Flats with a Flip

The following article first appeared in the fourth-quarter 2007 issue of JUGGLE magazine, the official publication of the International Jugglers' Association. The publisher has kindly given permission to reproduce it here.

 

------

You can also transfer the three cups around while incorporating flips into the flight paths of the free-flying cup. The pattern is basically the same, with the addition that you want to add a flick of the wrist to impart enough spin to the departing cup so that the cup makes one 360-degree revolution while it is in the air.

 

Begin with the striped cup nestled in the black cup. Hold the black cup in your right hand and the white cup in your left hand.

 

First Beat: Flick the striped cup out of the black cup with your right hand. You want to flick the striped cup up using a sharp, upward tilf of your wrist so the striped cup flies straight up, and turns one full rotation while it is in the air. Place the black cup in the white cup. Catch the striped cup in your right hand.

 

Second Beat: Flick the black cup out of the white cup with your left hand. Again, snap your wrist back so the black cup flies straight up and down, making a full rotation wile it is in the air. Drop the white cup into the striped cup. Catch the black cup in your left hand.

 

Third Beat: Use your right hand to toss the white cup out of the striped cup. The white cup also makes one spin as it flies from the cup in the right hand to the empty right hand. Place the striped cup in the black cup. Catch the white cup in your right hand.

 

Fourth Beat: Flick the striped cup out of the black cup with your left hand. Nestle the black cup into the white cup. Catch the striped cup in your left hand.

 

Fifth Beat: Toss the black cup out of the white cup with your right hand. Drop the white cup into the striped cup. Catch the black cup in your left hand.

 

Sixth Beat: With your left hand toss the white cup from the striped cup. Place the striped cup in the black cup. Catch the white cup in your left hand.

 

You have finished a full cycle; all of the cups should be in their original positions. Repeat the first beat to begin another cycle.