INDEX

INTRODUCTION -- BACKGROUND | TERMS | ORGANIZATION | MY STICKS

BASICS -- TICTOC | PROPELLER | HELICOPTER | STATIC

BODY MOVES -- KICKUP/ROLLUP | UNDERLEG | PROPELLER | STATIC | ROLLS | MULTIPLEX | DEVIL DROPSY | ALBERT | BACKCROSS

PATTERN DISTORTIONS -- BALANCE | STATIC SWITCHES | STOP AND GO | WINDMILL | SAW | CROSS-ARM STICKING | MILLS MESS | STICK EXCHANGES | JUGGLING

FLOURISHES

TWO-STICK TRICKS -- STARTS | BASIC TRICKS | HALF 'N HALF | KICKUP | PIROUETTES

RESOURCES

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INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

Following a brief fad in the mid 90's devil sticks have really lost prominence as a juggling prop. I suppose they had that air of amateurishness, of the "too cool" about them. Most devil sticking you see today is elementary at best, and the real champions of devil sticking (people like Henning Wiescher, Seth Golub, Neil Stammer and numerous others) are so rare for people like me to see that it's hard to know what the 'bar' for devilsticks is.

Following is a collection of tricks from the very basic to the somewhat advanced, including a number of tricks I have "invented" myself. Of course, many of these have been done by others, but more often than not, I haven't seen them actually done, or heard of them being performed. They do, at least, take Devil Sticking in some 'new' directions. Some of these appear on sites such as www.devilstick.org and www.devilstick.de, both as tricks described by me and as tricks described or demonstrating from equal or much better stickers. I owe thanks, therefore, firstly to the UVIC Juggling club for getting me interested in the juggling world, for James Barlow (administrator of the excellent devilstick.org site), Henning Wiescher (of devilstick.de) and Dan Holzman for his excellent workshops.

TERMS

For the purpose of this section, the "devilstick" or "centre stick" is the 'main' prop, the larger stick often beveled with fatter ends. The "handstick" is the smaller, thinner, control stick, though of course it is possible to imagine a shorter devilstick/fatter handstick etc. Most sets come with 2 handsticks and a brightly coloured devilstick.

A devil stick and a flower stick are not the same thing. Devilsticks are usually tapered from the ends into the middle, are heavier than flowersticks, and lack the feathery tassles on the end. Flowersticks are easier to play with but harder to do spinning tricks, which are my interest. Flowersticks are very cool, flow nicely, and can be quite beautiful when not handled using one of 3 or 4 overused tricks. I have seen some incredible flowerstick masters and some nice tricks, but I don't do them myself (shamefully, I can't even do "the curl"). This page is therefore devoted to devil sticks.

So named because of their allegiance to Beelzebub.

ORGANIZATION OF TRICKS

The categories I will be using will be somewhat arbitrary, but it's how I think about them. Rather than a straightforward easy-hard scale, I am emphasizing categories of tricks, from the basics to the more complex variations. Basics are followed by Body Moves, Pattern Distortions, Flourishes, and Two-stick tricks. Included are mills mess variations, siteswap, stick exchanges (my personal favourite), and a number of tricks inspired by other performers and non-devilstick experts. It is important, when coming up with your own tricks, to look to other disciplines. Since these first ds videos I have come up with more advanced stick exchanges based on cigar box tricks, a double-stick flick-up based on the diabolo rocket start, and numerous take-offs on club juggling tricks. So there's a lot there to expand on. I hope no one takes the ideas here and balks. You always have the resources to come up with your own stuff.

Generally, I give a more detailed description for the basics than for the more advanced tricks because I'm lazy. However, if what I say is unhelpful, confusing, or insufficient, consider www.devilstick.org or .de --each has descriptions of the basic tricks and many of the more advanced moves shown here. As well as some I can't do.

MY STICKS

I only use Floating Instruments devilsticks, with my own decorations. Red the Juggler makes these local, in Victoria BC, on his own. They have an ideal weight (most sticks are too light for good spin), are solid (I have only ever broken one set, though the tops of my sticks do rupture eventually, with violent enough moves), and an excellent price. I have broken the "Absolute Circus" sticks within a few months, while my Floating Instruments last years, including a season and a half of performing. However, while Red swears by the handsticks (which are very good), I like a stickier, heavier handstick--so I use the standard rubberized handstick that comes with most sets. Don't use flower-stick handsticks if you can avoid it. They are generally very flimsy.

