Pen spinning: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Form of object manipulation}} |
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[[Image:ThumbSpin.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Photograph of ThumbSpin]] |
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[[File:Unknown Combo (Animated).gif|thumb|A combination of pen spinning tricks.]] |
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'''Pen spinning''' is a [[recreational]] activity of using one's fingers to manipulate a [[pen]] in aesthetically pleasing ways. This is done through the (hopefully seamless) combination of various [[Magic trick|tricks]]. |
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'''Pen spinning''' is a form of [[object manipulation]] that involves the [[Dexterity|deft]] manipulation of a writing instrument with hands. Although it is often considered a form of self-entertainment (usually in a school or office setting), multinational competitions and meetings are sometimes held.<ref name=metro>{{cite web |
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|title=Pen spinning world cup launched |
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|website=Metro |publisher=Associated Newspapers |
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|date=14 February 2007 |
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|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=37424&in_page_id=34 |
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|access-date=27 February 2007 |
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}}</ref> It is sometimes classified as a form of [[contact juggling]]; however, some tricks, e.g. "spreads" and "aerial tricks" do leave contact with the body. In addition to writing instruments, it is often also seen performed by drummers with their drumsticks. Pen spinning has quickly gained international popularity through online video sharing and forums. The hobby has been popular around the world since at least the 1970s.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} |
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==History== |
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Sometimes pen spinning is classified as a sub-discipline of the [[contact juggling]] field. However, pen spinning may also include actions that are outside of the scope of [[contact juggling]], such as toss of the pen. Although this discipline is still a growing field in the [[juggling]] world, its fast growing popularity can be attributed to the fact that pen spinning can be performed conveniently in virtually any location, as long as a pen is available. |
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The earliest record of pen spinning comes from a student in pre-[[World War II|WWII]] Japan.<ref>''The Asahi Shimbun''. 31 January 2008. p.37.</ref> Others in Japan spun pens at least as early as the 1970s; however, the tricks performed were only basic ones, such as the ThumbAround and Sonic.<ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Kondoh |first=Hideaki |
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|title=Rūtsu o saguru |script-title=ja:ルーツを探る |trans-title=Exploring the Roots |
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|url=http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~konhide/roots.htm |
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|website=私のペン回しの歴史 [My pen spinning history] |publisher=Hideaki Kondoh |
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|date=1998 |language=ja |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991117065006/http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~konhide/roots.htm |
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|archive-date=17 November 1999 |access-date=27 March 2016 |
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}}</ref> Hideaki Kondoh is considered the first pen spinning pioneer in [[Japan]] and is recognized with creating the first pen spinning website,{{notetag |
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|There are two other pen spinning sources that are commonly believed to be possibly as old as or older than Kondoh's website: the Pencil Manipulation website created by pen spinner Chris and the Iluvitar pencil spinning articles created by Patrick Szeto.<ref name=FirstWebsite/> However, no exact date is available for when the Pencil Manipulation website was published, and the Iluvitar articles were actually published on March 13, 2000.<ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Szeto |first=Patrick |
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|title=New Article |website=Iluvitar |
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|publisher=Patrick Szeto |date=13 March 2000 |
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|url=http://www.iluvitar.com/news/comments/?id=21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026221957/http://www.iluvitar.com/news/comments/?id=21 |
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|archive-date=26 October 2007 |access-date=3 March 2019 |
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}}</ref>}} released on December 1, 1997.<ref name=FirstWebsite>{{cite web |
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|first=Shawn |last=Toh |
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|title=[REF000005]First Pen Spinning Website? |website=Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/viewtopic.php?t=4484 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021013655/http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/viewtopic.php?t=4484 |
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|archive-date=21 October 2006 |date=24 April 2005 |access-date=26 April 2016 |
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Kondoh |first=Hideaki |
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|title=Yōkoso, pen mawashi no hōmupējihe. |script-title=ja:ようこそ、ペン回しのホームーページヘ。 |trans-title=Welcome to the pen spinning home page |
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|url=http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~konhide/pen.htm |publisher=Hideaki Kondoh |
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|website=私のペン回しの歴史 [My pen spinning history] |language=ja |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981207063743/http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~konhide/pen.htm |
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|archive-date=7 December 1998 |date=29 August 1998 |access-date=13 May 2016 |
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|quote=Since '97.12.1 |
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}}</ref> Kondoh began pen spinning in the 1980s, and by 1998, he compiled and could perform 24 tricks,<ref name="KondohWelcome">{{cite web|url=http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~hatsune95/English/E_pen_org.htm|title=Welcome....Please look at some Animated GIFs...|last=Kondoh|first=Hideaki|date=10 March 1998|website=Pen Spinning|publisher=Hideaki Kondoh|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> many of which he developed after learning techniques from other people.<ref name=KondohHistory /> |
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In the [[United States]], Fernando Kuo, better known by his online alias "Kam", was inspired by Kondoh's website to advance pen spinning and broaden its audience.<ref>{{cite web |
