The Mind

If you can get runs of 20 or so throws tells me that your mind has figured out how a five club cascade works. That is, R-L-R-L...., double spins, club angle, tempo, pace, etc. Trouble is, even if your brain knows, then why can you do it? Oh yeah, there is the body as well.

The Body

Numbers juggling requires certain physical demands. Speed, strength and flexibility are all significant attributes that will greatly influence your ability to pursue juggling. Many jugglers completely overlook the idea of training the body and just concentrate on training the skill. In my opinion, a fatal mistake. After all, one's body is the only tool that actually has any influence over the props. If your body-tool is not up to the task, then there is little hope of achieving your goal. Don't underestimate how physically demanding juggling can be.

The Connection

Numbers juggling requires a consistent and dedicated practice schedule. Although, seven days a week may not be feasible, you should work on your numbers training, be it clubs, balls, rings or whatever, religiously each time you train. Those sorts of skills do not come from the head, but rather from the body and the body needs lots of repetitions to burn the neuron paths.

When I learn new tricks, they always start in my head. I have to analyze them and think about every aspect as I explore what it means to do the new trick. But, at some point, usually very early in the training process, I "know" the trick in my mind. After all, juggling is not a complex thing to comprehend. After I reach this point, I begin to get the trick "into my hands". I often refer to "smart hands" and "body intelligence" when I coach myself. This part of the training process takes the longest - sometimes months, sometimes years. But, at some point, I realize that I can perform the trick without any noticeable conscious thought. In essence, the body has an intelligence that is separate from the mind.

*aside* In fact, the body can become so smart that sometimes if the mind tries to get involved, everything short circuits. I have literally done some pieces of choreography thousands of times. So much that I do not even think about the individual moves. Yet, as soon as I try to tell someone if I start on the right foot or the left foot, I cannot. Usually at that point I try to do the sequence to see if it "feels correct". Inevitably, as soon as I try to think about it, I can't do it and both the left and right feet feel wrong! At this point I have to leave it and sneak up on it later in the day when I am not thinking. Over-analysis-paralasis! *end aside*

The Training

I do not find that the crash and burn approach to be beneficial to learning tricks that lie on the edge of one's abilities for two reasons. One, every time one drops, one has burned a drop action into the neuron path. Two, heavy repetitions that are forced, with a great deal of tension, can cause injury and at the least, fatigue. Rather that drill a difficult move, like five clubs in this case, over and over, you may have better luck by taking a more structured approach. It is easier on the mind and on the body. Somewhere on the JIS is an article I wrote many years ago about working "under, on and over" the trick. After almost two decades of juggling, this is a training technique that I still believe to be useful and one that I adopt on a daily basis.

Basically, you decide what trick is the goal, in this case a five club cascade. You then choose a number of related tricks that you can practice that would relate to the goal trick. Choose these tricks in such a way that some are an easier version of five clubs (under), the trick itself (five club cascade) and some that are more difficult (over). This does several things for you. First, it breaks up the monotony of doing the same trick all the time. Second, it broadens your understanding of the goal trick. Third, it varies the repetitive motion strain on your body (this is important with numbers juggling). Fourth, it help to optimize your training by minimizing drops.

Under the trick

When I train five clubs, I really on work with four. Doing four in a five club pattern is good. It is basically the same trick, but easier. Try to keep the rhythm steady with the hole where the fifth club would be. Three club chases are very good as well. I might work on these for fifteen minutes or so. If you can't handle these exercises without any trouble, don't make it more difficult by adding more props. If these are very stable, then, and only then, would I begin to work with five.

On the trick

Short and clean runs are the best in my opinion. If I really want to learn a trick, that is for the long run and not just to say that "today I got X number of throws!", I strive for short, clean runs. With five, you can practice getting no more that fifteen, or twenty throws at the most. If you feel comfortable with less, then stay there. I want the trials with five to be clean and correct, so if all you can manage is five throws, then five throws it is. The duration is of little concern at this point. You must be able to get the trial nine out of ten tries. If so, then you are training the correct actions %90 of the time. This will lead you to your goal of five club mastery much faster than if you are wasting lots of time practicing mistakes. Note that "training" a trick is very different from "practicing for performance." When I work, "training" has a long term goal of mastery - "performance practice" demands a short term goal, i.e. get it right this time 'cause everyone is watching. If you keep it clear in your mind which you are doing, then your time will be better spent and more focussed.

Over the trick

Try three clubs in one hand. Triple spins are probably best going inside to outside in a fountain pattern. If you don't get a piece of this trick, again, don't waste your time dropping, work with balls. Six and a seven flash with balls would benefit your speed for a five club cascade just as well.

Additional Note

Any club juggling benefits from the ability to cascade three clubs with controlled single, double, triple, quad, and quit spins. It's a good warm up. Do it.

Over all, I spend more than half of my time working under a new trick, some time on the trick itself, and very little time over the trick. This is a different approach from many jugglers. Kit Summers once suggested you try some stuff including tricks as difficult as seven club flashes. This is extreme in my opinion. You will learn it this way, but hey, you could learn a seven club cascade without ever trying five or six. I will bet you that it will take you a hell of a lot longer to do it than if you systematically trained. I have found that if one strategically approaches the problem of learning a skill that is as specific as juggling, in a systematic way, you will benefit in the long run. You will have to find your own tempo. In my case, I have learned (the hard way) that my body responds to controlled and calculated training. Since I work towards performance, any trick that I cannot master is of little use to me. Of course, I am always training difficult tricks that I have no intention of bringing onto the stage simply to develop speed, endurance, timing etc., but, I have clear ideals for these tricks and I know where my limitations lie.

In Conclusion

A five club cascade is a difficult trick, but certainly attainable. Don't be afraid or impressed with it. The only time that you will actually learn the trick and "get it into your hands" is after you don't really want it anymore. Work for the long run and notice your little improvements every training period. Pay attention to the little victories and they will carry your enthusiasm for the duration.