Five and a half years after starting MoM, we have; 1 book, 2 weddings, several MoM workshops, and over 1 000 000 unique visitors (according to our stats counter).
And this is MoM’s 1000th blog post.
Phew.
Thanks for reading, and here’s to the next 5 years.
The above image is from theFlickr acrylic balls pool. by Maido of Japan.
Smiles
Drew

Quote from CaffeineKid on Vimeo

My final film project for university…
…experimental combination of documentary and clip-style-action-parts, exploring juggling and beyond! Soundtrack by myspace.com/kollegeschnuerschuh

'German' contact juggling photo by Jorge Gera

I remember when a short clip of german street performing at La Rambla was first posted on www.contactjuggling.org. Everyone on the forums watched in awe of his super-tight isolations, moving the isolated ball floating along a path before connecting it to his butterflies and bodyrolls. The result was long,  flowing lines of movement and a sustained illusion and tempo that was unmatched by other contemporary contact jugglers.

Interview and new Xotico video after the jump

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Kyle - Interview and Video at ww.MinistryofManipulation.com

New video from the inhumanly talented Kyle Johnson, entitled “Smile, I know you want to…”

Interview with Kyle:

> Where do you live?

I live in Rocklin, California

> Is there a community of contact jugglers where you are?

Not really, maybe one or two others in my area but they dont focus on it. But I do sometimes go down to The Vulcan in Oakland which has a plethora of new juggling tricks that are contact based with all kinds of props, done by the very talented jugglers that live there.

> How would you describe contact juggling?

oh man… I like in In Isolation when nobody knows how to answer this question, because I don’t either. : )
It is constantly being added onto and evolving so it makes it hard to describe. Like a non juggler trying to count how many balls while they are being juggled.

> Why do you contact juggle?

Well the reason has changed many times, but basically its to learn, and I’ve learned a lot! Not just about juggling but in life, that so much more is possible than you think, if you can focus.

> What is the best piece of contact juggling that you’ve ever seen?

Well, the body rolls done by Enrico Rastelli, Francis Brunn, and Jeanine Ebnöther for a start, palmspinning of Drew Batchelor and Moon, and for isolation type contact its got to be Ryan, Ed and Colin have the best stuff I’ve seen, pretty much all of MOM : ). Best “piece” would have to be Jeanine’s BJC routine that was posted not too long ago or Kelvin Kalvus’ Das Supertalent performance… and Manne Hanke. The best piece changes all the time, sometimes back to older videos… I watch a lot of them.

> What do you think about when you are contact juggling?

Doing the trick correctly, then if I stray I drop… and I’m easily distracted.

> What is the future of contact juggling?

I hope jugglers will start doing more full body rolls and/or using their legs more. I know that there are way more flexible people then me out there, with a lot more possible tricks.

> Anything else you’d like to say to our MoM audience?

Thank you for watching, and now go juggle!

Kyle previously on MoM:
Barefoot Contact Juggling

I’ve been searching for a way to address the recent death of Michael Jackson. He was the first performer to truly amaze and inspire me. This blog post by Ill Doctrine sifts through all the confusion surrounding this amazing life and relates it to our own modern youtube-obsessed culture.

A newly discovered video of the incredible Enrico Rastelli.

Included a wide variety of the acts he has performed during his career, as well as awesome footage of him playing soccer. Thanks to rec.juggling for the link. Transcript (italian.. anyone want to translate?) found here

From the WJF:

Some of the worlds best jugglers (Marco Paoletti, Toby Walker, Thomas Dietz, Vova Galchenko, Wes Peden, & Kristian Wanvick) discuss the importance of relationships in their lives.

I (Ryan Mellors) edited most of this series in the passenger seat while Dawn drove the car; admiring the scenery in between stops at Tim Hortons (where we would recharge on caffeine and latop power) and late-night diners. We drove 2000 miles through a slowly changing landscape, our car loaded with balls of all sizes, hoops, tetrahedrons, bendy sticks, half-spheres, blocks and a video camera. Our objective: build the community, find others like us and explore what this ‘contact juggling’ thing is all about. Shoot lots of video and get to Montreal without running out of money.