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A single trick in pen spinning might be balancing the pen on one's thumb as it spins several times, or weaving it between one's fingers in a circular motion. A combination of tricks is generally defined to be the linkage of 2 or more tricks in any sequence. Currently, pen spinning tricks number no fewer than 100. The easiest tricks can usually be learned within several hours, but it is not abnormal to hear that some of the most advanced tricks require several months to learn. While most single tricks are usually short in length (lasting no more than 2 seconds), the linkage of various individual tricks may form longer sequences that are considered to be more aesthetically pleasing. Mastery of such is something most pen spinners would strive for. |
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|last=Kuo |first=Fernando |
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|title=About |website=Pentix |
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|url=http://pentix.modenstudios.com/about.html |
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|publisher=Fernando Kuo |date=29 October 2002 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030802110322/http://pentix.modenstudios.com/about.html |
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|archive-date=2 August 2003 |access-date=7 May 2016 |
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}}</ref> Kam, who started spinning in 1993,<ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Kuo |first=Fernando |
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|title=About |website=Kam's Test Zone |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/kam/about.html |
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|publisher=Fernando Kuo |date=2002 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040102145135/http://www.pentrix.com/kam/about.html |
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|archive-date=2 January 2004 |access-date=1 April 2016 |
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|quote=I believe it started back in 1993 when I was living in Taiwan. |
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}}</ref> created the website Pentix in January 2000 in an attempt to create an easily accessible database and message board for pen spinning information and communication. As the popularity of the website and its forum grew and their limits became apparent, Kam closed Pentix and redistributed its information to a sequel website (which would also close) and to a new forum titled the Universal Pen Spinning Board, opened on January 19, 2004.<ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Kuo |first=Fernando |
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|title=Pentrix - Pen Spinning Revolution |
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|url=http://pentrix.com/ |
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|website=Pentrix |publisher=Fernando Kuo |date=2003 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030724105038/http://pentrix.com/ |
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|archive-date=24 July 2003 |access-date=3 April 2016 |
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|quote=Pentrix has been around since January 2000 and has grown in popularity among pen spinners ever since. Due to limitations imposed by certain hosting services, and the great demand for the content at Pentrix, I finally decided to move Pentrix to a new server. |
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Kuo |first=Fernando |
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|title=News |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/news.html |
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|website=Pentrix |publisher=Fernando Kuo |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040209053438/http://www.pentrix.com/news.html |
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|archive-date=9 February 2004 |date=11 January 2004 |access-date=11 April 2016 |
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|quote=Jan. 11, 2004 UPSB is released |
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}}</ref> The Universal Pen Spinning Board was an English-speaking board created with the goal to be the first forum in which pen spinners from any website or location around the world could communicate, and would later close during October 2018.<ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Kuo |first=Fernando |
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|title=Pentrix - Pen Spinning Revolution |
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|url=http://pentrix.com/ |
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|website=Pentrix |publisher=Fernando Kuo |date=2003 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030724105038/http://pentrix.com/ |
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|archive-date=24 July 2003 |access-date=3 April 2016 |
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|quote=The Universal Pen Spinning Board project is an attempt to unite pen spinners from all over the world. In the past, pen spinners faced the problem of having to register for multiple message boards to find the information they needed. With UPSB, any Pen Spinning site can link to it, and all users can share its benefits, independently of which site they came from. |
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |
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|title=About UPSB |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/about.php |
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|website=Universal Pen Spinning Board |date=2004 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040218131506/http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/about.php |
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|archive-date=18 February 2004 |access-date=2 April 2016 |
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}}</ref> PenDolSa, an unrelated [[Korea]]n pen spinning board released in 2003, was the first large-scale pen spinning forum. |
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The number and variations of tricks has since grown into at least the hundreds, with newer tricks such as the Shadow, Palm Spin, and Bust. Since the early 2000s, video hosting websites, such as [[YouTube]], and a growing number of other [[Internet forums]] from various countries have been used to share videos and to centralize the community, which has contributed to a rise in popularity of pen spinning. In 2007, the World Tournament acted as the first global pen spinning competition, and pen spinners from communities centered around the world could join. |
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==History== |
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==Community== |
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{{More citations needed section|date=March 2016}} |
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The pen spinning community is present mostly on the [[Internet]] through forums, video hosting platforms, and chat services such as [[Discord (software)|Discord]]. Forums are often centered in specific countries, such as Japan, France, Germany, India and China. Forums may also be international, as is the case with the Universal Pen Spinning Board and [[Reddit]]-based communities.<ref>{{cite web |
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|title=Category:Pen Spinning Communities |
