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Archives for August 2, 2013

Fixed Friday: Freestyles

August 2, 2013 By Ed Haponik

Happy Friday, fixed folk. As I’m sure you’re aware, we are just a few days away from that merriest time of year (no, not Arbor Day): Worlds!!! Say what you will about Orlando, Prague, dance parties, etc. All drama, geography, and pageantry aside, Worlds is the time of year when the best and friendliest in the world meet up to throw down. It’s the best.

I have never been much of a contest player. I mean, I’ve competed in contests, and I did alright once or twice, but I’ve never really understood it. As such, I completely agree that I’m unqualified to talk about what a good (much less a “winning”) freestyle should be composed of. My lack of competitive-savvy is probably directly tied to what I love about the annual Fixed Axle Championship of All the World (as Drew discussed last week). It’s judged by your fellow “competitors”, all of whom are as stoked to watch their friends nail a trick as they are to pull off a banger themselves. It’s based on randomly-selected criteria. And, as a 3-try best trick-off, it’s generally much easier to quantify than your average freestyle.

However, for the first time ever this year, the final round of the contest will consist of a freestyle. This allows whoever has made it to the end to really show a chunk of their style in a performance context.

If you’re any kind of yo-yo player, you have to be able to show off your tricks. You have to be able to perform. Otherwise, your experience will be limited to exploring the mysteries of string geometry in your room. And sure, that’s valuable, but the other side of that coin, expressing your joy for the art to an audience, is equally valuable and can serve to inform your more inward “progressive” playing, too. Not all performance is competitive – it just seems that way in yo-yoing sometimes. Fixed axle freestyles are becoming more and more of a “thing” these days. At least 5 large contests (besides Worlds) of which I am aware have had a Fixed Axle division in the last year, and most of those were based on freestyles. Although the word “freestyle” is an amusing misnomer (usually being composed of carefully selected tricks), it’s still worthwhile to develop a sense for how you might put tricks together in 1-, 2-, or even 3-minute chunks. We’ve all seen dozens (if not hundreds) of modern freestyles, but fixed axle represents some interesting obstacles.

For one, most of the fixed tricks we delight in are pretty hard and decidedly low-percentage. I’m certainly not suggesting that Mickey, Marcus, and Chris have easy tricks, but I find it much easier to throw together a sequence of my own “unresponsive string-tricks” which I am likely to hit than my own “fixed axle tricks”. I bet the world champ would say the same thing. You might hit that cross-armed kickflip suicide just one in ten tries, but MAN it feels amazing when you do. That said, no one wants to see you miss 9 times on stage. The difficulty is just inherent to the medium (it’s probably why you love it enough to read this drivel).

The rhythm of fixed axle yo-yoing is also totally different from mainstream contest play. Today’s modern metals have the angular momentum-to-drag coefficient ratio to blast through minute-long combos, even without a regen. By contrast, a “long” fixed axle trick takes about 10 seconds. But, since stalls are so utterly endemic to progressive fixed axle, it’s much easier for me to see tricks linked into organic wholes. Also, take a look back at some of the past 30-odd episodes. What percent of the tricks have been repeaters? 50? The natural tendency toward stall-regen repeaters also makes it easier to plan and link combos.

I approach the idea of a fixed axle freestyle the same way I approach any other performance. It should consist of tricks which I can hit consistently. The tricks should be organized so that they flow together relatively seamlessly. The material should be original. And it should be fun to watch.

… That’s a pretty tall order, and I certainly fail to live up to it in a few parts of my vid this week. First of all, it’s worth noting that this freestyle leaves out a few tricks which I would probably throw in near the end. 1.) I want to reserve some interesting stuff for Worlds and 2.) Most of that stuff is hit-or-miss. The vast majority of the tricks I put together this week are elements which, independently, I can hit very consistently (say 4 out of 5 times). Even so, having a 2-minute freestyle composed of tricks you’re 80% likely to hit is still VERY dicey, and as you’ll note, I have some misses (notably on Dali Winshield Wipers and that last Under-Moon Tough Love Lunar).

