Page 34 Summer 1993
DIABOLO BY
MARTIN FROST
The
Spring 1993 Juggler's World contains a review of Brendan Brolly's
Book of Diabolo. With the kind permission of the author, we
reprint here portions of the book and of its upcoming sequel. To
obtain these books, contact Infinite Illusions; Tallahassee, Florida.
The
Diabolo The
diabolo started out in China centuries ago, as a child's toy. The
original ones were made from two bamboo cylinders joined in the
middle, forming an 'I' shaped diabolo.
It
came to Europe a few hundred years ago and became a popular toy. It
was redesigned a couple of times eventually resembling the familiar
eggcup shape. The
diabolo works on the same principle as a spinning top or a gyroscope,
the fact that it is spinning makes it more stable. Anyone who has
played with either of the last two will realize that the faster it
spins the more stable it is and this is also true of the diabolo. All
the instructions in this book are described for a right handed person.
However, if, like me, you are left handed, then just swap right and
left over.
Place the diabolo on the floor as shown and pull it to the left slowly to get it spinning. Lift the diabolo off the ground when it is spinning and start pulling up quickly with your right hand and slowly with your left. The movement is very uneven, the quick jerk with the right hand and then the slower movement with the left. While you are pulling up, try not to let the diabolo move up and down too much.
Try
to imagine a line going through the middle of the diabolo, about which
it spins. You must always keep this line pointing towards you, if it
moves round then you move round to compensate.
If
it is tilting away from you pull back with your right hand, i.e. keep
your right hand nearer your body than your left. If
it is tilting towards you, push forwards with your right hand.
If
the front bell is up, move your right hand forward. If the back bell
is up, move your right hand back. Throwing
and Catching Now
that you can keep the diabolo spinning, it's time for the impressive
stuff. A high throw is the easiest yet most impressive trick you can
do (as long as you catch it).
Bring
the hands ticks together in the middle.
Pull the sticks up and apart.
This should ensure that the diabolo goes straight up. To
catch it, sight the diabolo by looking at it along the right hands
tick as it comes down. As you catch the diabolo bring the right hands
tick down to waist height to take some of the momentum out of the
diabolo. It is easier to catch a high throw than a low one. Sideways
Around the World Move
round so that you are looking at the diabolo from the side. Hold the
handsticks about four inches apart with the tips pointing
inwards. Swing the diabolo towards you and up so that it swings in a
big circle. Make sure you don't hit yourself in the chin!! Over
the Stick Very
similar to the previous trick except hold the handstick nearest to you
higher than the other one so that the string is as shown.
Swing
the diabolo in a circle towards you and up. After a while it gets really frustrating having to move around all the time and it's much easier to turn the diabolo. Catch the diabolo with your arms crossed, right arm over your left arm. Uncross your arms, bringing the string over the left handstick, as shown below. Remember, the diabolo will tilt when you turn it, you must compensate for this by pushing the diabolo up or down. |