(Part 3) Top products from r/Throwers

God, this is something I've thought about a lot...

I lived in Japan when I was in college, and one of the biggest things I noticed was the huge difference the two cultures have on learning, what I ended up calling The Cult of Originality and The Cult of Mastery.

In The Cult of Mastery, the Japanese method, originality isn't valued as highly as the complete mastery of the fundamentals, followed by the mastery of an already existing style. After multiple styles are mastered, that's when the learner can start melding them together, to create something unique, and perhaps his own style, but this is an afterthought, not the goal.

The other side of the coin is the American Cult of Originality, in which the goal is to create new material from day one, and the fundamentals are only a stepping stone to that creation of your own new material.

To put this in return top terms, in Japan, a flawless execution of a routine in Jensen Kimmet's style will score higher in a competition than a flawed original execution. In America, the reverse is true, originality will always win.

My biggest takeaway from all of this, as an American, is to not give a shit if people think my style is derivative. I've only been taking throwing seriously for about nine months, which ain't a long time. I will keep drilling the fundamentals, and mimicking styles I like, all with the faith that originality will come at when those fundamentals are not enough.

If you like this line of thinking, I would really recommend the books The Art of Learning (by the guy who Searching for Bobby Fisher was based on, who became a world champion in martial arts later on in life), The Road to Excellence (which is expensive, but you can find pdfs of on the internet), Malcom Gladwell's Outliers, and The Book of Five Rings

TBH, 5 years old is early. We have little kids, under 7 years old, try yoyos at our club and they never seem to really get into it. Most 5 year old don't have the coordination or the stick-to-it-iveness. (Fun fact, most high level "professionals" start learning around age 10-13 and hit their stride between age 15 and 18)

That being said. Something like a Yomega brain, Duncan Reflex, or Blazing Team Beast Wrangler have auto return features that make them easier to use. Something like the Yoyoball or Blazing team Battlespin are even easier to use. And if you really think the kid is going to go all out, I'd recommend the Duncan Butterfly XT, yoyotricks.com Sage, or YoYofactory One. Maybe once he is confortable with a Yomega Brain, then we can get him something more similar to what Uncle Matt is using.

All that to say, The Yomega Brain is fine. No one has made a self returning yoyo that is really better than that.

Optimistic: https://www.amazon.com/YoYoFactory-ONE-Ball-Bearing-YoYo/dp/B00C7Z0XC6

Realistic: https://www.amazon.com/Duncan-Reflex-Return-Yo-Yo-Color/dp/B000PNUZW0

Pessimistic: https://www.amazon.com/Yo-Yo-Ball-Assorted-Colors-Patterns/dp/B001GOMIOU

Wow - I can't believe the response. You guys are awesome.

I have a question. Is there anything inherently wrong about one of those classic Duncan yoyos I used to see everyone playing with? They look so different. Would buying something like this or this be super dumb? Just wondering. I like that old school crappy plastic style. But if it's going to be harder to play with, then it's not really worth it is it?

 

Is there a difference between these butterfly styles and the old more "enclosed" styles? (I'm assuming there's got to be a name for it.) What's the longest "sleeping" one you can buy that's not a butterfly style?

1. Great trick, well done!
   
2. I'm sorry, I have to do this. You have clearly been corrupted by The Duck and are spreading their propaganda! Educate yourself before the Duckpocalypse comes!
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1999188721?pf_rd_p=2d1ab404-3b11-4c97-b3db-48081e145e35&pf_rd_r=D88RX86WYVKT6VF6WRMJ
   
   
   Lol.

I wouldn't suggest that sandpaper is necessary. A small file will smooth any burrs down sufficiently so they will not cut you. I use the file on a Swiss Army Knife if you have one of those. If you don't, I suggest getting a rambler for your yo-yo bag. It's my favorite model and comes in super handy for things like cutting string, filing burrs, prying bearings, digging out knots so you don't have to unscrew your yo-yo, etc...

Just search for a dice bag on Amazon. I have a few of them for throw a yoyo in a bag or something. You can also put extra string in there. If you're that worried about your Shutter though, you might be better off spending a little more on a sacrificial Replay Pro or Magic Yoyo for an EDC. Even if you put it in a bag in your pocket, you have to take it out to play with it, and it's going to get dinged eventually.

Edit: I'm pretty sure these are the ones I have, but it looks like the larger ones are cheaper and not much bigger.

For responsive play I'd say

Renegade - $16

For responsive, then learning unresponsive,

YoYoFactory Arrow - $15

Just for something a little different, plus you get a counter weight.

Duncan Freehand - $20


String


100pk of Kitty Fat - $21

And because you have some cash left over..

Cellphone tri-pod to record some trick circles with - $12

5 Pound bag of sour gummy worms, because sour gummy worms are fucking awesome. - $16

Boom.

I honestly prefer this stuff here over the clear one.

I can help with the pen, the trimmer, and the clipper. :D

Good news, chief. It is real.

http://www.amazon.com/Zippo-3165-Lighter-Fluid-12OZ/dp/B000K2U3JG/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_img_y

There you go

I suggest you go out and get it in a store and play yoyo outside also.

These do a great job. Obviously you wouldn't want to carry them with you, but you also probably wouldn't wear them in public.

https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-74003-Angled-Tweezers-Mk803/dp/B000BN9IF4

If I may add some humor... THIS helped me ;)

Pelican 1030 Micro Watertight Dry Box, 7.50x3.87x2.43in - Solid Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TOLRC6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ItGoybNC6ZNPH

Pelican Pick N' Pluck foam set for 1032 Micro-Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GGODXI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_iuGoybB00YD6E

Try this.

Sixteen of these.