I tend to front-load my freestyles a bit. That is to say, the first minute is generally tougher than the second (or third). As I said before though, none of this video is really very hard at all. It’s when you put it into a fluid context and take away stops that it becomes challenging. This hypothetical FS starts with a snap-to-cross-1.5. I like that initial move because I have it down pat and it’s kind of unique. Most freestyles don’t begin with the yo-yo unwound. After that is a little Zipper-Stall/Milk-the-Truck combo ending in a stall GT. Next I get into some Lunar/Crash Landing stuff. This can be pretty inconsistent, even if you do them all the time. It doesn’t take much to send a Shoot-the-Moon off a centimeter, which is the difference between a catch and a miss.

It’s a good time to talk about yo-yo’s. You’ll note that I’m using a Duncan Profly this time. Fixed axle yo-yo’s are SO varied in terms of what they can do, and you really have to think about the character of the freestyle you’re attempting before selecting one. TMBR’s are some of my favorite fixed axles out there, but I know I would have a harder time connecting a lot of these tricks together with one. They spin way longer and stall fine, but I tend to lose a little juice on my regens with the thin axles and wider gaps. If I was going for a freestyle full of longer, 1a-style fixed axle tricks, you can bet my EH, Lovejoy, or Irving Pro would be the call. It might also be reasonable to switch yo-yo’s mid-stream, planning your long-spin tricks near the end (and suffering the deduction associated with a switch-out).

Anyway, fter that Moon combo, I start to get into the meat of the FS, which is basically a series of sidestyle elements. In order, I go from some Stop-N-Go/Stop-N-Pops into some Dumptrucks (yes, these are Drew’s and yes, they go against what I said about originality – whatever, I like going to that 2.0), then Salvador Dali Windshield Wipers, a little 1-hand repeater I call Yin-Yang, some Radial Nerve Bonks, and finally some Instabucket stalls. That’s functionally the end of my plan. As I said earlier, I’m definitely withholding a few tricks, which will hopefully account for the extra 20 seconds. I generally have a tough time planning an ending to my freestyles, to their detriment. If I hit what I have planned in the first 1:40, the last :20 will typically consist of a few harder tricks which, if I make them, will leave an impression. Unfortunately, they also make an impression when I don’t.

Competition at the FACoAtW this year will not be “fierce”, but it will be tight. Getting into that final freestyle round would be awesome, but there are a lot of guys on equal ground right now. The inherent inconsistency of the fixed axle medium makes the whole event a wonderful toss-up, and I can’t wait.

Note that since Drew and I will both be at Worlds, there will probably not be any kind of organized FF column next week. However, you should definitely tune into the live feed on Saturday at 3:00pm, as that when the FACoAtW takes place on the main stage. The up-side to no column next week is that we will probably collect enough footage for several weeks of FF dissection/discussion! If you’re going to be in attendance and want desperately to shred your stuff on stage, talk to me or Drew at Worlds and we’ll see if we can get you in there. Actually, talk to me anyway because I’d love to meet you.

Hook us up with any nuggets of wisdom you’ve accrued in planning fixed axle freestyles in the comments!

 

Filed Under: Fixed Friday Tagged With: ed haponik, fixed axle, fixed friday, freestyle

Cabin Tutorial – Spencer’s Havoc

August 2, 2013 By Steve Brown

Spencer Berry gets some love in this new Cabin Tutorial from CLYW and Charles Haycock.

Filed Under: Video Tagged With: cabin tutorial, charles haycock, clyw, spencer berry, video

9.8 Presents – Anton Vinokurov / Summer 2013

August 2, 2013 By Steve Brown

Russian manufacturer 9.8 YoYos dropped a new promo video featuring Anton Vinokurov…and it’s a fun piece of work. Smooth play and great editing…nice job!

