Key Foundational Workshop
Welcome, My name is Aladar Reusz,- “Sir Drop-A-Lot”
Still finding new ways to drop the ball…
This workshop is called, “The Pass is Paramount.”
Looking for other names to call this workshop:
“Less is more: Practice dropping one ball!
“Learn to Learn” Learning the Process to Pursue later!
“I am going to try to say something Profound: “I think with Juggling the most important words start with the letter “P.”
The “Main Message:”
Every toss has element of Risk with it. I call this a “RUT.” Every toss has the elements of: Risk, Uncertainty, and Thrill. Everyone has these thoughts to some extent or another and we push through with Practice. We throw the ball up with intent risking it not being Perfect. There is uncertainty to where the throw will actually go. That is the thrill of seeing what happens.
Let’s get started with a single ball toss.
From one hand to the other.
Optional Opinion: “Everything I say, the opposite may also be true.”
“Everything I say, I realize that the opposite may also be true.” Having said that, I need everyone to be on the same page, trying to follow directions to their best ability. Following directions and “trying” lets me know my instructions have been understood, and this process is important to keep me and the workshop moving and on schedule.
Ok, for example, let’s do the opposite. Throw the ball up and catch in same hand.
Go around and check in with each person, get there name as I go around.
Everyone doing it, instruction was understood, corrected, and practice persists.
Cut, Quiet. Announcement!
Okay, good job.
Quiet: If I need to say something to the whole group, I will ask everyone to stop and listen. “Quiet,” with each next step.
When I think I need to say something I think is important and need to say it to the whole group, I will ask for silence and attention if I can get it.
I am going to do a lot of talking, chatting, coaching. It is important you continue to throw the ball up as many times as you can. Please! Continue throwing and practicing while I am talking.
1 Step: Still throwing the ball from one hand to the other.
Sir Drop-A-Lot would like to spend 90 to 100% of the time juggling just one ball. Juggling one ball better and better is where the benefit begins. It is our Ego, or human nature, that wants more complications, an itch that needs scratching. Paradoxically, we get better by practicing with simpler steps, with one ball, making the one ball better, “solid,” so that more complicated patterns become even possible.
Our plan is that you will practice throwing and catching “ONE” ball for 60-70% of the time. We will then move on to “TWO” balls, call a “Jug” for 20-30% of the time, and if there is time we will perform a “THREE” ball” pattern, cascade. Remember the benefits and training comes from practicing successfully where you are at.
70% one ball toss with variations, 20% two ball toss called a “Jug,” 10% three ball pattern, “cascade.”
2 Next Step: Still throwing the ball from one hand to the other
It is important to realize how important this single toss can be. The path of the ball peaks above the shoulder and drops outside the body because this path makes room ( “Time and Space” a sports or hockey expression) for the next action, ball avoiding collisions and also simplifying with which hand will be catching. A proper pass allows less thinking. The research and benefits of juggling come mainly form discerning this single toss. So mindfully we discern the path of the ball.
3 Next Step: Still throwing the ball from one hand to the other.
Throw the ball, let it peak above opposite shoulder and drop down into opposite hand. Try to make it a scooping motion, elbows in, hand scooping from outside in.
Go around and check in on every person
4 Next Step: Let the ball drop just outside one foot or the other. Just in front and to the side.
When the throw is consistent-”Solid” you are ready for the next step. “The teacher will appear.” “The teacher will appear,” is a saying that infers that change will come after the previous step is “Solid.”
Watch out for the body shot. Any ball that lands between the feet, within the column of the body, is difficult to manage. A body shot confuses the mind with extra thought about which hand to use and which way you will throw. It is why in racket sports, ping pong, tennis, badminton, and “Pickle Ball!” a body shot is difficult to manage. A body shot forces you to decide to stay on your backhand or move aside and take it on your forehand.
Go around and check in on every person
5 Next Step: Give yourself a hand. We will now throw ball up, catch in opposite hand and add a “Clap” in between the throw and catch.
Optional Opinion: Notice the ball peaking in the air.