Thanks to all who came to the workshops and to all the supportive musicians who offered music for the project. Today marks the official release of the series; 9 short videos documenting the journey. Click below for the videos (RT: 38min,) descriptions and prop contents, as well as a download link in 720×480 .wmv.

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When it comes to smooth, polished technical contact juggling, few people stand out as much as Okotanpe (Mr. Fuse). His JCJC clip has racked up millions of views on youtube (and every other video sharing site) making him one of the Internet’s most popular contact jugglers.

Ministry: Where do you live?
Fuse: I live in Chiba, Japan.

Ministry: Is there a community of contact jugglers where you are?
Fuse: Not really, but I often play at Yoyogi park which is a famous place for contact jugglers.

Ministry: How would you describe contact juggling?
Fuse: The most beautiful entertainment that I’ve ever seen.

Ministry: Why do you contact juggle?
Fuse: Because I feel great when I contact juggle. especially the palm circle isolation.

Ministry: What is the best piece of contact juggling that you’ve ever seen?
Fuse: Michael Moschen of course! Labyrinth(movie) was my first time I saw his work.
I was impressed deeply. then I watched In Motion(by Michael Moschen). It was an amazing performance with more than just technique. That’s awesome. I was shocked. I was happy.
Also, let me say one more… The open stage at EJC2008 ‘Intrika’. (LINK)

Ministry: What is the future of contact juggling?
Fuse: I think people will increase the number of balls. but it will always go back to just simple technique to show beauty the ball.

Ministry: What do you think about when you are contact juggling?
Fuse: The line of ball as it passes the body… the next action. Where should the ball go next?

Ministry: Any advice for people who are learning?
Fuse: The most important thing to image what kind of contact juggling you want to play. Remember, ball movement should always be nice and smooth. Learn to know and feel how your body works and to see yourself objectively. Play with a ball a lot
(-;

Below are two amazing clips of Mr. Fuse in action.
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Japanese contact juggler Metra blew us away with the release of his recent multiball video Free Drive and is leading the way for the new generation of isolation-heavy ‘popping and gliding’ contact juggling.

MINISTRY: Where do you live?
METRA: I live in Tokyo, Japan.

MINISTRY: Is there a community of contact jugglers where you are?
METRA: Yes, There is. Yoyogi park is a mecca for Japanese contact jugglers. Contact juggling conventions and meetings (gallery link) are held periodically there.

MINISTRY: How would you describe contact juggling?
METRA: Contact juggling is a lens of the contact juggler (in a figurative sense). I mean, we must project ourselves onto a spectator. The leading part is contact juggler, balls and moves are nothing but an instrumental.

MINISTRY: Why do you contact juggle?
METRA: Contact juggling is a spontaneous action for me. It is as natural as breathing or walking.

MINISTRY: What is the best piece of contact juggling that you’ve ever seen?
METRA: Tony Duncan. I started contact juggling under the influence of him.

MINISTRY: What is the future of contact juggling?
METRA: It is not fixed. Therefore, almost everything we can imagine will be possible.

MINISTRY: What do you think about when you are contact juggling?
METRA: I do not think anything, but I feel. Mostly I feel the weight of balls, and the sense of acrylics.

MINISTRY: Anything else you’d like to say to our MoM audience?
METRA: The world of contact juggling is full of glory. Go for it!
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Thanks.

A Ministry favorite, Rodney Mullen talks about the philosophy behind his love of skateboarding.

Thanks to Stefan Paridaen from rec.juggling for the link

Previously Blogged:
411 video LINK
Rodney as a kid
Another young Rodney Mullen video

YouTube – David Bernal (Elsewhere) Interview/Special

I’m still amazed by his general flow and complexity of rythm.
His entire solo from Detours is available on MoMTV