travel along the figure-eight path that is characteristic of the cascade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siteswap</span> Notation used to describe juggling patterns

Siteswap, also called quantum juggling or the Cambridge notation, is a numeric juggling notation used to describe or represent juggling patterns. The term may also be used to describe siteswap patterns, possible patterns transcribed using siteswap. Throws are represented by non-negative integers that specify the number of beats in the future when the object is thrown again: "The idea behind siteswap is to keep track of the order that balls are thrown and caught, and only that." It is an invaluable tool in determining which combinations of throws yield valid juggling patterns for a given number of objects, and has led to previously unknown patterns. However, it does not describe body movements such as behind-the-back and under-the-leg. Siteswap assumes that "throws happen on beats that are equally spaced in time."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fountain (juggling)</span>

The fountain is a juggling pattern that is the method most often used for juggling an even number of objects. In a fountain, each hand juggles separately, and the objects are not thrown between the hands, thus the number of balls is always even since any number of balls in one hand is doubled by the same number in the other hand. To illustrate this, it can be seen that in the most common fountain pattern where four balls are juggled, each hand juggles two balls independently. As Crego states "In the fountain pattern, each hand throws balls straight up into the air and each ball is caught in the same hand that throws it."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multiplex (juggling)</span>

Multiplexing is a juggling trick or form of toss juggling where more than one ball is in the hand at the time of the throw. The opposite, a squeeze catch, is when more than one ball is caught in the hand simultaneously on the same beat. If a multiplex throw were time-reversed, it would be a squeeze catch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mills' Mess</span> Pattern in juggling using three objects

In toss juggling, Mills' Mess is a popular juggling pattern, typically performed with three balls although the props used and the number of objects can be different. The pattern was invented by and named after Steve Mills. It is a well-known trick among jugglers and learning it is considered somewhat of a milestone, "a mind-boggling pattern of circling balls, crossing and uncrossing hands, and unexpected catches."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juggling club</span> Equipment used by jugglers

Juggling clubs are a prop used by jugglers. Juggling clubs are often simply called clubs by jugglers and sometimes are referred to as pins or batons by non-jugglers. Clubs are one of the three most popular props used by jugglers; the others being balls and rings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Box (juggling)</span>

In toss juggling, the box is a juggling pattern for 3 objects, most commonly balls or bean bags. Two balls are dedicated to a specific hand with vertical throws, and the third ball is thrown horizontally between the two hands. Its siteswap is (4,2x)(2x,4).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flash (juggling)</span>

In toss juggling, a flash is either a form of numbers juggling where each ball in a juggling pattern is only thrown and caught once or it is a juggling trick where every prop is simultaneously in the air and both hands are empty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columns (juggling)</span> Juggling pattern

In toss juggling, columns, also known as One-up Two-up, is a juggling trick or pattern where the balls are thrown upwards without any sideways motion, distinguishing it from the fountain. The simplest version involves having three balls, with two going up simultaneously on either side, followed by one going up in the middle. One way to accomplish this is to juggle 2 balls in one hand and one ball in the other, so one hand has to move faster and further than in a regular pattern (cascade), whilst the other remains almost stationary. The hand juggling the center ball can alternate with each repeat to make the pattern symmetric.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passing (juggling)</span> Juggling between two or more people

Passing is the act of juggling between two or more people. It is most commonly seen as a subset of toss juggling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubenstein's Revenge</span> Three-ball juggling pattern

In toss juggling, Rubenstein's Revenge is a 3-ball juggling pattern named by George Gillson after its inventor, Rick Rubenstein. Along with Mills' Mess and Burke's Barrage, it is one of three well-known named juggling patterns that involve complex carries and crossed arm throws. Rubenstein's Revenge is usually considered the most involved and difficult of the three.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toss juggling</span> Form of juggling

