I was first introduced to juggling the exact Wheatland, a local Music Festival. I bought a set from a young men, Josh, who held twirling sticks in the air as if gravity was not affecting them. I decided then and there that I wanted to know how to do this. Many months of practice later, I feel comfortable executing the tricks that I gawk over that day.
The standard side of juggling sticks is composed of three individual sticks. Two, identical plain rubber wrap sticks and a similar stick with two tassels on the ends and a line of tape in the center.
The juggler keeps the tassels stick in the air, by constantly moving it between the two other sticks. Using the natural friction of rubber on rubber to keep it in the air. The concept was doubting to me at first. But when broken down into steps, it is much easier than it looks.
Start by picking up the plain sticks, one in each hand.
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You should hold it firmly but keep your wrist very loose.
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As a beginner, it may feel more comfortable to choke up on the sticks, as it will give it more controlled feeling.
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But doing this will make the tassels stick move faster because of this, I recommend holding the sticks at the ends
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Because it allows you for more reaction time between movements. Place the third stick horizontally in front of you on flat ground.
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Preferably one with the soft surface such as carpet or most preferably grass because learning outside means there is nothing to break when the tassel stick false. At the beginning, it is likely to fall quite a bit. Do not let that discourage you.
Using the sticks, your holding in your hands, cokes the tassels stick, so it is upright with one end against the ground.
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You will probably have to bend over for this.
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Slowly tip the tassel stick to the other side, rhythmically rocking the stick back and forth between the two plain sticks.
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Gradually, increase your speed, keeping the rhythm as even possible.
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Here is the moment of truth, stand up slowly, raising the sticks as you move, and attempting to keep the tassel stick moving between the other two even when nothing is touching the ground.
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This is the hardest part of learning the use of juggling sticks and once you do this, a whole world of possibilities this is open to you.
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When you keep your rhythm steady, when steadying this way. You can begin to do juggling tricks.
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Go and try it first is called “the helicopter”.
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I will show you how to do this trick, now.
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Start with the basic back and forth motion
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And slowly tip the points of your sticks, sky ward
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While continuing the motion.
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If done correctly, the tasseled stick will make a circle with its path
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Instead of a line. Slowly increase the speed
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until it is rotating very quickly.
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Then with one last burst of speed,
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transfer the stick to the dominant handed plain stick
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And use the spinning motion to allow the tasseled stick to twirl around it.
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With practice, these moves will become second nature
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And you would not even need to think about what goes into them.
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That is when you can start to creating trick of your own. Soon a world of creative possibilities will be open to you. Eventually, you can be the one people watching say, “I want to do that”.
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