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|url=http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Pen_Spinning_Communities |
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|website=UPSB Wiki |
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|publisher=Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|access-date=29 May 2016 |
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |
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|title=Penspinning Websites and Communities |
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|url=http://upsb.info/xforum/index.php?threads/penspinning-websites-and-communities.63/ |
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|website=Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|access-date=29 May 2016 |
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|date=23 April 2014 |
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}}</ref> Over time, users may migrate to a similar or upgraded forum, causing some forums to become inactive. While forums are operated largely as separate entities, cross-communication occasionally occurs for international events. Pen tricks are also quite common among a subset of the [[Yeshiva]] world, having become a common habit by those midst of their learning. It has also become something of a status symbol in said communities. |
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===Competitions=== |
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Tournaments are organized online and live tournaments are occasionally held in China,<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20100114/00176_052.html |
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|title=泰日轉筆高手商場獻技—東方日報 |
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|website=orientaldaily.on.cc |
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|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.naranja.co.jp/juggling/event/npf/npf2019/contest |
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|title=ナランハ ペン回し フェスティバル 2019年 東京大会 コンテスト |
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|website=ジャグリングショップ ナランハ |
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|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> and Korea.<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=4178881 |
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|title=일본, '펜 돌리기' 세계 챔피언 청년 화제 |
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|website=KBS 뉴스 |
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|language=ko |
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|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> The biggest competitions held are the World Tournament and World Cup, each usually held on alternating years since the first World Tournament in 2007. Both are held in a [[single-elimination tournament|single-elimination]] format, but the World Tournament consists of single-person participants, and the World Cup consists of teams made of multiple spinners representing their board. As in international competitions, anyone associated with a board can request to join, and spots are usually given to the pen spinners deemed most skillful, often by qualifying videos or as a benefit from winning a previous competition. Judging systems for the competitions have not been completely standardized, and bias is often present among the judges. Due to pen spinning being considered a highly subjective activity to judge, scores and comments concerning a single video can vary greatly. |
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Aside from large tournaments, small competitions also occur. These so-called “battles” involve at least two pen spinners submitting a video of themselves spinning, and the community decides who the winner of the battle is by collectively judging and voting on who demonstrated superior spinning. |
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==Finger slots, notations, and breakdowns== |
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Spinners use a variety of systems, symbols, and abbreviations to help them express how the pen is spun. |
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===Finger slots=== |
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This pastime is also supposedly referred to as "rōnin mawashi" in [[Japan]], allegedly because pen spinning is more prevalent among "rōnins", or high-school graduates who take a year off in order to study by him/herself in preparation for university exams. |
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[[File:Penspinning slots.JPG|thumb|The main finger slots.]] |
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For convenience, pen spinners have adopted a common numbering to represent the fingers and the spaces between them, called finger slots. The fingers are numbered sequentially from "1" for the [[index finger]], to "4" for the [[little finger]], to the letter "T" for the [[thumb]]. Finger slots are represented by placing any two or more of these together. For example, the space between the index and [[middle finger|middle]] fingers is called "12". A pen held between the thumb and ring finger is in slot "T3". Symbols and slots can be expanded to include other parts of the hand, body, and surrounding atmosphere. The webbing at the base of the thumb and index finger is called "TF", for thumb flap, and the palm is usually notated as "P". The "[[asterisk|*]]" symbol is sometimes used to refer to the absence of a second body part or object holding the pen (e.g., a pen resting on the surface of the palm is in slot P*, or, more literally, PAir). Other slot systems have been invented in order to describe complicated positions, but these are usually only used when necessary to avoid ambiguity. |
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===Notations=== |
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Presently, there is no documentation to show who started the pen spinning phenomenon. It is though, understood that a Japanese pen spinner named Hideaki Kondoh is one of the earliest pen spinners who started a pen spinning website. |
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A notation system often consists of a combination of names for tricks, their direction, and the slot system in order to convey in what way a pen was spun. Notation systems range from formal with high detail to informal with almost no detail. More complicated ways of spinning, such as using one pen with two hands (called "1p2h"), have amplified the ambiguity of some notation systems and have generated the need for using more descriptive and technical systems. The following system is often used for its relative simplicity and effectiveness in describing the tricks used.<ref>{{cite web |
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|title = Full Trick Name Convention |
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|url = http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Full_trick_name_convention |
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|website = UPSB Wiki |
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|publisher = Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|access-date = 11 December 2014 |
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|url-status = dead |
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|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141213011603/http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Full_trick_name_convention |
