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Learn to Juggle 3 Balls
Preface
Welcome to the Internet Juggling Database (IJDb). You may have arrived at this site because you are interested in juggling, or perhaps a search result or link caught your eye, or maybe you are just a bored office worker who whiles away the hours until home-time aimlessly surfing the net (when the boss isn't looking). If you have already explored some of this site, you may have seen some mind-boggling juggling tricks ... people juggling 9,10 or 11 balls, tricks that seem all but impossible. But I can tell you in all certainty that every juggling expert, no matter how gifted, started from the beginning, with 3 balls. I have been juggling for over 8 years, but I can still remember the first time I picked up 3 balls and tried juggling with them. Since then, I have taught many people to juggle, from 8 to 80 year olds. If you can learn to tie your shoe-laces or how to ride a bike, then you can learn to juggle!
webmaster@jugglingdb.com
The lessons:
This tutorial is split into five sections and they are as follows:
1. The throw
2. The exchange
3. The double-exchange
4. Juggling
5. What next?
It is very important that you take time to practice each step before going on to the next. If however you are impatient like me, you will try to rush through them as quickly as possible. This may work for you, although if you get stuck do not be afraid to back-track a lesson or two. The early lessons provide your foundations, make them solid and your progress will be strong.
Juggling AnimationsThroughout this tutorial you will be assisted by our 2-dimensional juggling friend on the right, who is currently juggling three balls - the final aim of this tutorial. These were all created with the excellent "JuggleAnim Java Juggling Simulator" which was written by Jack Boyce. Consequently, you will need to have a Java enabled browser to view this tutorial in its entirety. If you want to see some of the other pattern this fantastic simulator is capabale of, I suggest you have a play in JuggleWiki - the interactive juggling playground! |
Before we begin...
A few question that you might have at the moment:
What should I juggle?
Many people learn juggling with beanbags rather than balls. These are small, flexible cloth bags filled with seeds or plastic chips. Their biggest advantage over solid, round balls is that they do not roll away when you drop them. And believe me, you will drop them … all to often at first! You will probably find beanbags for sale in most toy shops and you can also order them from online juggling shops. However, you do not need any specialist equipment to juggle, any round-ish, hand-sized object will do. I learnt to juggle with apples and the women of Tonga (an island in the South Pacific) use tui-tui nuts!
Where should I juggle?
Anywhere ... At home, at work, while waiting for the bus, in the airport departures lounge. Whenever you have nothing better to do, whip out the juggling balls and have a little practice. Ignore the stares and jibes. You get used to them.
When should I juggle?
When you are learning to juggle, as with any new skill, it is probably best to keep your practice sessions short but frequent. This will hopefully stop you from getting to frustrated and keep your mind fresh. If you do get frustrated or annoyed, stop … go and do something else for a while. Only return to your practice when you feel relaxed and happy once more!
How should I juggle?
OK, it's time to move on to Lesson 1.
[Page 1] [Page 2] [Page 3] [Page 4] [Page 5] [Page 6]
What a good help this was.
because i can't throw it right and the 2 ball's keep hitting together at the top,please give me some help or tips
i am really stuck.
Just keep practicing, it takes time to learn. longer for some than others. don't get discouraged. In the meantime, it sounds to me like you have some Range of Motion/flexibility issues in your arms/ joints (just a hypothosis). A Neuromuscular Massage Therapist can effectively help you in this issue. If you live in the Detroit/Ann Arbor, Michigan area, I can help you! please visit http://www.bodyworkbootcamp.com If you're not in this area, just use the key phrase in google "neuromuscular therapy in (your zipcode here)" There are many search engines out there that can help you look for a Neuromuscular Therapist in your area.
Neuromuscular Therapy is a thorough program of recovery from acute and chronic pain syndromes which utilizes specific massage therapy, flexibility stretching, and home care to eliminate the causes of most neuromuscular pain patterns. This specific and scientific approach to muscular pain relief will help to bring about balance between the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. NMT enhances the function of joints, muscles and biomechanics (movement) and it releases endorphins, the body's own natural pain killers. It can be part of a comprehensive program, complementing all other health care modalities.
Neuromuscular Therapy examines six physiological factors
that may create or intensify pain patterns.
These six factors are:
1. Ischemia
2. Trigger Points
3. Nerve Entrapment/Compression
4. Postural Distortions
5. Nutrition
6. Emotional Wellbeing
This is not your typical spa massage!
It was gratifiying to see myself learn the basic 3 ball cascade in 5 days! Thank you soo much for taking the time to instruct the unbelievers. Not only proved to myself I have still periferial vision and hand coordination but aquired a skill that wanted since I was a child..
My small contibution to encourage others is that since I had no faith in the outcome just started with three potatoes from my wife kitchen, followed by three tennis balls when i saw potential. the great idea to share was to practice standing in front of a queensize bed so the balls could not roll too far or be difficult to pick up when they fell again and again.
Persevere.
I've been using this site on and off all evening and I'm nearly there!
Love this site.
Perseverance ;)
I learnt it with 2 tennis weight (with a bit variation in weight -- since the first one was heavy and the second one was lighter) and 3rd one with a potato.
The general matra:
1) Practice with a single ball (don't look at the ball)..try to get the throws perfect..from left to right..right to left.. practice till you get it perfect
2) practice with 2 balls....throw that particular ball first where the ball lands first!....practice this thoroughly....since this is the key for the step 3rd
3) Just place the 3rd ball..and try!!.. it will happen automatically (see that java animation)
Som
Slightly Frustrated,
James
Or find new tricks.
Or juggle to music.
or juggle apples and eat one while you're juggling.
have fun.
I actually started from Step 2, which helped me place the props in the proper area and helped me learn the flow of juggling (though I see now where Step 1 could help with the throw placement).
I'm sure someone else has mentioned this, but I've found that setting goals (once you move up to real, three-ball juggling) helped me immensely. When I was just starting out, hitting a twenty-catch mark was something miraculous.
I'd celebrate, then work on twenty-five catches and continue on until, within a week, I hit my very first 1000 catch mark.
Since then, I juggle whenever I see three uniform objects. I really can't help myself.
I've also taught many others the craft by giving them a minute lesson on Step 2. I've found that, if people can grasp that basic step (and not cheat or freak out), then they can teach themselves to juggle within days, at least, on a rudimentary level.
I'm excited that I found this site, and I shall be perusing it starting immediately.