BASICS

There are, in my mind, 4 basic moves for the devilstick. Each overlaps in many ways, but the basic shapes are distinct.

1. Tic-Toc or Idle
   This can be done in quarter spins using both handsticks, full spins, half-spins with one handstick (single stick idle) and quarter spins with one handstick, to name a few. So many tricks come from this pattern, and I usually teach it first, even though it clearly isn't the easiest of the 4.

   Start from the floor. This saves your back, as if you don't know how to do this yet, you'll be dropping a lot. The devilstick starts to roll off your handsticks seemingly faster and faster and seems to have no stability at all. The secret is to be patient and slow, and never speed up just because the devilstick tried to force you to. Just relax and learn control.

   To start off with, from the floor, hit the centre stick between the tip (the rounded end part, the fattest part) and the middle point (usually marked by a different colour of tape, or some other identifier). Preferably in the dead centre of this space. Hit it from one side in a lifting, flicking motion, not in a strike. You want to make this easy on yourself. The centre stick should flip to the other side, making something like a quarter spin. Instead of hitting the stick back to the first handstick using the exact same method, 'catch' the devilstick a bit using the handstick to cushion the impact rather than just striking back. This goes rather quickly, but once you can stall for even the slightest moment, hit the devilstick back again. You can continue this until you feel comfortable lifting off the ground, hitting and cushioning, hitting and cushioning back and forth until the quarter spin movement is like the tic-toc of a pendulum. This is the idle. Below are some variations.

   More spin is handled with a more violent flick (you can go from 1/4 to 1/2 to full spins, to multiple spins with just a little more wrist movement), and less spin is handled with deft and gentle cushioning. With practice, you can do the idle with more than one hit on one side.

   Idle & Single Stick Idle (half-spin sword fighting) [ds-idletostandingswords.mpg]
   Quarter Spins (single stick) [ds-staticmessstart.mpg]
   Idle With Extra Hits [ds-idleextrahits.mpg]
   

   For more advanced versions of these tricks, think about body hits (that is, hitting with the handstick or devilstick behind the back, under the leg, etc), reverse end hits (using the back of the handsticks ), flourishes etc. Some variations are shown below.

2. Propeller
   Propellers create the 'illusion' of a centrally spinning devilstick rotating around a handstick. They are a very versatile basic, and so it is important to learn them properly. Proper propellers are a must.

   First, it 'is' possible to simply wave the handstick in a circle and have the devilstick whirl around it, stick to the handstick without falling off, for a few rotations. Then, usually, it will fly off in some random direction, presumably to hit a passerby in the crotch or the teeth or the upper lip. Don't learn this method. A "proper" propeller is one of the few tricks I can run pretty much indefinitely , and it's due to having a friend showing me the right way to do it.

   To do a proper propeller, first learn to hit the centre stick from an idle so it tips over the other handstick. Imagining you start with the right hand, hit the centre stick from the right and bring the left handstick 'underneath' the rotating devilstick. It should roll exactly once over the left handstick and fall. If you hit it again, it will come up and over again. You can do this over and over again for a trick called The Windmill.

   The principal behind the propeller is similar. To practice, toss the devilstick horizontally. Hit it with the handstick or with your free hand closer this time, approximately just left or right of the devilstick's middle mark. If you always strike the spot "farthest" from the handstick (the left side of centre using the right handstick, the left side with the left handstick), it should spin up. You can also do this in reverse, but the underneath hit is easiest. If you continually hit the same spot each time the stick makes a half rotation (not quarter, though this spin is also possible), the stick will continue to jump up. Gravity and the force of each hit forces the centre stick to continue to spin. It won't fall if you hit it each time in the same spot at the same, slow, careful velocity. Each hit is slow and careful, despite how fast it LOOKS. Be relaxed with this one. Like the idle, you don't need to go fast. Just careful and exact. You can increase speed here, reverse directions, even do multiple reverses mixing tosses, spins and windmills.

   Propeller [ds-propellers.mpg]
   Propeller Reverses (both the underhit and overhit) [ds-propellerswitches.mpg]
   Propeller Behind Back [ds-behindbackprop.mpg]
   

3. Helicopter
   This trick is easy to do, but hard to learn and even harder to teach. For me, at least. It's a very natural distortion of the idle or even the windmill.