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|archive-date = 13 December 2014 |
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}}</ref> |
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*Modifier: A modifier adds aspects not done by default to the base trick. Modifiers may not need to be added depending on what trick is performed and are often abbreviated (e.g., Fingerless to FL, which means the initial push for the trick comes from the movement of the whole hand or wrist, rather than a singular finger).<ref>{{cite web |
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|title=Modifier |
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|url=http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Modifier |
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|website=UPSB Wiki |publisher=Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|access-date=22 March 2016 |
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}}</ref> |
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*Trick name: This is the base trick. While the trick name may not be omitted, it can be abbreviated for certain tricks (e.g., ThumbAround to TA). |
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*Direction: This is the direction of rotation of the pen during a trick. If the direction is omitted, it is assumed to be the "Normal". If the direction is "Reverse", it can be shortened to "Rev". Outside of notations, the direction is often omitted to refer to an entire family of tricks, and the omission does not automatically imply Normal. |
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*Number of revolutions: This is the total amount of revolutions of the pen throughout the entire trick, written in [[decimal]] form. If omitted, it is assumed to be the default amount for the individual trick stated. Some tricks can only have a certain number of revolutions. |
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*Starting position: This is the finger slot, or other position on the hand/body, of the pen when the trick starts. If omitted, it is assumed to be the default position for the individual trick. |
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*Ending position: This is the finger slot, or other position on the hand/body, of the pen when the trick ends. If omitted, it is assumed to be the default position for the individual trick. When notating a trick, a "[[hyphen|-]]" is placed between the starting and ending positions. |
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For example, a ThumbAround executed fingerless in the forward direction with the pen starting and ending in the thump flap slot would be fully notated as "Fingerless ThumbAround Normal 1.0 TF-TF" or, with some information abbreviated or omitted, "FL TA TF-TF". |
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==Fundamental Tricks== |
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A seasoned pen spinner usually has mastery/significant competence in what are considered the 4 fundamental pen tricks - by no coincidence, these are probably also the most well-known tricks. |
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=== |
===Breakdowns=== |
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Breakdowns are annotations of hybrids (a mix of a few "interrupted" tricks) and combos (combinations of tricks) which are used to define how a hybrid or combo is performed.<ref>{{cite web |
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|title=Combo |
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|url=http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Breakdown#Breakdown |
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|website=UPSB Wiki |
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|publisher=Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|access-date=11 December 2014 |
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|archive-date=13 December 2014 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213011606/http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Breakdown#Breakdown |
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|url-status=dead |
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}}</ref> The simplest breakdowns often only have a "[[greater-than sign|>]]" between tricks to show that they are connected. Using this system, a Pass from slot 12 to 23 connected to another Pass from slot 23 to 34 would be notated as "Pass Normal 12-23 > Pass Normal 23-34". More formal breakdowns use other symbols to show different aspects of the connections between tricks, such as describing which trick was interrupted.<ref>{{cite web |
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|title=Interrupted Trick Notation |
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|url=http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Interrupted_Trick_Notation |
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|website=UPSB Wiki |
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|publisher=Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|access-date=11 December 2014 |
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|archive-date=10 December 2014 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210121615/http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Interrupted_Trick_Notation |
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|url-status=dead |
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}}</ref> No one format is used every time, and formats are often deviated from when certain pen spinners write out breakdowns. |
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==Fundamental tricks== |
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[[Image:Thumbaroundpentrick.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Photograph of a Thumbaround]] |
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In pen spinning there are four main fundamental tricks spinners often learn first. The fundamentals do not represent all fields in pen spinning nor are they the smallest individual pen movements possible, but they are recognized as providing useful foundations for basic technique and concepts. |
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===ThumbAround Normal=== |
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As the name suggests, the ThumbAround is performed by pushing a pen by one's middle finger so to initiate the pen to spin around one's thumb a single time, then catching it in between the thumb and index finger. This trick is often popular among high school students due to how simply it can be performed. ThumbAround was previously known as 360 Degrees. |
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[[File:Pen spinning - ThumbAround Normal.gif|200x200px|thumb|ThumbAround|alt=]] |
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A ThumbAround is performed by pushing a pen using any finger (usually the middle finger if done in isolation) except the thumb to initiate the pen to spin around the thumb one time, then catching it between the thumb and a finger. Before the pen spinning community became significantly organized, the ThumbAround Normal was known by a multitude of names, including 360 Degree Normal, Forward, Normal, and Thumb Spin (now the name of a separate trick).<ref>{{cite web |
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|title=ThumbAround Normal |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/tricks/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=1 |
