This year we created 8 movements with one ball and gave them names inspired by the ones often given to Chinese exercises.

We called them “Esercizi di legatura”. That in Italian means something like “Binding exercises”.
These exercises cover a large variety of throws and catches while connecting the body to the throws and catches.

Great to warm up and as a powerful teaching tool as they pose an ever increasing challenge but get the satisfaction quickly. “Success builds success”!
Get kids, adults (and yourself) moving and connecting throws and tricks.

Give it a go until it’s really fluid and the throws are carried out smoothly.
The emphasis is on clean movements rather than extreme difficulty.

Once you’ve worked though the whole series you could do every exercise eight times each then connect them one after the other 4 times each and then even just two times each.

If you’re motivated see what happens when you add another ball or two to this. This turns it into another type of work but can help create more connected sequences.
What I’d really be after is for you to connect to the principle and create your own variations.

Let me know how it goes!!

This summer I shall be holding a one off two week long teacher training of my method as outlined in “Pearls of Juggling”, expect to be inspired while developing lateral thinking methods, mental elasticity, spreading playfulness while having lots of fun creating and playing ourselves.

Back to the exercises.

THE THREE PENDULUMS HARMONISE.
1/8 Thow under the leg, under the arm, behind the back and change sides. Make each movement as fluid as possible.

THE SLEEPY BEAR GETS UP AT DAWN.
2/8 This second movement moves in the vertical plane. Try and really stretch your whole upper body. Added bonus: feel that a grizzly bear waking up!
Now why would a sleepy bear get up at dawn? Because there is much to much fun out there!

RIDING THE SURFERS’ WAVE.
3/8 This third movement moves in the horizontal plane but also the vertical and sagittal.
Try and let the ball ride on your knee as you lift your leg.

THE FOOL EMBRACES THE MOUNTAIN.
4/8 This fourth movement moves more in the horizontal plane but also the vertical and sagittal! Keep the six directions present.
Try and use your fingers as much as possible with the long throws.

THE MONKEY PLAYS WITH THE MANGO.
5/8

THE GRACIOUS YOUNG LADY GETS READY TO GO OUT.
6/8
Imagine you’re putting make up all over your head.

THE CAMEL LIKES TO DRINK WATER.
7/8
This starts to get a bit tricky for me too, try and be smooth with your back movements.

THE BENGAL TIGRE SCATCHES HIS BACK.
8/8 More difficult perhaps than it looks. Definitely quite a physical one.