Choosing props for this week's manipulation class

I our manipulation classes we have until now had the opportunity to try many different juggling props just to get a feel for them. For this week's manipulation class we must make a difficult decision: We need to choose two props or "areas that we want to practice more. I think it is good to first broaden you skills by trying everything, and then go deeper into what you find interesting.

I know that not all my family and friends are so into manipulation as I am so here is a list and short explanation of all the props when have had the opportunity to try during our manipulation class (but of course there are many more not listed in this list).

Balls, rings and clubs.

List of props we have tried in manipultaion class:

Balls

Balls are what most people typically thinks about when they are thinking of juggling. They can be made of different materials such as fabric and leather and be "constructed" in different way in the same was as there are different "football constructions" where the pieces not necessary look like you just cut an orange in four pieces. They come in all sizes, colors and weights. A typical juggling ball weights about 100-200 g.

Clubs

Clubs are... clubs. They are more difficult to juggle because you have to control the spin so it makes the number of rotations in the air that you want. They can be used for club swinging almost like poi.

Rings

Rings have some possibilities that balls and clubs doesn't have; for exapmle you can catche the on you head or other body parts. They can have one color or different colors on the two sides, and are usually made of plastic. The typical size of a juggling ring is 32 cm in diameter.

Cigar boxes

Cigar boxes where real cigar boxes in their early stage. They are about the size of four pocket books glued together. They are not "thrown" as balls, but it like you are letting them move in a quite strict vertical motion up and down.

Diabolo

Diabolo is an hourglass shaped yoyo-resembling thing that are spun on a rope between two strings. Then, the diabolo is thrown and caught on the string and sometimes on the sticks. The diabolo can be made of either rubber, plastic, metal or even wood, but the center part where the string lies are almost always made of metal in modern diabolos. The sticks can be made by coal fibre, metal or wood.

Two diabolos and sticks from first person view

Hats

Juggling hats have the advantage that they can be caught on different body parts.

Contact juggling

In contact juggling there are no or very little throws. In contact juggling the juggler manipulate the ball so it looks like it is floating or isolating, or like it is controlled by some magic power.

Poi

Poi is a manipulation tool that looks like a ball attached to a string. Then you hold one of these in each hand and swing them around your body in different patterns.There is a branch of poi that is called contact poi that has similarities with contact juggling.

Staff

Staff is a staff that is spun in different patterns around the body. It has similarities with contact juggling.

Devil/flower sticks

Devil sticks or flower sticks consists of one bigger stick that is manipulated with help of two other small sticks, one held in each hand. The difference between devil sticks and flower sticks is that devil sticks are hourglass shaped while flower sticks are straight and narrower.

Scarves

Scarves fall down very slow in the air which gives another effect when juggling with scarves.

Hoola hoop

Hoola hoop is a big hoop that is either swung, spun or hooped around the body.

Spinning plate

Spinning plate is a plate that is spun on a stick and then manipulated, twisted or thrown.


On the mat from left to right: Juggling hats, isolation hoops right to the right of them and the boxes for the crystal contact juggling balls.
In the first box from left to right there are diabolos and some poi, the a box of clubs and another box with various juggling equipment like scarves and rings.
On the floor in front of the boxes there are juggling rings with balls, and in the rings to the right there are some crystal contact juggling balls.
In front of the rings there are three colorful juggling cigar boxes.

I think I will chose "juggling in general" (which means balls... I think) and diabolos as the areas I want to develop more. I want to choses juggling so I can continue to do my five balls exercises and then maybe do some juggling passing. I think passing balls or clubs are very interesting because I haven't had anyone to practice this with before and I didn't know any patterns. I want to choses diabolo since I am working on my two diabolo spinning and I want to be able to do a two diabolo trick. I used to do a lot of diabolo when I was younger so it is very nice to refind the joy of doing diabolo again.

Juggling balls?