This ball peaking in the air has already been thrown. Your are observing it. “Pass is Past.” We don’t judge; Judgement-No judgement; we discern: Good or Bad? We are simply seeing what is happening, proving that it is our senses not our thoughts that are making adjustments. Ideomotor happens in the intraparietal sulcus part of the brain. Thoughts are coming from somewhere else, frontal lobe just slowing the process. So we take time between throws to let the processing happen.
6 Next Step: Give yourself a better hand. Add a double or triple clap between the throw and catch.
Go around and check in on every person
7 Next Step: Announce “The Pass is Paramount!“ Focusing on the quality of the single pass, making it solid, will allow us to move forward with more complex patterns
Get everyone to say it together because this statement is so important. Really the essence of juggling is in doing one throw at a time. The benefits come from perfecting this single throw mindfully. It is the ego that want to puzzle and play with more accomplished patterns.
Besides, I find that “P” words have particular significance for juggling.
Please, Pause before every Pass to determine the purpose. This all important Pause give the brain time to process.
8 Next Step: Throw higher and add 4 claps between throw and catch
I once thought I couldn’t do 4 claps, until a musician did it easily with a jazzy rhythm. Watch how I use a not steady rhythm of “Ta, triplet,” or “turtle, turtle.”
or 5 claps “Ta, tee-tee, tee-tee”
Music is closely associated with juggling and it rhythm pattern.
9 Next Step: Go back to a Single clap but clap behind the back.
See that people are doing it.
10 Next Step: Add 2 or 3? claps behind the back.
11 Next Step: Vary it. Use Creative variation of 1 clap in front and 1 clap behind the back before catching.
Clapping in front and then behind the back, or vice versa, which is easier. Finishing with clap in front is easier because the hands are closer to the catch.
Can we vary it any more.
Go around and check in on every person
12 Next Step: Go back to basic pass with no distractions. Throw Low, Medium, and High.
Notice how single throw without distractions feel. This step back is another variation of “Regress to Progress” where you focus on simpler actions. Another variation “Regress to Progress” implies is when when challenge ourselves to the next step and we feel worse. We take the next step and it feels “Backwards” again.
Go around and check in on every person.
Optional Partner work: place between any step felt appropriate.
Partner work. One person closes their eyes and tosses the ball. The “tosser” can label the toss, “Good” or “Bad” to keep discussion short. The Partner catches the ball. Partner can take a turn or let the “tosser” have several tries. Alternating who tosses with their eyes closed and who catches.
13 Next step: add variation or another layer, lets add tapping the stomach. single tap.
14 Next step: add tap with both hands alternating before catch, or add a snap
15 Next step: mix claps with taps and or snaps!!, creative variation
Optional Practice: Add a Snap!
Add a snap, one or both hands. (1,2,3 snaps)
Combine “Snaps, Claps, and Taps.” Just think of the time and space for Creative Variation.
Pause before every Pass to determine the Purpose- what order and how many claps, snaps, or taps
Go around and check in on every person
16 Next step: Lets go backwards to Throw and single clap. Does it feel solid. Does it feel better than before. There can be a feeling of relaxation and simplification between throw.
Optional Opinion: “Judgement=No Judgement.” Good vs. Bad. I call this self-talk, “Judgement-No Judgement; Just Discernment.” Take a moment between each trial. The brain needs this moment to make its own adjustments. It does this adjustment in the intraparietal Sulcus. It needs this moment for processing. This part of the brain is nonjudgmental but discerning. Yet our thinking brain, the cortex is full of judgement. In order to shortcut this judgement we can paradoxically use the terms “Good” or “Bad” throws giving the brain enough time to process the correction. We don’t need to describe in detail how good or bad the throw was because we know the brain is automatically discerning. The intraparietal sulcus needs a moment to be discerning usually the amount of time to think if it was “good” or “bad” from the thinking part of the brain, the frontal lobe.
17 Next step: Lets throw ball and let it fall. Does it fall just in front and outside the foot. Label it good or bad and move on to next throw. If you can think “good” or “bad” on each throw, then you will know that the brain knows the correction for next throw.
Now that you know what a “good” throw is, relaxed, casual, simple, accurate, solid, mindful
Go around and check in on every person
Optional team building: Partner Passing Side by Each.
