I’ve been juggling since I was about 8. I checked “The Juggling Book” by Carlo out of the library, and when it was overdue a few weeks my dad just went to the library and paid for it (it’s still on my bookshelf!). I learned the standard 3-ball cascade, 3-ball reverse cascade, and what I call (because Carlo called it) the “tennis variation” – one ball in a reverse cascade with the other two in a standard cascade. At one point I was able to do some behind-the-back and under-the-leg throws, and raise one arm for a “statue of liberty” type thing, and I’m still pretty good at clawing. I made some cheap clubs out of broomsticks and bleach bottles, and learned how to juggle clubs. I learned a few 2-ball variations, but never got good at four or five balls.
So along with my unicycle this past Christmas, my wife gave me a set of juggling beanbags, which sort of re-invigorated my interest in juggling. I decided I was going to learn how to do a Mill’s Mess, and quickly found that it was beyond me, even with the animated images on Mills’ webpage. I saw that one of the tips was to get good at under-the-opposite-hand throws, so I started learning how to do those, and that skill, along with looking at some of the animations in Ken Matsuoka, Per Johan Groland, and Gary Briggs’ JuggleMaster Deluxe software, brought me to where I can do what I think is a standard 3-ball windmill pattern.
I’ve checked some of the other juggling threads that I’ve found here, but what I’ve seen are basically “this is what I can do” posts. I was wondering if anyone has any specific advice about moving forward, e.g., “next you should learn X; when you can do that comfortably, learn how to Y; after that, the next step would be Z.” JuggleMaster Deluxe is pretty cool, but having specific direction usually helps me a lot (I guess that’s what I get for being an actor).
The slow motion option is a real delight. It’s the only way I was able to learn Mills Mess. Don’t let it beat you.
On the other hand, if you need a break, just browse the website and see what piques your interest. I’ve found juggling for me is mostly pure muscle memory, as opposed to building on sequential skills. I just see something I’d like to be able to do and then obsess about it for weeks (and practice!) until I can do it. Good luck!
To learn mills mess - learn the widmill with one hand, then learn to do it with the other, then change direction by changing which hand goes under which arm.
There you have it - one windmill, change direction, one windmill, change direction, one windmill, etc - that’s it mills mess. That’s how I learned it for both three and four balls.
Have you tried the box? Right ball straight up, left ball straigh up and at the same time third ball straight across from right to left. Before left ball comes down, throw third ball from left to right hand. Throw left ball up before the bottom ball lands in right hand. Oh forget it, I’m rubbish at explaining this. Take a look at: http://www.twjc.co.uk/
they have great descriptions of any 3 ball trick you might like to learn.
I personally enjoy the Machine/factory, Luke’s shuffle, and a trick where I do a shower to 5 ball height, in the meantime throwing two 2 ball level showers, then a couple of ordinary showers and repeat.
After videos, your best bet is to go to a juggling club (there are at least a couple in your area) or a juggling convention. The Damento Juggling Festival has been around the first weekend in February the last few years. Unfortunately their web site still carries a listing for the '05 fest and nothing yet for this year. Then there was the Lodi Juggling Festival, which seems to have died out. In October hopefully there will be another Berkeley Juggling/Unicycling Festival. Then if you’re not outside riding with us all day, you can witness a huge variety of patterns and talk to people doing them.
Also if you get involved in a club you’ll have opportunities to get involved in club passing, which is a lot of fun with sore hands!
After I learned crossed arms reverse cascade, mills mess came easy. Just keep at it and don’t give up. The patteren is confusing at first, but it will fall into place.
Can you do a shower? If not, you should work on that. It’s fun, and then you can go on to the box.
I just started juggling about 4 months ago and I love it! I’m not very good yet, I can do 3 balls, working on 4, 3 clubs, and I’m working on passing with other jugglers in my group. Going to this group every week really helps me get better. And they unicycle too!
That “box” pattern is really difficult!! It’s good to practice just 2 balls with that. I can’t seem to train my hands to do it!
I’m also trying to juggle and ride the uni, that’s hard too!
Holy cow, I Googled “juggling club san jose” and there’s one (or two) that meets in a park that’s a few blocks from where my wife works, and it meets right after a weekly farmer’s market! Sounds like a great Sunday outing.
Ive been juggling for two years now and getting a partner and juggling is a lot of fun. Also id suggest learning four unsynced. Its not too hard and it looks really cool. Also something else fun with pins is to throw them and make them do two flips instead of one this trick looks cool and isnt too hard to learn. Im learning 5 balls now its going ok.