Toss juggling is the form of juggling which is most recognisable as 'juggling'. Toss juggling can be used as: a performing art, a sport, a form of exercise, as meditation, a recreational pursuit or hobby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shower (juggling)</span> Juggling pattern

In toss juggling, the shower is a juggling pattern for 3 or more objects, most commonly balls or bean bags, where objects are thrown in a circular motion. Balls are thrown high from one hand to the other while the other hand passes the ball back horizontally. "In the shower pattern, every ball is thrown in a high arc from the right hand to the left and then quickly passed off with a low throw from the left to the right hand ." The animation depicts a 3-ball version. Siteswap notation for shower patterns is (2n-1)1, where n is the number of objects juggled. The circular motion of the balls is commonly represented in cartoons as the archetypical juggling pattern, somewhat at odds with reality, where the cascade is more common. By constantly reversing the direction, the box pattern can be formed.

Juggling practice has developed a wide range of patterns and forms which involve different types of manipulation, different props, numbers of props, and numbers of jugglers. The forms of juggling shown here are practiced by amateur, non-performing, hobby jugglers as well as by professional jugglers. The variations of juggling shown here are extensive but not exhaustive as juggling practice develops and creates new patterns on a regular basis. Jugglers do not consciously isolate their juggling into one of the categories shown; instead most jugglers will practice two or more forms, combining the varieties of juggling practice. Some forms are commonly mixed, for example: numbers and patterns with balls; while others are rarely mixed, for example: contact numbers passing. Many Western jugglers also practice other forms of object manipulation, such as diabolo, devil sticks, cigar box manipulation, fire-spinning, contact juggling, hat manipulation, poi, staff-spinning, balancing tricks, bar flair and general circus skills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juggling world records</span> World records for varieties of juggling

Juggling world records comprise the best performances in the fields of endurance and numbers juggling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juggling notation</span>

Juggling notation is the written depiction of concepts and practices in juggling. Toss juggling patterns have a reputation for being "easier done than said" – while it might be easy to learn a given maneuver and demonstrate it for others, it is often much harder to communicate the idea accurately using speech or plain text. To circumvent this problem, various numeric or diagram-based notation systems have been developed to facilitate communication of patterns or tricks between jugglers, as well the investigation and discovery of new patterns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juggling ball</span> Spherical prop used in juggling

Juggling balls, or simply balls, are a popular prop used by jugglers, either on their own—usually in sets of three or more—or in combination with other props such as clubs or rings. A juggling ball refers to any juggling object that is roughly spherical in nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juggling pattern</span>

A juggling pattern or juggling trick is a specific manipulation of props during the practice of juggling. "Juggling, like music, combines abstract patterns and mind-body coordination in a pleasing way." Descriptions of patterns and tricks have been most common in toss juggling. A juggling pattern in toss juggling is a sequence of throws and catches using a certain number of props which is repeated continuously. Patterns include simple ones such as the cascade and complex ones such as Mills mess. A juggling trick in toss juggling is a throw or catch which is different from the throws and catches within a pattern. Tricks include simple ones such as a high throw or more difficult ones such a catch on the back of the jugglers neck, as well as the claw, multiplex, and pass. Systems of juggling notation have been created to describe juggling patterns and tricks. One of these is siteswap notation.

References

  1. ↑ Darbyshire, Lydia; ed. (1993). Juggling, p.79. Siddall, Jeremy; illustrations. Courage. ISBN   1-56138-224-8.
  2. ↑ Beever, Ben (2001). "Siteswap Ben's Guide to Juggling Patterns", p.37, JugglingEdge.com. BenBeever.com at the Wayback Machine (archived August 10, 2015). Accessed: 11 3 2016.
  3. ↑ "Overhead cascade", Tunbridge Wells Juggling Club.
  4. ↑ Darbyshire (1993), p.22.
  5. ↑ Darbyshire (1993), p.80.
  6. ↑ "Columns", LibraryofJuggling. Accessed: October 20, 2016.
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