Mention the word, "juggling," to anyone and see what they first associate it with: clowns and circuses.
Unfortunately, most people assume that juggling is only something seen at Ringling Brothers Circus.
This couldn't be further from the truth! Juggling is a great hobby that involves some serious hand-eye-coordination.
There is a small group of professionals who take the hobby to the next level.
They find extreme ways to keep an insane amount of objects in the air at one time.
For instance, some jugglers can actually juggle up to 12, 13, or even 15 balls in the air! Most truly do not know how extensive the juggling sport can actually be.
For those seeking to master their craft and compete, the World Juggling Federation (WJF) offers many unique challenges.
These mini-contests can range anywhere from "endurance" (not dropping any object for the longest) to others that test an individual's accuracy with certain tricks.
Some common tricks used in contests include backcrosses, mill's mess, shower, under-the-leg, etc.
The World Juggling Federation holds its yearly gathering in different cities every year.
Jugglers of all ages compete against others in their same age/skill bracket.
So how do people even get involved in this very different hobby? Where does one even buy all the supplies to get started? That's easy! Most people start with a set of 3 juggling balls, usually as a gift from a family member or friend.
However, if that person wants to truly pursue the art, they'll have to look elsewhere for high-quality supplies.
Indeed, Dubé is one of the most widely known providers of fantastic juggling equipment.
They offer balls made of cloth, silicone, and leather.
Other products include rings, knives, torches, clubs (like bowling pins), and much more.
Not only that, but Dubé also sells balls, rings, and clubs made with LED's.
This lets eager jugglers practice in the dark! Plus, it looks extremely cool.
A few professionals don't practice just for the looks, or even just to show off.
No way.
Some were taught at a very young age and others just truly love what they do.
An example of the former is Vova Galchenko.
To amateurs, his name means little.
However, to seasoned veterans, Vova is a walking legend.
The Russian star's talent was evident at a young age.
Mr.
Galchenko hadn't even hit high school before he learned to juggle 5 clubs.
The prodigy grew up with an equally amazing juggler.
Olga Galchenko, his sister, also started young.
Vova and Olga are not the only names of fame, though.
Jason Garfield is a somewhat arrogant pro that is the main president of the World Juggling Federation.
His mannerisms and methods are questionable, but he is absolute expert in technique.
There are many benefits of learning how to juggle, even if one doesn't become famous like the Galchenko's! For one, as earlier mentioned, juggling improves hand-eye-coordination greatly.
The activity is a great workout for those trying to find some daily fitness, especially for those just starting out- they'll spend a lot of time bending over to pick up objects.
Aside from being a great form of exercise, juggling could theoretically reduce anxiety (it's hard to think about anything else while keeping things up in the air).
Also, juggling can help people overcome their social anxiety.
Professional jugglers find different venues, specifically those with a lot of foot traffic, to show off their abilities.
"All eyes on you" becomes an understatement.
Indeed, skilled professionals will take the limelight in front of hundreds, even thousands, of passersby at locations such as HarborWalk Village in Destin, FL and The Wharf in AL.
If someone makes the decision to take their juggling to the next level (performing in front of crowds), they must first learn the different types of performance styles and what is expected from each.
One type of performance is an actual stage show.
People are seated in front of a stage and the show lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
This is a very structured type and the performance will have been practiced many times.
In contrast, a "walk around" performance is just that: a juggler weaves through crowds, performs a few tricks/stunts, and mingles with everyone.
The last main type of performance is for birthdays.
This requires a great deal of patience and extra enthusiasm, since the audience will usually consist of very young children.
Of course, there are other types of performances; however, these three have been the mainstay for jugglers in today's age.
Different hybrid performances can be put together- walk around juggling mixed with mini-stage-shows in between.
The opportunities are endless for the aspiring juggler who yearns for his or her talents to be recognized and applauded.
Although there have been many misconceptions about juggling, there are many who attempt to make it a serious hobby, and for some, even a career.
Juggling can be used for fitness, entertainment for friends and family, or even just a way to relieve stress.
The benefits of the hobby are vast, and the possibility of public "ooh's" and "ahh's" are even greater.
After understanding the professional and competitive aspects, it's difficult to think of the sport as nothing more than a circus segment.