Filed Under: Manufacturer, Video Tagged With: 9.8 yoyos, Anton Vinokurov, video

YoYo Review – Monkeyfinger Forte

August 2, 2013 By The Gentleman

Monkeyfinger Forte

Forte Specs:

Diameter: 56mm /  2.2 inches
Width: 35.6mm / 1.4 inches
Gap Width: 4.6 mm / 0.18 inches
Weight:  68 grams
Bearing Size: Size C (.250 x .500 x .187)
Response: Monkey Snot Flowable Silicone

PLAY

[xrrgroup][xrr label=”Stability:” rating=”5/5″ group=”s1″ ] [xrr label=”Float:” rating=”0/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Heft:” rating=”4/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Design:” rating=”2/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Smoothness:” rating=”5/5″ group=”s1″][xrr label=”Response:” rating=”4/5″ group=”s1″][/xrrgroup]

The Forte is very much a vanity project for Monkeyfinger player Mike Montgomery. It’s not a yoyo that is going to have a wide player appeal…it was very obviously designed to a single person’s tastes and that comes across in the general play of the yoyo. The typically full-sized diameter combined with weighing 68 grams and measuring about 7mm narrower than most full-sized yoyos gives this a solid thwack as it hits your hand, and the threat of #yoyodamage with this bit of metal is very, very real. The yoyo spins dead smooth, but being both narrow AND heavy is a lot to ask of the average player. The yoyo does play quite well, though. Actually, it plays REALLY well. It’s remarkably stable and holds spin through pretty much anything you can throw at it. But the narrow profile makes it feel a bit awkward in the hand, and if you pull it back at full speed you stand a really good chance of regretting it.

LOOKS

[xrrgroup][xrr label=”Surface Finish:” rating=”2/5″ group=”s1″ ] [xrr label=”Packaging:” rating=”2/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Branding:” rating=”1/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Artwork:” rating=”0/5″ group=”s1″][/xrrgroup]

The Forte is machined nicely, but it’s not an attractive yoyo. Straight lines and hard angles all over, both in the profile and the inner cup area. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with plenty of straight lines…lots of yoyos go for that these days and it works wonderfully. But something about this yoyo being so narrow makes this look like a metal version of an early TMBR yoyo…very rudimentary. The black anodization is very uneven, appearing almost brown in places and looking worn through in others, both in the gap and the inner cup. I’m told this is intentional, but since it’s not a uniform finish the result is a bit odd. But to be fair, it’s not very noticeable unless you’re really inspecting it.

Monkeyfinger gets some points for unique packaging, and the fabric pouches that are packaged with the yoyo are a nice touch. But the box graphics are a mess! The box carries a dark argyle & skull pattern, but then has pseudo-graffiti blow-apart diagram of the yoyo that looks to be simply carried over from other packaging…in spite of not even matching the Olde English Monkeyfinger logo. There’s so much going on that it’s hard to get any idea of what you’re looking at, and it’s genuinely difficult to recognize if Forte is the name of the yoyo or the company making it.

Monkeyfinger Forte

VALUE

[xrrgroup][xrr label=”Price:” rating=”2/5″ group=”s1″ ][/xrrgroup]

At $125, this is not a casual purchase and it’s definitely not a bargain. At this price, it’s a commitment to a yoyo that plays well, feels odd, and looks…well, you can decide how it looks for yourself. I don’t care for the finish but opinions may vary.

The Forte plays really nicely, but feels weird in the hand. If you’re looking for something narrow, heavy, and stable, look no further! This yoyo can handle a lot in the trick department, and the narrow width admittedly makes it a good everyday pocket throw. But it’s an oddball, for sure, and carries a high threat of #yoyodamage due to its weight and narrow profile.

Click Here To Buy Forte

Filed Under: YoYo Reviews Tagged With: canada, forte, mike montgomery, monkeyfinger, return top, yoyo, yoyo review

Alec x IBS

August 2, 2013 By Steve Brown

Alec Campbell and Ibrahim Rahman aka IBS dropped a quickie of a video and as you would expect…it’s solid. Alec is throwing a Yeti and IBS is throwing an MVP2 and really….can you have this much style in one video without breaking something? Damn.

Filed Under: Video Tagged With: alec campbell, clyw, ibrahim rahman, ibs, mvp2, video, yeti, yoyofactory

Top 5 1A Yo-Yo Players of All-Time

August 2, 2013 By Patrick Borgerding

As we gear up for the 2013 World Yo-Yo Contest, we take a step back to appreciate and admire the greats of years past. We will be posting the top 5 in each division in the weeks leading up to the World Yo-Yo Contest.

