48-4,p25

The Tumble

The Tumble (Fig. 5) is just like a Take Out but box 3 turns 180 degrees CCW before being pinned in the middle. The beginning of the trick is shown in Fig. 6 - start to rotate all of the boxes as you lift them, then when your right hand pulls 2 out of the way, the only box still turning is 3, which falls into the center position.

A good variation of the Tumble also starts from Fig. 6, but this time the left hand reaches over to grab 2 and pull it over as box 1 turns 180 degrees CCW and is caught in the center.

The End Out

Last of this section are the moderately advanced End Outs (Fig. 7). Lift the boxes like the Take Out but release all three. The boxes should stay together as you reach across to grab 1 with the right hand. As you grab 1, try to pull it to the left and down so as not to disturb 2 and 3 in the air. Then carry it under the other two and grab 2 with the left to pin 3 at Home position. Here the trick is to wait to grab 2 with the left hand until the moment that box 1 is brought against 3 in the middle - if you grab 2 too soon, you can knock 3 out of alignment. A good tip for any trick is to always watch the box(es) in the air.

The Double End Out

To start the Double End Out, release all three boxes and cross your arms over the top. R grabs 1 as L grabs 3 and both end boxes are carried back across under 2 to Home position. Again, as you grab the end boxes, try to pull them out away from 2 to avoid knocking it out of position. Before you try the Double End Out, it is good to decide which hand goes on top when they cross and uncross. You'll be glad you did. You can also stop halfway with a cross-handed catch - after crossing your hands, all three boxes stay in position as R grabs box 1 and L grabs box 3 and hold.

Under the Leg

The movement of Under the Leg with boxes is like passing a basketball from hand to hand under your leg. Imagine holding a basketball in front of your waist with your palms on its sides (if you have a basketball handy, you can actually try this). Push the ball to your right and let go with your left hand as you lift your right leg up to go between the ball and your left hand. Swing the ball back to the left under your thigh to trap with both hands (your elbows will be straight now). Keep the momentum of the ball and push it against your left hand as you release it with your right hand.

Bring down your leg again between the ball and your right hand and catch the ball in front of you with both hands. Notice how the ball and your leg tend to orbit each other - your leg goes up over the ball as much as the ball is going under the leg (the more that you lift your leg, the less you need to bend your back).

Now to do this with boxes, simply replace the ball with your center box and hold it between two end boxes! The movement remains the same with 2 doing a clockwise circle around your right thigh before return to Home position. Your leg is bent as the box goes under unless you want extra credit for flexibility and pointed toes. It is important to focus on the center box to make sure that they all line up well under your leg. Without momentum it can be awkward to go back to Home from holding boxes under your leg, but getting "stuck" under your leg is a popular comedy position.

Under the Leg Variations

The trick explained above is "Outside Under the Right Leg" - the center box travels under the right leg from the outside. "Inside Under the Right Leg" is the same trick in reverse directions - the center box travels under the right leg from the inside and goes counterclockwise around your right thigh. Of course Under the Left Leg has both Inside and Outside variations too.

Here's one for the more athletic boxers. Continual Under the Legs is alternating going

under the right and left legs without stopping at Home position in between. Start with the Outside Under the Right Leg up to the trap under the leg. Separate 2 and 3 more than usual because after your right leg comes down between them, you'll lift your left leg up through the same space. From here you'll continue under the left leg and separate 1 and 2 to either go to Home position or to switch legs to go under the right leg again. Here is another basketball exercise for Continual Under the Legs. Run in place, lifting your knees, and pass the ball under each leg from the outside. Your arms should swing at the shoulders like pendulums to give you the most space for your legs.

The Leg Switch is another way to go directly from under one leg to the other. Beginning with the boxes under your right leg, you'll flip 2 CCW by 180 degrees as you hop up to bring your left leg up between 1 and 2 and your right leg down between 2 and 3 to end with the boxes under your left leg. The way to remember which direction to flip the middle box is that the right end of the box goes down when the right leg goes down and the left end of the box goes down when the left leg does down - this way the box flip and the leg switch are both done in the same motion.

Behind the Back

Like the basic Under the Leg tricks, the Behind the Back has the center box and your waist orbiting each other. Here is a simple breakdown of where the boxes go. From Home position, push 1 and 2 to the left as you separate 3 to bring it behind your back. Your right arm reaches behind your back as you bring the boxes together (you should still see the center box to your left). Your elbows will be straight as you swing the boxes behind you towards the right, then separate 1 to carry it with the left hand back in front of you to return to Home.

An important element for Behind the Back is to move your body forward and back as the boxes move side to side - while the boxes will go forward and back a little, the more that your body moves to get out of the way the more control of the boxes you will have. Again, keep sight of the center box as you pin it behind your back - it shouldn't be a blind catch but it is still a challenge to get them to line up well. Since I'm right handed, it is easier for me to reach around my back with the right for the catch, so you lefties may want to try going around your back from the right to the left at first.