lickety jackblog

Being a badass juggler is not an aquired skill, but a super human ability. Per the Cowboy's request, some examples:

First, the Impossible Trick:

From a segment on the Jack Benny show, Francis Brunn holds 2 large balls in his left hand, which do nothing except to demonstrate that his left hand is not used. He holds a large ball in his right hand, and kicks another large ball from his foot to his forehead. He spins the ball in his right hand on his finger, and then drops the ball on his forehead to the back of his neck as he bends forward. He then straightens up, dropping the ball on his neck down his back. Just before it reaches the ground, he kicks it with his heel, causing it to fly back up over his head in front of him. As it descends, he catches it perfectly, on top of the other ball, still spinning on his finger! Note that this is not done with editing, or by giving him many chances until he got it. This is one of the tricks Brunn performed in his act, in front of live audiences, every night. (Juggling.org)

Next, my personal favorites are the really crazy three ball patterns people come up with. The sort of patterns you need to chart on paper just to figure out whether they're possible. Like the Robot, Mills Mess (one of the few I can do), Rubenstein's Revenge or Mangham's Mangle (all from King's Cascade).

Here's a really great routine (done to some bad techno) showing off an amazing assortment of badass 3-ball tricks. Also, here's a video of some general badasses with some terrific three ball patterns.

It's funny, my immediate reaction to the Chris Bliss video was: "This guy is incredibly mediocre" (and not just because it's only 3 balls. As I said, there are plenty of amazing three ball patterns that are obviously beyond Bliss's reach with his five tired, repeated tricks). And in searching for videos just now, I found that this was, unsurprisingly, the reaction of the juggling community at large. To wit, a guy called Jason Garfield took it upon himself to perform his own act to the same soundtrack (The Beatles' "Golden Slumbers"). Five mother-fucking balls in one hand, bitch. His act doesn't have the production value that Bliss's did, but it is a technical kick to the crotch.

However, it should be said, I read a little something about Chris Bliss, and he's more of a comedian/general performer than a juggler. He admits that his juggling is just an added gimmick, and that he's nothing special.

posted by Little Gordie @ 11:35 AM