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|website=Pentrix |publisher=Fernando Kuo |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312070758/http://pentrix.com/tricks/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=1 |
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|archive-date=12 March 2009 |access-date=4 January 2017 |
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Kuo |first=Fernando |
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|title=360 Degree Normal |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/pentix/tricks/360ThumbNormal.html |
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|website=Pentix |publisher=Fernando Kuo |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303083051/http://www.pentrix.com/pentix/tricks/360ThumbNormal.html |
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|archive-date=3 March 2009 |access-date=19 March 2016 |
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}}</ref> |
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=== |
===Sonic Normal=== |
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[[File:Pen spinning - Sonic Normal.gif|200x200px|thumb|Sonic 23-12|alt=]] |
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*The ThumbAround Reverse is not nearly as easy to perform, and does not look much more impressive. It can often be caught between any two fingers to allow more varied combos and can also spin multiple times. |
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The primary goal of a Sonic is to transfer the pen from one finger slot to another quickly. In the Sonic Normal, a pen is held in a finger slot not involving the thumb and is spun in a [[conic|conic-like]] motion behind a finger (or fingers) to another finger slot further up the hand, making a single revolution.<ref>{{cite web |
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*Fingerless for both ThumbAround Normal and Reverse are commonly used in combos. |
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|title=Sonic Normal |
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*The ThumbSpin starts identically to the ThumbAround, except that extra rotations of the pen are performed before the pen is caught. |
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|website=Pentrix |publisher=Fernando Kuo |
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*The ThumbAround Double is a combo of a ThumbAround to a Fingerless ThumbAround. Note this is very differently performed from a 2.0 ThumbSpin. |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/pentix/tricks/Sonic123Normal.html |
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*ThumbAround Harmonic is a combo of ThumbAround Normal then ThumbAround Reverse |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123143139/http://pentrix.com/pentix/tricks/Sonic123Normal.html |
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<br style="clear:both;"> |
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|archive-date=23 January 2010 |access-date=2 April 2016 |
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}}</ref> Hideaki Kondoh is generally accredited with giving the Sonic its name, which he did because of the rapid speed at which the pen would move compared to the ThumbAround.<ref name="KondohHistory">{{cite web |
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|last=Kondoh |first=Hideaki |
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|title=Motto kuwashī rekishi |script-title=ja:もっと詳しい歴史 |trans-title=More detailed history |
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|url=http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~konhide/history.htm |
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|language=ja |publisher=Hideaki Kondoh |date=1998 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990221072009/http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~konhide/history.htm |
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|access-date=10 April 2016 |archive-date=21 February 1999 |
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}}</ref> |
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=== |
===Charge Normal=== |
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[[File:Pen spinning - Charge Normal.gif|200x200px|thumb|Charge 12|alt=]] |
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A Charge does not involve spinning the pen over any fingers or any body parts rather, the pen is spun conically in a single finger slot.<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/tricks/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=23 |
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|title=Charge Normal |
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|website=Pentrix |publisher=Fernando Kuo |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202225640/http://pentrix.com/tricks/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=23 |
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|archive-date=2 February 2009 |access-date=4 January 2017 |
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}}</ref> When viewing the palm-side of the hand during the Charge Normal, the pen spins clockwise in the right hand and counterclockwise in the left hand. The Charge forms the basis for all tricks that rely on conical movement, including the Sonic. This trick is often performed by drummers using drumsticks rather than pens. |
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===FingerPass Normal=== |
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The FingerPass involves spinning the pen through the four fingers of the hand, ideally without the use of the thumb for balancing. When executed properly, the pen should move in a single direction, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, without stopping in between. This trick is probably the flashiest of the four fundamentals when performed at high speed. |
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[[File:Pen spinning - Fingerpass Normal.gif|200x200px|thumb|FingerPass|alt=]] |
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A single Pass involves rotating a pen 0.5 times from one finger slot to another. When performing the Pass Normal on the palm-side of hand, the pen goes downward. When performing a Pass Normal on the other side of the hand, the pen goes upward. A small combination of Passes involving the pen rotating fully around the hand, starting and ending in the 12 slot, is called a FingerPass, with the FingerPass Normal being constructed out of Pass Normals.<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/tricks/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=4 |
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|title=FingerPass Normal |
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|website=Pentrix |publisher=Fernando Kuo |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209061208/http://www.pentrix.com/tricks/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=4 |
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|archive-date=9 December 2009 |
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}}</ref> This short combo is consistently considered the hardest fundamental to master because Passes between the little finger and the ring finger are often difficult to make smooth. A Pass combo similar to a FingerPass was performed by the character Boris Grishenko in the ''[[James Bond]]'' film ''[[GoldenEye]]'', using only three fingers instead of the usual four.<ref>{{cite AV media |
