Contact juggling is a style of manipulating one or more spheres also referred to as Dynamic Manipulation or Sphereplay, and which is seen repeatedly in the movie "Labyrinth". An experienced contact juggler is ultimately capable of rolling, spinning, throwing and passing the ball back and forth, swinging it up and down, spinning it around the fingertips, palms and backs of the hands, arms and other parts. of the body in a kind of harmonious dance.
Steps
Step 1. The cradle
Raise your dominant hand, palm down, fingers straight and together. Slightly lower your middle finger to form a cradle for the ball. Place it on your fingers near the second knuckle of the thumb, middle and ring fingers. Keep it there for a few minutes at a time to get used to it. Move your hand in a circle, up and down as the sphere is rocked by settling on it by inertia. Find the cradle on both hands and get used to holding the sphere there. This is inherent in contact juggling.
Step 2. Palm to cradle along the side (shift) - hold the ball on the open palm, place it on the top, fleshy part, between the third and second knuckles
Now, keeping your fingers together and straight (but not outstretched), lift the sphere slightly and rotate your hand inward, again under the sphere so that it rolls past the outer side of the index finger and lands in the cradle position above the but no. Keep it still for a while. Now return it to the palm with the opposite rotational motion, lowering the plane of the hand if needed. Practice until the ball moves as little as possible as your hand moves underneath it. Eventually you will find the "right spots" where you feel it instinctively and perform the movement effortlessly.
Step 3. From palm to cradle along the tips (shift) - place the ball back on the open palm as in step 2, but this time you will be rolling it along the fingertips rather than the side of the index finger
Hold it in your palm with your fingers together and moving your hand to ten o'clock (left) or two o'clock (right), depending on which hand you start with (it should give the impression that you are about to lift a shoulder). Then, using your elbow to counterbalance (get your upper arm to work too), swing your open palm firmly towards you in an arc like wiper motion and roll the ball over your fingertips (between index and middle finger) and towards the position of the cradle (above the hand). Once it rests in that position, turn / swing your arm along the same arc to return to the starting position and allow the ball to pass over the fingertips towards the palm. It should eventually go over without your fingers being too far apart, but spacer and dwell on each step for a while if you need to. You can also try to learn this transfer first with the sphere in front of you in the cradle position, then bringing it into the palm in an arched motion.
Step 4. The Butterfly - this is the transfer from the palm to the cradle over the tips from before, done back and forth rhythmically so that the ball moves in a fluid figure-of-eight motion or like a wiper as it glides back and forth
The only difference is that the elbow should be free to move a lot more to hold a smooth motion. To get a nice round eight, lift the ball from the palm in a small inward curve as it swipes over your hand to return to the cradle. Start slowly and deliberately so you can get used to the movement and watch it. But the butterfly is more beautiful to look at when it is made tight and fast. When you dominate it, try to do the eight in the opposite direction.
- In the outward movement of the butterfly (as the ball rolls towards the palm) be careful not to catch or close the palm around it before returning it to the cradle position. Even when it is in the palm, the sphere must remain visible.
- Dominating the butterfly leads to quicker and more intermediate moves such as the butterfly passing between the spikes.
Step 5. Beyond - there are many other steps and transfers and there are also isolated movements:
hold the sphere in a precise point of space while the hands around it signal to take it, touch it and other theatrical gestures while the sphere seems to float. You can also roll it over your arms and chest, hold it steady on your elbow, and (for very gifted people) roll it over your head, neck, back and shoulders. Experienced contact jugglers also do various types of palm rotations, spinning multiple balls in the hands. And the list goes on; if you can imagine it, it's probably possible.
Advice
- In order not to have to chase the ball around the room when you drop it, you can practice on the bed.
- Use your whole arm. Using only the strength of the hand and forearm for contact juggling will cause the wrist to yield often, consequently the ball will bend the knuckles when you move it; not quite a smooth motion effect. To remedy this, involve your elbows, triceps, shoulders and shoulder blades in even the slightest transfers and butterflies to get the balance and control you need.
- Precise moves take time - don't worry too much if you get a rough version of the movement at first. Staying stuck on one move for weeks is fine; keep repeating it over and over! It may take months, but the flaws will sort themselves out and grace will come. Despite your balance and reflexes, muscle memory will inevitably take over your arms and hands, greatly improving responsiveness.
- A contact juggler's fingers should be composed, together, and as straight as possible without being taut or ultra-stiff. But in certain passages they can be slightly separated without spoiling the illusion (especially with larger spheres). Keeping your fingers apart is not okay, however, and neither is your hands stretched out like a karate move.
- The weak hand. Your non-dominant hand will tend to lag behind with progress and to have less balance, grace and agility than your dominant hand. Don't despair. While it may seem slow and difficult at times, you should constantly work on the weak hand. It's the only way to improve, so give it time. Focus on that and don't pamper the weak hand by having the dominant one do all the work. Remember, repetition leads to muscle memory.
- You launch to learn. In the beginning, it is easier for some to learn by flipping the ball upwards slightly from the palm and then placing it under the cradle so that it falls there. It's okay to learn as long as the throw is more and more minimal as long as the ball always rotates in contact with the skin.
- Use this written description along with videos taken from contact juggling sites or the internet in general, please. It is truly a technique that is learned by seeing and you will benefit most from this guide by watching videos of the real activity.
Warnings
- Some in the juggling community have decided to ignore this art for various reasons. Visit the first three external links below to learn more about the ethical debates surrounding it.
- The acrylic balls create a lens that can easily burn. Do not leave a transparent (or translucent) contact ball where it could be exposed to sunlight, or you risk finding burn holes on whatever surface the ball was resting on.
- Stay away from others. Avoid "transferring" the sphere to your lips, nose or forehead and don't start with acrylic ones. They are not as fragile as glass and will break tiles, aquariums, trinkets and bones before breaking.
- Practice near the computer and you will regret it. If you accidentally drop it, it will REALLY crack the screen or outer casing.
- If you practice sitting cross-legged, cover your ankles with something like a blanket or an extra pair of socks, or you'll find them bruised from accidental falls.
