Workshop page 1 (of 3)
Really Basic stuff

Hi, welcome to this workshop in Contact Juggling.
Here I'll explain the most basic things to you about how to Contact Juggle (really basic, so if you have already tried some CJ-ing then you'll already know all that will be told to you in this first chapter).
What is contact juggling?
Contact Juggling is a form of juggling in which the object which is being juggled stays in contact with the juggler (most of the times).
This definition also applies to, for example, 'pen spinning' and 'coin magic' but the pages here are devoted to the manipulation of a ball (or balls).

The objective of this first chapter is to get you acquainted with the ball you want to CJ with. Please read the article about the balls that are usually used in Contact Juggling and get a nice CJ-ball (or read the DIY paragraph to make one) ( NOTE: these chapters still have to be written, sorry, any volunteers? ).
Most people who want to Contact Juggle start to learn with the book of MR. James Ernest. So have I, this means that I'm familiar with the terms he uses in his book. And subsequently I use those same terms in this tutorial.

I also want to give you a warning; If you just start with CJ, then you're about to use a lot of muscles and arm/shoulder and especially wrist movements that you have never used before. You will undoubtedly experience RSI-like symptoms. Then stop practicing, or switch hands, anyway don't continue when you feel any aches. Try it again the next day. Your body needs some time to adjust, give it that time, over exertion will only lengthen that period.
Also have a look at this fire warning.

A position (like described above) where the ball can be kept in a relative stable position is called a 'hold'. If you would like to see some more holds, please visit the 'holds-page' (temporarily down). (some of these holds will sure get you wondering what contact jugglers assume to be a 'stable' position)

Try to get a feeling for the ball in this position. Wiggle it a bit, walk around with the ball on your hand, move your hand higher and lower. Just to see how far and what you can do with the ball till it drops off of your fingers.
WARNING ! : If you use an acrylic ball, then mind your toes a 1.5m drop hurts. Also, don't practice in your marble hallway. The acrylic ball won't chip, your stone floor will !

Now that you are holding the ball in the home position I would like you to try to do the same but now in your other hand.
It is really important to practice your non-dominant hand to do the same moves.
(It even helps me to do the move nicer in my good hand, after I practiced it in my bad hand.) At the beginning you should train your bad hand at least the same amount of time as your good hand. Failure to do so will result in a perfect move in your good hand, but a real ugly one (if at all) move in your bad hand. When this happens you will say to yourself "what the hell, I just keep performing it in my good hand and forget the the other". And that is exactly what you want to avoid!