The Backhand Chop Multiplex

If you've planned to throw a multiplex chop only to pull the clubs up realizing you have the underneath grip instead of the top grip, you can still throw a chop. Instead of a normal chop, throw a backhand chop. This can be done easily from over your right shoulder. Just keep your hand in front of the clubs as you raise them, with your palm fac­ing you. Pull the bodies back over your shoulder (Fig. 7) and flick off a lofty chop, remembering to keep the bodies aligned and spinning vertically as before.

 

A nice variation on this is the backhand chop thrown from over your left shoulder. The grip and throw is unchanged - it still goes toward your partner's belt buckle. You might need to throw from a little inside to avoid hitting the pass that your partner is throwing at the same time. Your partner can help out by keeping that pass outside.

 

The Shoulder Throw Multiplex

The shoulder throw is one of the most difficult throws to make with a multiplex. You need to hold the clubs on the knobs in order to get enough length to throw them over your shoulder. Using the top grip, slide down to the knobs and turn your hand so that your palm faces backwards (just as in a normal shoulder throw). Keep the two clubs even as you bring your elbow up to your right and release the clubs as they go forward over your shoulder. Practice just the throw before attempting it while juggling.

 

Multiplex Between the Legs

This is another body throw that requires throwing from well down on the knobs. Throw the two clubs together between your legs toward the middle of your partner. Try to get enough height on the clubs so that your partner doesn't have to make the catch at the knees. Because this is an underhand throw, use the underneath multiplex grip. Be sure to keep the two club bodies together horizontally as you make the throw to keep the spins parallel. Most people go up on the balls of their feet in making this throw, although that just gets the clubs to your part­ner a few inches higher.

 

Multiplex Around the Back

A slightly easier throw can be made by reaching around your back with your right hand and throwing from between your left arm and your left side. Turn your body to the right 45 to 90 degrees to make the reach be­hind easier. Use the underneath grip and throw the clubs with slow spin and high enough to be caught. Throw a little inside to avoid hitting the club that your partner is passing at the same time.

 

Helicopter Multiplexes

The helicopter pass spins in a horizontal plane like a helicopter's blades. Helicopter multiplexes are pretty but somewhat difficult to catch as well as to throw. So be careful with these, especially since the multiplexes are thrown toward the middle of the body.

 

Here are two different throws: inside he­licopters and outside helicopters. These spin in opposite directions, so the catches, as well as the throws, are quite different. If helicopter catches are new to your partner or if the throws are new to you, first practice the inside and outside helicopters with just one club until you're both comfortable with them. Then practice the multiplex throw and the catch without actually juggling (just two clubs). Then maybe try it while passing 5 or 6 clubs. Note that multiplexed helicopter throws, spinning horizontally, will separate vertically instead of horizontally and will be caught one above the other.

 

The inside helicopter is thrown backhand from in front of the body (sort of like an inside throw of a flying disc). Using the top grip, wind up for the throw by moving your hand in front of your waist with the two club bodies stacked vertically and the knobs pointing to your right (Fig. 8). Then flick your wrist as if throwing a disc and toss the clubs upward and toward the center of your partner. Use lots of loft because the clubs need to spin one and a half times, arriving still horizontal but with the knobs pointing

to your partner's right.

 

For the outside helicopter, again use the top grip with the club bodies stacked verti­cally but throw with your right hand out­stretched to the right, with the knobs pointing to your left (Fig. 9). Use a gentle flick and some loft-this time the clubs only spin once, arriving again with the knobs pointing to your partner's right. Another way to throw the outside helicopter multiplex is with the underneath grip and with the club bodies horizontal instead of vertical.

Multiplexes of Three or More Clubs

You can pass three clubs at once iv . two if you throw flats. Use the top 5 then put the third club in so that the handle lies on the other two handles. Rotate you. hand so the palm faces forward and hold the clubs vertically. Then gently loft them to your partner with absolutely no spin, trying to make them stay close together.

 

The hard part is the catch and resuming juggling after it. To catch three clubs, you can try to surround all three with your two hands, or bear hug them to your body, or try to catch two in either hand and one in the other. The problem is that after catching all three, you have to throw one right away because a reg­ularly passed club will be following soon, if the multiplexer is continuing to pass. So just throw any club you can reasonably get rid of quickly - probably as a flat - without dropping the other two, which you should then try to arrange so that one is in each hand. If you get that far, you can resume normal juggling by throwing a left-hand self as you catch that next incoming pass.

 

If you multiplex four or more clubs out of six, the catcher has more time to straighten out the catch, since the passer has only two clubs left and can pause as long as necessary before resuming passing.

 

Multiplexes with Seven or More Clubs

Multiplexes can even be thrown while you're passing seven or more clubs. Things just get faster for both jugglers. The multiplex thrower has less time to get a second club into the passing hand, so use the technique of moving that hand over toward the other hand to accept the second club more quickly (or catch a self on top of the first club). Throw the multiplexes themselves higher to allow the catcher more time to handle the club that's arriving at the right hand early. Use these tech­niques to try the multiplex in seven doubles or singles or even eight.                               

 

 If you have any comments or suggestions for Juggler's Workshop, write to: Juggler's Workshop, Palo Alto, CA 94303; or call Martin Frost.