When beginning to learn how to juggle make sure you have a wide base to start with – feet astride- a juggler’s stance. You need good balance when juggling.  You are relying on your body balance mechanism to maintain your posture as your eyes are fixed on a moving target.  Check Step 7 in the Juggling Brain video for the juggler’s stance.  Generally we use our vision and vestibular system to maintain our balance but in juggling we rely on balance mechanism and information coming from our feet and ankles.

Be Your Best !
The Masked Jugglers

To begin juggling one ball our eyes need to practice fixating on a moving target. Fixing both eyes on the target stimulates the visual system and from there smooth pursuit of the moving ball is required where the ball moves up and over to our other hand. This is where you start in Step 1 of the Juggling Brain video. Sounds easy doesn’t it. Take your time to teach this skill to your eye muscles. They may not have had this experience before.  Later on when more advanced you need only look at the ball at the top of the arc. But first you need to learn to look at the ball all the way. This applies to all ages. Remember, the eyes have it! What could be easier for step 1.

Be Bold !
The Masked Jugglers

If you have just learned to juggle 3 balls and find yourself continually walking forward as you juggle, it’s just natural.  Others have gone before you doing the same. It will come to an end, and you will learn to stand still and juggle. But in the meantime try standing in front of a wall or cupboard door as you juggle. Try not to hit the door or wall with your juggling balls.  It’s a brain trick.  Put up a barrier and your brain will try not to hit it, encouraging you to throw the juggling balls in front of you instead of out.  Another good idea is to go back a step, say to Step 9 of the Juggling Brain video, and practice juggling two balls in one hand, positioned in the juggler’s stance, as described in Step 7. (See post ‘Perfect Balance for Juggling‘)  Just do it in the juggler’s stance and it will become automatic as you are learning to juggle.

Be Bold !
The Masked Jugglers

When trying to juggle three balls you need colours  that catch your eye. Vibrant colours you can see easily and clearly. Bold colours such as red, green, blue, and orange are easily seen.  With single colours  you can spot and say the colour as you are learning to juggle.  Or if someone is teaching you, the teacher can say throw the red, then green, then gold ball in sequence. It is  better to have ball colour different from walls or ceiling if you are juggling inside. The juggling ball is easier to see and catch when it stands out from the wall colour. 

Have Fun !
The Masked Jugglers