Furthermore, juggling is much like most sports in the world today: it's not about winning- just have a good time.
Unfortunately, most people assume that juggling is only something seen at Ringling Brothers Circus.
This couldn't be further from the truth! Juggling is a great hobby that involves some serious hand-eye-coordination.
There is a small group of professionals who take the hobby to the next level.
They find extreme ways to keep an insane amount of objects in the air at one time.
For instance, some jugglers can actually juggle up to 12, 13, or even 15 balls in the air! Most truly do not know how extensive the juggling sport can actually be.
For those seeking to master their craft and compete, the World Juggling Federation (WJF) offers many unique challenges.
These mini-contests can range anywhere from "endurance" (not dropping any object for the longest) to others that test an individual's accuracy with certain tricks.
Some common tricks used in contests include backcrosses, mill's mess, shower, under-the-leg, etc.
The World Juggling Federation holds its yearly gathering in different cities every year.
Jugglers of all ages compete against others in their same age/skill bracket.
So how do people even get involved in this very different hobby? Where does one even buy all the supplies to get started? That's easy! Most people start with a set of 3 juggling balls, usually as a gift from a family member or friend.
However, if that person wants to truly pursue the art, they'll have to look elsewhere for high-quality supplies.
Indeed, Dubé is one of the most widely known providers of fantastic juggling equipment.
They offer balls made of cloth, silicone, and leather.
Other products include rings, knives, torches, clubs (like bowling pins), and much more.
Not only that, but Dubé also sells balls, rings, and clubs made with LED's.
This lets eager jugglers practice in the dark! Plus, it looks extremely cool.
A few professionals don't practice just for the looks, or even just to show off.
No way.
Some were taught at a very young age and others just truly love what they do.
An example of the former is Vova Galchenko.
To amateurs, his name means little.
However, to seasoned veterans, Vova is a walking legend.
The Russian star's talent was evident at a young age.
Mr.
Galchenko hadn't even hit high school before he learned to juggle 5 clubs.
The prodigy grew up with an equally amazing juggler.
Olga Galchenko, his sister, also started young.
Vova and Olga are not the only names of fame, though.
Jason Garfield is a somewhat arrogant pro that is the main president of the World Juggling Federation.
His mannerisms and methods are questionable, but he is absolute expert in technique.
There are many benefits of learning how to juggle, even if one doesn't become famous like the Galchenko's! For one, as earlier mentioned, juggling improves hand-eye-coordination greatly.
The activity is a great workout for those trying to find some daily fitness, especially for those just starting out- they'll spend a lot of time bending over to pick up objects.
Aside from being a great form of exercise, juggling could theoretically reduce anxiety (it's hard to think about anything else while keeping things up in the air).
Also, juggling can help people overcome their social anxiety.
Professional jugglers find different venues, specifically those with a lot of foot traffic, to show off their abilities.
"All eyes on you" becomes an understatement.
Indeed, skilled professionals will take the limelight in front of hundreds, even thousands, of passersby at locations such as HarborWalk Village in Destin, FL and The Wharf in AL.
If someone makes the decision to take their juggling to the next level (performing in front of crowds), they must first learn the different types of performance styles and what is expected from each.
One type of performance is an actual stage show.
People are seated in front of a stage and the show lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
This is a very structured type and the performance will have been practiced many times.
In contrast, a "walk around" performance is just that: a juggler weaves through crowds, performs a few tricks/stunts, and mingles with everyone.
The last main type of performance is for birthdays.
This requires a great deal of patience and extra enthusiasm, since the audience will usually consist of very young children.
Of course, there are other types of performances; however, these three have been the mainstay for jugglers in today's age.
Different hybrid performances can be put together- walk around juggling mixed with mini-stage-shows in between.
The opportunities are endless for the aspiring juggler who yearns for his or her talents to be recognized and applauded.
Although there have been many misconceptions about juggling, there are many who attempt to make it a serious hobby, and for some, even a career.
Juggling can be used for fitness, entertainment for friends and family, or even just a way to relieve stress.
The benefits of the hobby are vast, and the possibility of public "ooh's" and "ahh's" are even greater.
After understanding the professional and competitive aspects, it's difficult to think of the sport as nothing more than a circus segment.
Furthermore, juggling is much like most sports in the world today: it's not about winning- just have a good time.