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|people=Campbell, Martin (Director) |
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|date=1997 |title=GoldenEye |medium=Motion picture |language=en |
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|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_G3HG73cK0 |
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|access-date=14 March 2016 |
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|format=FLV |time=0:23 |quote=YouTube title: Pen Spinning in 007 {{!}} PensAndLeather.com |
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}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> |
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==Advanced tricks== |
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To see an example of the FingerPass, one can watch the [[James Bond]] film [[GoldenEye]] to see [[Boris Grishenko|Boris]] perform the FingerPass with the pen. However, it is to be noted that the FingerPass Boris performed is a variation which involves only three fingers instead of the usual four. |
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In addition to the four fundamentals, more tricks have been invented and used successfully in combos. All tricks other than the fundamentals are usually [[Hyponymy and hypernymy|grouped under]] the term "advanced tricks" (this is somewhat a misnomer due to many spinners considering many of these tricks rather simple.){{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} Most advanced tricks are hybrids, which is a pen movement that consists of at least two tricks, and one or more of the tricks is "interrupted", that is, not completed fully before the next trick is executed.<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Combo#Hybrids |
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|title=Combo |
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|website=UPSB Wiki |
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|publisher=Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|access-date=9 December 2014 |
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}}</ref> A more complex hybrid can also involve another hybrid within itself. Over time, individual names for hybrids have become increasingly uncommon because, instead of a unique name for each new hybrid, breakdowns explaining the interrupted tricks performed are now used. The following are common trick groups, the first three of which are often considered low-difficulty. {{citation needed|date=December 2014}} |
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=== |
===Spins=== |
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A Spin refers to the motion of a pen circularly spinning while it is in contact with the hand or other body part. Spins done on the knuckle-side of the fingers are called "Top Spins". There are many versions of the Spin, and the names usually involve the body parts the pen spins on (e.g., in the Thumb Spin, the pen spins on top of the thumb). Spins are mostly performed as a part of a larger trick, such as a Shadow, which consists of Charges and a Top Spin. |
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Wipers are a group of Spin tricks that are usually categorized separately from other Spins due to the unique way the pen is held. In the Wiper Normal, the pen, held from one of its ends pointing downward, rotates 180 [[Degree (angle)|degrees]] upward in the shape of an [[Arc (geometry)|arc]]. Wipers are considered to be some of the simplest tricks because they consist of this single movement. Because of the unusual way the pen is held, Wipers are often used to diversify the appearance of the pen movement in a combo. Combos in which the pen is always held from one of its ends are sometimes known as "Wiper combos". Wipers, in conjunction with Passes, form the Infinity trick category, which is characterized by pen motions that follow a path similar to a figure-eight or [[infinity symbol]]. |
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[[Image:Sonicpentrick.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Photograph of a Sonic]] |
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===Arounds=== |
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The Sonic is a very common trick. The idea behind this trick is to move the pen from one finger position to another finger position in as little time as possible. In this trick, the pen is normally held between the middle and ring fingers and is moved so that it is between the middle and index fingers. As this trick can be executed in very short time, its name is derived from the famous video game character, [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]], who is known for his speed. |
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An Around is a trick in which the pen rotates around one or more body parts and is named after the body part(s) the pen rotates around. For example, in a Middle Index Around, the pen goes around the middle and index fingers. The ThumbAround, as a fundamental, is usually the first Around a pen spinner learns. |
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When an Around Reverse is executed fingerless with a turn of the hand or wrist, it is known as a BackAround, or simply "Bak". Baks, while technically a type of Around, is often discussed as a separate family of tricks than other Arounds. A type of Bak Reverse executed with an upward bump motion of the finger adjacent to the finger(s) the pen spins around is known as a Bust. Baks were invented by David Weis, an American spinner, in order to create a combination of tricks in which the pen would follow a smooth continuous motion without explicit finger pushes,<ref>{{cite web |
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The trick starts when the pen is moved in the same fashion as the Charge (as described below). When about one-half of a revolution of the Charge is performed, the middle finger is bent out of the way, and the index finger replaces the middle finger in holding the pen. Finally, the index and ring fingers are bent inwards as the middle finger replaces the ring finger. |
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|last=Weis |first=David |
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|title=Backaround |website=Universal Pen Spinning Board |
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|url=http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/viewtopic.php?p=609#609 |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422094607/http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/viewtopic.php?p=609#609 |
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|archive-date=22 April 2009 |access-date=8 April 2016 |date=27 July 2002 |
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|quote=Firstly, the origin of the trick was about 3 years ago when I was trying to develop a technique to 'pump' the pencil to keep it spinning instead of pushing it with a finger as it passed by during continuous links. |
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}}</ref> and they have since become a widely used trick today. |
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===Sonic variations=== |
