Tom told us how excited he was when his teacher said we are going to put on an end of term circus concert in May. “I learned how to juggle from the Juggling Brain video my Mom gave me for my birthday”. He told us he was already juggling three balls and was practicing the tricks. which is why he tried out for the role of the juggler in the show! He got it and began working on a routine. He would do turning around, juggling high and low, starting behind the back, bouncing off the knee. All tricks he learned from the Juggling Brain video. With the goal of the circus show in mind he sequenced the tricks, got a showman’s outfit, got some show stopping music together, and what do you know - became the star of the show. “I could only do it because of the Juggling Brain video,” Tom told us. “it gave me all the clues.”
Next weekend text some friends to join you for a juggling party with your new Juggling Brain video. Add lots of colorful soft juggling balls, plenty of space. You’re set for some serious fun! Practice each step and encourage each other, with a prize for everyone who learns how to juggle two balls, a bigger prize for three balls, and a couple of prizes for tricks. There’s plenty of examples of tricks on the Juggling Brain video. You can do it in 24 hours. And that’s only the start of your weekend juggling parties. You can have them again to develop more skills, make up a routine, practice a two person act, and of course - have more fun!
When learning how to juggle three balls, stand beneath a good light and slightly in front of it. This way the light falls on the balls and when you look up you don’t get the light directly in your eyes. As anyone knows who is performing juggling tricks, you need to practise with lighting staff, and find out how to avoid being blinded by strong lights coming on to the stage from the audience side. It’s getting more exciting thinking about performance time. It’s time to show off to your friends!
We were going to make a video to demonstrate how to juggle Chocolates (see post) and had everything lined up - camera, masked juggler, chocolates in the refrigerator……
Uh Oh ….. then we discovered another Masked Juggler, who shall remain nameless, had taken and eaten all the juggling chocolates !!! So if you can’t visualize chocolates, how about visualizing big purple grapes?
Why are we talking about how to juggle grapes?
To show you how you can keep throwing your juggling balls close to you - up instead of out. Juggle something you love to eat and pretend to throw them towards your mouth - don’t drop them and keep imagining them falling into your mouth. Can you taste those large purple grapes now? Soon you will be throwing that third ball up instead of out, and juggling 3 balls with the best of them. Our masked juggler who had to settle on grapes, eventually couldn’t resist catching one in his mouth and savouring the flavour!
When you are learning how to juggle, learning to throw three balls in a similar arc requires practice using preferred hand and non-preferred hand. It helps to trick your brain. Visualize chocolates, marshmallows or cherries, something you love and pretend to throw them towards your mouth - don’t drop them and keep imagining them falling into your mouth. Can you taste those rich creamy chocolates now? Soon you will be throwing that third ball up instead of out, and juggling 3 balls with the best of them.
Want a real challenge? Golf balls are smaller and harder than soft juggling balls, so they might bounce out of your hands. But You Can Do It! Start with two; get the feel of them and have plenty of room around with people far away. Move to three over a couch. One business man found fame juggling three golf balls in front of his golf buddies! Were they impressed and envious! So he told them: “Get the Juggling Brain video and we will all become famous. See you on YouTube!”
Everyone would like to be able to juggle three balls, and people admire a juggler. Practice your skills quietly and surprise your friends with juggling party tricks. Teenagers are fantastic jugglers. Don’t forget to try the tricks in Steps 7 and 10 of the Juggling Brain video - put them into a performance sequence and you are a winner! Don’t forget to practice with different objects - what about a ball, a shaker and an orange?
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.
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.
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.