Everyone partner up in pairs. Stand beside each other. Throw from outside hand and have your partner catch with their outside hand. Reverse the throws. Laugh and label as you describe the throws as “good” or “bad”. No judgement, just simple discernment.
18 Next step: Grab a second ball. Throw one ball up and when it peaks throw the second.
Try to throw the second ball as high or higher than the first ball. Giving yourself “Time and Space.”
19 Next step: throw both balls, high height- medium height- or low height
Play around with deferent levels. Start with right hand. Start with Left hand. Vary it, play with variations.
Go around and check in on every person
20 Next step: throw the balls in quick succession, throw the balls with delayed dwell time.
See the difference and let’s focus on dwell time. This “time and space” gives the brain time to relax and adjust.
Optional 2 Ball Partner work: Partner catches both balls so the juggler can focus on the throws. “Pass is Paramount”
Partner work allows juggler to slow throws down breaking down the rhythm.
Have the Juggler throw with eyes closed the whole time to reduce the mind chatter between throws and really slow the pattern down.
Go around and check in on every person
Optional Observation: “The eyes are a window into the mind.”
With a Partner take turns watching the person’s eyes throwing 2 balls. When learning juggling, a new throw, the eyes will dart showing distraction. Forcing the eyes to be quiet will only make things worse because forcing is not relaxing. Only through practice will the eyes naturally quiet. This is an example of “the opposite is also true.” Another paradox. Only by practice and allowing the eyes to dart will the “eyes become quiet.” Forcing will develop tension and more susceptible to distraction. Practice will develop relaxation and “allowing” distraction will aid relaxation.
21 Next Step: Grab a third ball, preferably a different color. Place two balls in one hand and one ball in the other. Start with the hand that has a pair of balls and throw the forward ball. Just throw two tosses with a successful catch. And repeat. Switching starting hands when you wish.
Notice now, that when we were learning we practiced dropping the balls, many times on purpose. In order to learn we needed to drop the balls to get started. Once we could sense, “See,” what a good throw was, it was time for us to practice with success and catch the ball. This paradox of how dropping or catching are both helpful is an example of “the opposite also being true.” First I told you to drop and now I tell you to catch.
Go around and check in on every person
22 Next Step: Now we pursue the cascade 3 ball pattern. Throw the balls, “one-two” out of alternating hands starting with the hand that has 2 balls. Do that a few times before declaring you will throw the 3rd in the same pattern and rhythm
The pair of balls will switch hands. After which you throw just another set of 2 ball patterns several times before declaring you will throw the 3rd and catch with success. Practice this pattern and try to finish with success.
Go around and check in on every person
Optional team building: Blind use Mind for Passing and timing
Have one person with 2 balls close their eyes, they are blind, and throw one ball up in the cross pattern, peaking above the opposite shoulder. The partner catches that ball at the peak and either places that ball, or a third ball that they have, into the empty hand: the hand that just threw the ball. Taking time, the person that is throwing, blind, then throws the next ball, which is caught and that ball, or a spare is placed in the open hand of the blind thrower. Practice different timing and notice how slow and rhythmical the pattern can feel. Laugh and label the throws as good or bad. Learning to feel the throw. That’s “ideomotor” or mental sensory, or “muscle memory.” Figure out “time and space.”
Go around and check in on every person
23 Next and final step of this workshop: Once you are throwing continuously, try throwing every 4th throw much higher than the regular pattern you catch and continue with.
The 4th throw means that if start with the right it will always be your right, in fact it will be every second right, that you throw higher. Juggling is also very mathematical. There is a whole language called “Site swap” that describes juggling patterns mathematically. When you throw a ball higher it gives you time to throw the next one in a tricky manner: behind the back, under the leg, placed on your head, etc.
You can also throw the ball against the wall and continue with the pattern.
24 Next Step: When you can throw every 4th throw much higher than your regular pattern you are ready for Workshop 2.
happy practicing
Remember the “Pass is Paramount.” “You need to Regress to Progress.” Go back to the step where you had success and practice there and make it solid making a solid base from which to progress. Practice where you are at.