The Single A Division has grown and evolved from the division for people who “couldn’t play two-handed” into the most creative and competitive division in every single yoyo contest in the world. At any given contest, the number of contestants in the 1A Division will outnumber all other divisions combined by 5 to 1. One yoyo, one string, endless possibilities. It was difficult to select only five players for our list…we could easily have filled a Top 20. But the players listed below have proven themselves above and beyond their competition, and have inspired entire generations of players to follow them.

YoYoNews Top 5 1A Players Of All Time

5. Johnnie DelValle – USA_flag

  • 1x World Champion, 1x National Champion, 1x Regional Champion, 2x State Champion

 In 2003 Johnnie DelValle won the big three: Bay Area Classic, US Nationals and Worlds. In his iconic 2003 World routine he was the first to ever incorporate a range of body, finger and arm grinds into his routines. In addition, he had technical slack and a striking stage presence (who could forget the dramatic removal of his over shirt?) that perfectly complimented his style.

4. Jensen Kimmitt – ca-mdflag

  • 1x World Champion, 2x National Champion, 4x Regional Champion, 2x State Champion

Jensen’s run to the world title in 2010 saw a man unbeatable. With an array of US  contest wins at the Bay Area Classic, Pacific Northwest, California State, and twice Japan’s 44 Clash, Jensen dominated parts of 2009 and all of 2010 capped off by his decisive win on the World stage. Jensen was known for his incredible flow and style in combination with his eccentric personality which inspired endless yo-yoers. Jensen remains an inspiring figure in yo-yo today.

3. Tomonari ‘Black’ Ishiguro – japanese_flag

  • 1x World Champion, 2x National Champion

Innovator of some of the most classic string tricks today, Tomonari ‘Black’ Ishiguro was rewarded with a world title in 2001. Many of his trick elements are still in use today and that only speaks to the level of creativity ‘Black’ brought to the table. His unforgettable performances, most popularly his matrix themed routines, demonstrated he was more than just a competitor; now retired, Black is a full time performer and inspiring many more through the theatrical aspect of yo-yoing as well as his wildly popular TED Talk.

 2. Yuuki Spencer –  USA_flag

  • 2x World Champion, 3x National Champion, 4x Regional Champion, 3x State Champion

Another innovator of some of the most classic string tricks today, Yuuki Spencer is undoubtedly a legend in the world of yo-yo. As the only player other than Hiroyuki to win more than one world title in 1A, Yuuki is technically unmatched. His 2002 and 2007 routine both demonstrated his creativity; in particular Yuuki’s 2007 routine injected a level of intensity and energy that was unheard of at any level of yo-yo competitions. Yuuki’s contributions to yo-yo bolster his resume and secure his spot near the top of yo-yo’s most competitive division.

1. Hiroyuki Suzuki – japanese_flag

  • 4x World Champion, 7x Asia Champion, 6x National Champion, 9x Regional Champion

Over a decade of top 3 placing in the World—it is not difficult to place Hiroyuki ‘Mickey’ Suzuki as the greatest single A player. His incredible choreography, ridiculous speed and technically difficult tricks have proven time and time again why he is the best. Capturing his fourth World title after a full eight years after his first, Hiroyuki has managed to maintain an incredible pace of innovation, accuracy and passion. With no signs of slowing down or retiring from competition, he is clearly not done.

Honorable Mentions: John Ando (World Champion), Marcus Koh (World Champion), Jason Lee (National Champion), Paul Han (National Champion)

Who do you think are the greatest 1A players of all time? Feel free to post your thoughts below!

As a reminder, these rankings take into consideration competitive players from around 2000 and on.

Filed Under: General News, Players Tagged With: 1A, black, featured, GOAT, hiroyuki suzuki, jason lee, jensen kimmitt, john ando, johnnie delvalle, Marcus Koh, tomonari ishiguro, top 5, top five, world yoyo champion, yuuki spencer

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