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It is a common error for first time learners who do not fully understand the motion of the Sonic to not catch the pen with the index finger. The pen may fly out of the hand or spin around the middle incorrectly and return to its original position. This trick mistakenly executed is commonly known as the Neo-Sonic, so named because it is the neophyte's Sonic. The best way to ensure performing the Sonic instead of the Neo-Sonic is to touch the index finger to the ring finger as the pen passes the middle finger. |
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Sonic variations are different ways of transferring the pen from one slot to another, the main goal of the basic Sonic. The Sonic family is different from other trick groups in that the defining characteristic of tricks in the family is that they simply have "Sonic" in their names, and they may share few characteristics in common with the original Sonic trick. For example, the Twisted Sonic is made of a Charge motion followed by a Pass, unlike the original Sonic, which is made of a sole Charge motion combined with the pen switching between finger slots (called a Fingerswitch). Tricks in this category mostly use conical movements. |
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=== |
===Power tricks=== |
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Power tricks encompass a specific type of advanced tricks and short combos. The definition of what qualifies as a "power trick" varies between different pen spinners, but they are usually said to be fingerless, aerial, and/or continuous in nature, thus greatly reliant on the momentum of the pen. French spinners often define power tricks as many difficult tricks linked together.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} Many power tricks are simply Continuous Fingerless Arounds or a Spin followed by a Fingerless Around. The use of power tricks in combos varies between spinners, but oftentimes power tricks are used at the end of the combo as a "finisher". The term "power tricker" is applied to a spinner who uses power tricks very often and perhaps creates combos composed entirely of power tricks ("power combos"). Pen spinner Spinnerpeem greatly popularized the use of power tricks in combos and is said to be one of the first power trickers.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} |
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*Sonic can also have more spins per trick, by spinning the pen on the knuckles before catching it. These are named X Sonic (where X is the number of rotations in multiples of 0.5), or for whole number revolutions, also Double Sonic etc. Collectively, they are known as Multiple Sonic. |
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*Variations in which the pen jumps more than one finger are named Sonic 2x, etc. where 2 is the number of fingers jumped. |
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*Sonic Reverse is moving downward in the reverse spin but same path of a sonic. |
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*In Inverse Sonic and its reverse, the jumped finger moves back, instead of toward the palm, so the pen spins in front of the jumped fingers. |
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*One of the most popular Sonic variations has its own name, Shadow. The simplest makes 1.5 revolutions and does not jump any fingers. Shadows are variations of Multiple Sonic that either clips (lands in the same fingers as it starts) or falls (lands closer to the pinky). |
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<br style="clear:both;"> |
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==Pen modifications== |
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====Tricks named after sonic==== |
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[[File:Pen modifications (Pen spinning).jpg|150px|thumb|An example of mass-produced spinning pens.]] |
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Pen spinners often modify pens to construct a pen better suited for spinning. This practice of making pen modifications ("pen mods") is called pen modding. Pen mods are usually made with different parts from separate pens and markers however some mods are made of or include parts such as paper, bullets, archery tips, and tape. While any pen that has been modified is technically a pen mod, mods are often balanced, longer, and heavier than non-modded pens to assist with the momentum requirements of certain tricks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.penspinning.org/info|title=Pen Spinning Tricks & Videos {{!}} The Troposphere Pen Spinning Website (Since 2003) - Info - Tips for Choosing a Pen|last=Chan|first=Darren|date=August 2003|website=penspinning.org|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> Out of the hundreds of pen mods, prevalent ones include the BICtory, Metallic Comssa, RSVP MX, Waterfall, Dr. KT, and Buster CYL. There is some speculation that using a heavier mod when beginning to learn tricks will lead to worse performance due to excessive reliance on the mod's momentum, rather than developing refined finger control. |
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In addition to modified pens, mass-produced spinning pens also exist. These pens are usually heavier than many pen mods, but ones with adjustable weights are available. Pen spinners often do not use these spinning pens because of the greater customization ability of their own modified pens. |
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*Twisted Sonic (called windmill in some countries): Starts between middle and ring finger. It does a Charge 23 then, smoothly passes it off to index and middle finger |
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*Neo-Sonic: Beginners accidentally do Neo-Sonic when they are trying to do Sonic. The pen starts between middle and ring finger then does a vertical 360 turn ending in the same position. |
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One niche of pen modding involves spinners who favor aesthetically pleasing designs over a mod's spinning functionality. To increase customization potential, such mods often use a pen with a clear barrel as the base. This allows the spinner to put a printed design called an insert into the barrel without affecting the tactile quality of the mod. Some spinners use stickers to help customize their mods, which may change the feel of the mod due to the uneven surface it creates. Common mods with more custom aesthetic options include the RSVP MX, Fir3fly G3 Mod, and Ayatori Mod. |
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===Charge=== |
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The Charge does not involve spinning the pen around any fingers or any body parts, rather, the pen is manipulated in such a way with two fingers, that it seems to spin in a very fast motion, in a conic-shaped path. Its conic path and its speed thus create an illusion of the charging motion of the pen. This trick is often performed by drummers using drumsticks instead of pens. |
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Another aspect of pen modding is Grip Cuts, where the modder cuts a design into a grip piece to further increase the aesthetic quality. Despite this, grip cuts are often impractical since intricate cuts can easily be unintentionally affected by Wiper tricks, which involve grasping the mod at the grip. |
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==Utility tricks== |
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Utility tricks are tricks that helps do fundamental tricks and any other tricks. They are quite simple to do. |
