Dogfish Juggling

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to next week’s juggling class over the past few days.  During this past sunday’s class, which was slightly focused on deconstruction, I had the idea to make my next class topic body awareness.  This seems like a particularly appropriate topic, as my classes are held in a yoga studio.

I’d like to draw on an essay from Steven Ragatz, particularly the following passages:

“First, work on only one thing at a time. For example, if I am working on the start of a trick, on a single trial, I would focus on the first flash and not care about anything that happens after. On another trial, I might be training the pattern balance, particularly since my left hand likes to be a bit lazy. And on yet another trial, I might focus on shoulder placement, etc.

I have found this to be more valuable than to always try to do the entire trick, with all of it’s various parts, correctly on each trial. Once the trick is out of my head and into my hands, I can put all of the pieces together, but it is just too much to remember and too many things going on to split my focus initially. When I have a clear, limited idea what I wish to accomplish with a given trial, then my chance for success improves dramatically and training is less discouraging.

Second, I try to focus with my “mind’s eye”. The information that most jugglers latch on to is visual information. That is, we watch the pattern and analyze if a given throw was too high, or outside, or under spun, etc. This feedback is crucial, but is merely a symptom of the actual juggling itself. After all, once I see the throw in the air, it is too late to do anything about it other than try to recover. The only point that I can actually influence the trick, is the point of release when I let go of the prop and send it on it’s pre-ordained path. As soon as it leaves my hand, the prop is no longer in my control and I can no longer have any influence over it.

As such, I try to focus on the body and how it “feels” when executing a given trial. Even though my eyes are looking up, my mind’s eye is watching my hands. I try to make it feel correct. I much prefer a run that feels smooth, but results in an error, than a run that requires constant adjustments and is a struggle to keep off of the floor. The body-tool is the only way I have to influence the trick, so I try to focus on it and not rely only on an intellectualized analysis of visual information alone. On some trials, I might focus solely on elbow placement, or placement of my feet. A common focus point for me and small ball juggling, is for me to “see” how the balls are oriented in my hands on the catch/throw cycle. Is it on the palm, or is it in the fingers? Are the hands different? Do they feel like the arm swing is symmetrical? Does one hand tire more easily? Is my left wrist tensing? Etc.”

Whew.  That’s kind of a lot, but maybe I can pull some of the best passages for next Sunday’s class.  I also think some basic breath-awareness exercise, and a short guided body scan would be good points to include in this session. Also, Mr. E’s warmup method (do something which is easy for you, then do it while turning in a circle) is a great tool for the development of body/juggling awareness.

As Ratagz points out, everything comes from the body.  Posture, arm motion, wrist position — these things make or break juggling.

It is important, though, not to be overly prescriptive in this line of thought.  Is our ultimate goal to juggle a perfect pattern while standing absolutely rigid and unmoving? No, of course not.  Juggling should be a fluid, artistic and natural expression.  It should be fun.  But it should be an expression in which we are distinctly aware of every motion and every facet of our bodies.

Like any athlete, dancer, performer the ultimate goal of the juggler is a state of mind in which thought is less important than instinct, in which a free flow of creativity and enjoyment can be expressed. For this to happen, though, there must be a foundation of fundamental skills. Before we allow ourselves the freedom of movement, we must achieve mastery over both our bodies and our patterns.

Keep the body in mind, it is all important.  Let it be your primary focus.  Once you know that the task of juggling is nothing more than “right, left, right, left / throw, catch, throw, catch”  there is very little thought which must be given to the pattern itself. The act of throwing becomes of critical importance.  Mentally reset yourself — your mind, your arms, your body — after every trial.  Fight the urge to rush ahead of yourself.

In juggling, craving is nearly inevitable. Holding the props in your hands, it is natural to want to juggle, to feel a jugglish urge. Be aware of this without letting it consume you.  When you feel frustration and craving think, “ah, my old friends have returned to me, but they shall not lead me astray.”  There is danger in giving in to the craving for a pattern to work. It is a distraction.  It will cause you to forget your body.

Avulsion will also arise. How sick you will become of drop after drop — that mocking thud. Do not think of a drop as a failure. Think, rather, “ah, so I have dropped once more. It is time to start again.”  Do not rush to snatch up a fallen prop.  Rather, take a moment to consider it as it lies on the floor. Consider it’s location relative to your own. Try to remember it’s path in the air.  Try to remember the throw that came just before it and what your body was doing.  Then pick it up.  Pick it up with a smile, perhaps chiding it or yourself good-naturedly.  Welcome the fallen prop back gratefully, full of joy.  There is no room for frustration or anger in juggling. You are already working against gravity, against physics. Don’t work against yourself, too. The mind and body must be full of a calm collectedness. A subtle and happy awareness. Strive for equanimity irrespective of your success or failure.

Mmm… This feels like a good start.

I held my first official juggling class yesterday (Sunday) at Rubber Soul Yoga.  Sadly, our generous benefactor and fellow juggler, Cal, was under the weather and unable to attend. But in all other regards the class was quite successful.

Six students showed up representing a nice range of skills. Everyone seemed to work quite diligently, and seemed to make good progress.  The practice space at Rubber Soul was quite ideal.  Very high ceilings, good lighting, and even padded floors to ease the mental anguish of drops!

I’m excited about the class and have a few new ideas brewing:

- I definitely need to work on promotion and get some posters and flyers made up.  Business cards would also be a good asset — something I can hand out if I happen to be juggling in public.

- A juggling 101 handout of new students would be good resource. Some tight, clean prose on juggling basics and a 3-5 panel illustration to be used as a reference guide.

- A second handout with basic three-ball tricks would also be good to have. Target this at new jugglers who know only the cascade. Perhaps a second, intermediate, and even possibly a third, advanced, handout to come. It might be a good idea to brainstorm some ideas for 4, 5, 6 object handouts; clubs and rings; siteswap and other advanced-juggling-concepts handouts.

- Make props!  I need to pick a material and make at least one set of bean bags.  Something that is good quality and durable which I could sell to new jugglers at a low cost. The ideal case would be to make at least 7 bags so, in the meantime, I can start attempting to flash 7.