A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO CHINESE YO-YO
In this section, we will guide you through the first few steps
in this exciting journey you are about to undertake. Here are
the four beginning steps:
• Making the yo-yo spin
• Adjusting: fixing the tilt
• Getting more speed
• Throwing and catching
Part One
Making the Yo-yo Spin
First, we'll need to get the yoyo spinning. Hold the sticks in
one hand, and place the yoyo in the string between the sticks.
Now put the yoyo on the ground, and hold the sticks with your
two hands (about body width apart, and keeping the string slightly
taut) so that string is open (you can see the axle of the yoyo
with no string over it). Position yourself so that the yoyo is
in front of you and to the right. Now, roll the yoyo to the left
(in front of you) and lift up with both hands, so that the yoyo
is off the ground. Pull straight up with the right stick, and
then, without force, return it to its starting position. Imagine
trying to start up an old-fashioned lawnmower, with the power
chord. The left hand can move down to accommodate the pull, however,
try to use as little force as possible to return it to its starting
position. Continue pulling with the right hand, and don't pull
with the left. The left hand only "rebounds" to its
starting position, without actually pulling. It's there to remove
the slack of the string when the right hand drops down. This will
take some time to get used to.
Some points to remember:
1) The faster the yoyo spins, the more stable it is.
2) Keeping the yoyo level (parallel to the ground) is imperative.
(do this by adjusting, or untilting)
3) Stay "behind" the yoyo, i.e. the side of the yoyo
should be parallel with the plane of the body (always with the
string open).
4) Pulling the right stick "in the plane of the yoyo"
helps keep the yoyo level, (the "plane of the yoyo"
is the plane that is formed by the center of the yoyo, and the
tips of the two sticks; this plane should be perpendicular to
the ground).
Continue to part two -
Adjusting: Fixing the Tilt |