   The idea is to create a horizontal spin, like a helicopter blade. This is such a nice looking effect that many people stop here and don't learn much else, apart from a throw or two. But the helicopter is great for body moves (under-the-leg, etc), pattern distortions, and transitioning into flourishes, such as a standard baton flourish and throw.

   While idling, hit the centre stick with a little more rotation of the arm, as if churning the helicopter in a bowl. With the other handstick, pull the propeller in a bit, so that you are alternatively pushing and pulling with each stick. It should start to tilt a bit, fall off the stick and hit you in the toe. Do this again, bringing the devilstick more and more horizontal and the handstick hits more towards the centre. It's quite difficult to do this trick with the handsticks hitting the outside edge of the devilstick. With enough practice (hint: more than you would like), this will turn into a very horizontal spin, and will become just about your easiest trick. It may even end up easier than the idle, but that takes time and attention.

   Various Helicopter Moves [ds-helicoptervariations.mpg]
   

4. Static
   Okay, this is the easiest position or trick. So why teach it last? Personally, while I have developed and learned a number of static tricks, I find it the least useful of the basic tricks, and would hate to have people stuck on this one. It's actually quite natural, so doesn't really require initial teaching.

   Place the devilstick so it rests across both handsticks. There. You're done.

   What makes this a trick is that you can subtly flick the stick so it spins once or more in any direction and catch it back into a static. Variations include rolling the devilstick down, switching the handsticks while the devilstick is in the air, or mills mess. For now, learn to rest and flip the centre stick on the static. Play with stick rolls, rolling the devilstick along your arms, etc. There's lots here, but it's not really worth teaching first, unless you or your student is frustrated with the other tricks.

   A very common static variation is to change from a two-stick static to a flat hit, not static by any means, but along the same plane.

   Static hits [ds-flats.mpg]
   Static Variations (for starting static mess) [ds-staticmessstart.mpg]
   

BODY MOVES

Body Moves comprise a general category of moves that really can be done in any category. For example, you can certainly bend mills mess by performing it under the leg or behind the back, adding body rolls or alternate positions. But body moves not only spice up tricks, they also increase the overall number of unique patterns possible. And changing the placement of the handsticks or where the devilstick falls all help develop general sticking skills.

1. Kickup and Rollup
   Both of these are nice and easy ways to get the stick off the ground. They save you bending down excessively and allow for a quick return to a routine or sequence.

   There are two major ways to perform a kickup, the first is to catch the stick along the foot with a bit of a cushioning action and flick it back up into the pattern, the other is to repeat the action of the " rollup " using the foot instead of the handstick. The kickup is a standard club juggling move that is much easier with the devilstick. Simply place the centre stick or any of the handsticks so that about half of the stick hangs towards the inside of the body pointing in and the other half protrudes out and away from the body. The stick should touch your shin just where the foot starts and at the outside edge of the foot itself. So staggered, the stick can be flipped exactly one spin with a sharp raise of the leg. If done slowly, the stick should come up a bit, "hooked" in.

   Two different kickups [ds-2kickups.mpg]
   Kickup of all three [ds3-kickup.mpg]
   

   The rollup (it probably has another name) is a very simple way of getting the stick from the floor to the idle, to the propeller or just to the air. Simply place the handstick (or foot) along the top of the centre stick and snap back, causing the devilstick to roll. As the stick rolls, place the handstick (or foot) in the way, so the centre stick rolls up and onto the handstick (or foot) to be flicked into the air etc. The example below is of a rollup onto the foot followed by flourishes.

   [ds-devilspin-up.mpg]
   

2. Under Leg Idle
   A very useful first trick following the basic tricks. A behind the back or under the leg hit with the handstick requires some learning of "stalling" or "catching" the devilstick on the handstick. An effective under-the-leg exchange takes a controlled stall of the devilstick.

   [ds-underlegidle.mpg]
   [ds-behindbacksingle.mpg]
   

3. Propeller Behind Back/Under Leg
   Don't forget that propellers can be done under the leg, behind the back, etc.

   [ds-behindbackprop.mpg]
   

4. Static

   Static Robot

   This trick was taught to me by the very good devil sticker Jess Monroe.

