THE WHAMMIE

When it comes to two ball in one hand juggling, there aren't really enough variations to merit mention. However, with my ability to use the back of my hand in juggling tricks, I have discovered a number of unusual two ball moves that constitute an act in themselves. They are definitely crowd pleasers and I call them "Whammies."

 

The basic whammy starts with one ball in the hand and the second on the back of the hand. I toss the back hand ball into the air first, then follow with the palmed ball. I then catch them in reverse, with the first ball in my palm and second on the back of the hand. I can repeat this effect endlessly, with no stop in motion.

 

From there, I proceed to the "Over-the-shoulder Whammy." In this instance, I toss the back hand ball in the air in front of my body, then throw the palmed ball over my shoulder from the rear. Again I catch them in reverse positions. As a variation of this, I catch the second ball in the crook of my arm and then toss it back into the air and snare it on the back of the hand. As its name suggests, the "Under­the-leg Whammy" is another variation on the theme.

 

The most difficult of all, however, is the "Reverse over-the-shoulder Whammy." With this one, the back hand ball is tossed over the shoulder and the palmed one goes up into the air.

 

Last but not least is the "Double Whammy."   This is executed in the same way as the basic move, but I contrive to do it with both hands simultaneously. Generally, I first toss both back hand balls and cross them in the air, catching them in opposite hands. Meanwhile, the palms hold on to the other balls.

 

Now get this! Just a minute ago, I created another doozy. I tossed two palmed balls straight up into the air and as they descend I catch one in the palm and the second on the back of the hand --- at the same time. Try that for breakfast!

 

With the exception of the basic and double Whammies, which I discovered over 50 years ago, all other maneuvers in this group came to me within the past 18 months. Unlike other sports, the dexterity gained in juggling seems to be retained and improved upon as one become more "mature." That in itself is a good reason for people to juggle!

- Lou Carroll, Bronx, NY

MUSING ON JUGGLING

In the beginning there was the sphere. And the sphere was good. But it was lonely. So it created in its own image a second sphere; one to fly by day and one to fly by night. And together they created a third sphere. And so, from this nuclear family, from this Holy Trinity, came the Cosmic Flow of Juggling. Science has shown that all things move to this rhythm, from the tiny atom to the mighty planets of the universe.

 

At this point, let me just say that I am not a born again juggler, a Moonie juggler or a Fire and Brimstone juggler. I am merely a humble seeker of enlightenment on the eternal path.   Juggling is in fact an ancient art form practiced by both men and women since before recorded time. Juggling, like the objects juggled, has been passed down from generation to generation. Perhaps the earliest records of juggling are the hieroglyphics of women jugglers in the ancient pyramids. We can also trace the roots of juggling back through the folk histories of India, China, Japan, Iran, and the Aztec and Native American cultures.

 

The art of juggling has been practiced with religious fervor, and has been developed into a form of meditation by a cult-like select few. The names Enrico Rastelli, Francis Brunn, Sergei Ignatov and Lou Carroll stand out as mentors to the legions of aspiring jugglers today. Juggling of course requires great mind over matter. Or in some cases, matter over mind. As someone once said, "There are many paths, but one true destination: Juggling Nirvana."

Juggling is based on the simple rule of physics that what goes up must come down. Or, put differently, "Juggling is the art of throwing up and catching it."

 

Juggling taps into the eastern Tao philosophy of Yin and Yang, in that it requires the rapid and repeated use of the left (practical side) and right (creative side) hemispheres of the brain. Hence, juggling leads to a balanced outlook on life. Yet, let us remember that juggling requires no super­natural powers. No trick photography, no mirrors and our hands never leave our wrists. Juggling is indeed a God-given talent (atheists excepted).

 

Juggling is in fact a metaphor for life in its own simple way. Let us ask ourselves here the rhetorical question: Are we, like the objects we juggle, just individuals that pass each other by? Or are we all interrelated, intertwined, interwoven and interdependent in the cosmic dance of life?

 

In closing, let us also keep in mind that in juggling, as in life, there is so much up in the air and so many different ways for it all to come down.

- Larry Forsberg, San Francisco, CA

 

LIMERICK

 

There once was a juggler named Dwight

Who tossed balls faster than light

He tossed some one day

And in a relative way

They returned on the previous night!

-Roger Montandon, Bixby, OK