   Let the devilstick roll down to the base of the arms, reverse the handsticks, roll the devilstick back down, give the momentum of the stick a help with a flat toss and let the centre stick fall. The "robot" is my name for the catch, a robotic dive with a scooping catch between the back of the handsticks and the wrists. From here there are a number of ways to return to the idle or the static, but the way I generally use is an inverted twist with the handsticks, a toss and release, catching back into the basic static position. It's difficult to explain, and harder to learn from memory, which is exactly why I think a this video would have been useful ;-)

   [ds-robotandarmrolls.mpg]

   
   Static Leg Trap Variations

   
   The leg trap is a very inexplicable move when done with clubs. With Devilsticks , the trick is easier, and lends itself to numerous variations. The idea is to toss the devilstick flat, without spin, either horizontal or vertical and catch it in the "hinge" underneath the leg. From there, I either carry the stick around the back to the front of the foot for a kickup, or scoop the handsticks under for a quick toss over the head. The trick is not terribly difficult but the toss directly over the head takes some getting used to.

   [ds-legtrapcombo.mpg]
   [ds-legtraptooverheadtoss.mpg]
   

5. Rolls
   Body rolls are an immensely under used concept in devilsticking. Arm rolls, head rolls, contact juggling moves, transfers from one part of the body to another are all highly possible. A few of the more obvious rolls are demonstrated below.

   Wrist Rolls
   I had been doing this trick for some time before jugglers told me that when executed well, this was one of my more impressive and interesting tricks. Since then, I have come up with numerous variations on the catch between the handstick and wrist. Here are some videos of me not executing these variations well. There are also a lot more wristroll variations in the clips section.

   Wrist Rolls 1 [ds-wristrolls]
   Wrist Roll Variations
   

   Other Body Rolls
   Knee Rolls [ds-variouskneerolls.mpg]
   Leg Roll
   Arm Rolloff with "Robot" Catch (Credits to Jess Monroe)*
   

   Arm Rolls can be handled as a roll over the arm instead of the handstick, over part of the arm (such as the elbow or wrist), or body rolls in the more traditional sense of a flat roll or "rail" along the arm.

   Roll over arm
   Roll along/off arm
   Elbow Roll
   Head/Neck Roll
   Back Roll *
   

6. Multiplex
   Because of my ludicrous organization system, I really didn't know where to put this. The idea is to naturally let the devilstick roll into the hand (or over the handsticks) and together release both as a "multiplex" a two or three in one throw that causes the pattern to return to normal. You can either do this as a multiplex that collects in one hand (or spinning on one devilstick) first and then leads to a flicking throw of both handstick an devilstick, or as a single motion (much more difficult) in which both devilstick and handstick are thrown together immediately.

   Multiplex from Propeller *
   Reverse Direction Multiplex *
   [Multiplex Variations]
   

7. Devil Dropsy
   Okay, I know this is a silly name, but it sounds better than "fast handstick drop and kickup from an idle" -- although that's exactly what it is. For some time it was my most difficult trick. The idea is to drop the handstick from the free hand while stalling the devilstick in the controlling handstick. The move is very quick. It is also possible to do this with a Handstick Exchange.

   [dsdevildropsy.mpg]
   [ds-doubledevildropsy.mpg]
   

8. Albert/Trebla
   There are a number of ways to perform this body throw, neither of which are very difficult with control over flat tosses or Stop and Go.

   Albert with 2 sticks.
   Albert with 1 stick

9. Backcross
   Iit is quite possible to do a behind the back toss based on the principal of Stop and Go. It requires the same technique as the Albert or Trebla and careful attention to each part of the move. See Behind Back with 2 sticks for some harder variations.
   Behind Back
   2 Stick Behind Back
   
   

10. Pirouettes
    Pirouettes are very common tricks in both standard toss juggling and devilsticking. There are probably unlimited combinations of pirouetting one way, pirouetting the other. I won't explain *how* to do a pirouette as I'm no expert, but if there are requests, I will offer some basic advice.

    Apart from normal pirouettes there are a number of ways to "stall" a pirouette with devilsticks , my favourite (and most difficult) of which is one I call the "slow pirouette." Toss the devilstick from a propeller and catch behind the back into a propeller in the same direction (this works best from a reverse propeller). Toss the devilstick very slightly and continue the turn began when the devilstick was caught behind the back. With a toss of only one half-spin or less, it should be possible to complete a 360 spin so that the propeller spin is unbroken and never really appears to do more than slightly skip. A delayed 360 pirouette.

    Normal Pirouette
    Slow Pirouette
    Wristroll Pirouette