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==See also== |
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*Pass: A utility trick that is used while doing a FingerPass. A FingerPass is a series of four Passes traveling in the same direction. The basic Pass is done by passing the pen from index finger and middle finger to middle finger and the [[ring finger]] creating a 180 degree turn without leaving the fingers. If the pen is spun clockwise the Pass is a normal, a counterclockwise spin would be a Pass Reverse. |
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*[[Coin walk]] |
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*[[Contact juggling]] |
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*[[Twirling]] |
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==Notes== |
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*Wiper: A utility trick that helps do the [[Infinity (pen spinning)|Infinity]]. The pen starts in the writing position. Then, with the grip held between the index and thumb the pen is swung downward. The reverse motion is preformed by pushing the pen with the middle finger back up into it's original position. |
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{{notefoot}} |
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==References== |
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*BackAround: Not as easy as the other tricks. Start off by holding the pen in writing position at the center. The pen is spun by releasing your grip and flicking your wrist to the left in a way that the pen hits the webbing between your index and middle fingers. Next, the hand is tilted toward a palm down position and the pen passes though your fingers onto the back of your hand. The spin is concluded by tilting the hand back and catching the pen with your thumb. The BackAround is one of many 'back' style tricks credited to David Weis. |
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{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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<!-- dead links as of March 2019 |
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* [http://www.pentrix.com Pentrix - Pen Spinning Revolution] |
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*[http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page A more detailed pen spinning wiki], which may have less content than its [https://web.archive.org/web/20141210122656/http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page archived version] |
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* [http://www.geocities.com/shawn_tohlz/main.html PenstudioZ - The largest Pen Spinning database] |
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* |
*[http://upsb.info/ UPSB – Universal Pen Spinning Board] |
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*[http://penspinning.kz/ KzPSC – Largest Pen Spinning community in Russian] --> |
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* [http://www.hantricks.com Hantricks - Watch, Learn, Master] |
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*[https://www.penspinning.org The Troposphere Pen Spinning Website (Since 2003)] |
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* [http://turtlespin.rbhscsf.org TurtleSpin] |
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*[https://www.reddit.com/r/penspinning/ Pen Spinning] at Reddit |
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* [http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/viewforum.php?f=38 Pen Spinning History] compiled by [http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/groupcp.php?g=3422 Pen Spinning History Committee (PSHC)] |
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* [http://www.psconclave.com/wiki/ PSConclave - The Pen Spinning Wiki] |
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* [http://www.bookofcool.com/html/Profile_Pen_Spinning.asp Clip from [[Book of Cool]] of Pen-Spinning] |
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{{Juggling}} |
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===Pen Spinning Discussion Forum=== |
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{{Pens}} |
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* [http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2 UPSB - Universal Pen Spinning Board] |
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* [http://www.penspinning.de German penspinning community] |
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[[Category:Pen spinning]] |
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[[Category:Juggling]] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pen Spinning}} |
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[[ca:Girar bolígrafs]] |
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[[ |
[[Category:Twirling]] |
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[[ |
[[Category:Contact juggling]] |
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[[Category:Physical activity and dexterity toys]] |
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[[fr:Jonglage de stylo]] |
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[[Category:Articles containing video clips]] |
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[[ja:ペン回し]] |
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[[Category:Pens]] |
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[[pl:Pen spinning]] |
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[[zh:轉筆]] |
Latest revision as of 03:38, 19 October 2024
Pen spinning is a form of object manipulation that involves the deft manipulation of a writing instrument with hands. Although it is often considered a form of self-entertainment (usually in a school or office setting), multinational competitions and meetings are sometimes held.[1] It is sometimes classified as a form of contact juggling; however, some tricks, e.g. "spreads" and "aerial tricks" do leave contact with the body. In addition to writing instruments, it is often also seen performed by drummers with their drumsticks. Pen spinning has quickly gained international popularity through online video sharing and forums. The hobby has been popular around the world since at least the 1970s.[citation needed]
History
[edit]The earliest record of pen spinning comes from a student in pre-WWII Japan.[2] Others in Japan spun pens at least as early as the 1970s; however, the tricks performed were only basic ones, such as the ThumbAround and Sonic.[3] Hideaki Kondoh is considered the first pen spinning pioneer in Japan and is recognized with creating the first pen spinning website,[note 1] released on December 1, 1997.[4][6] Kondoh began pen spinning in the 1980s, and by 1998, he compiled and could perform 24 tricks,[7] many of which he developed after learning techniques from other people.[8]
In the United States, Fernando Kuo, better known by his online alias "Kam", was inspired by Kondoh's website to advance pen spinning and broaden its audience.[9] Kam, who started spinning in 1993,[10] created the website Pentix in January 2000 in an attempt to create an easily accessible database and message board for pen spinning information and communication. As the popularity of the website and its forum grew and their limits became apparent, Kam closed Pentix and redistributed its information to a sequel website (which would also close) and to a new forum titled the Universal Pen Spinning Board, opened on January 19, 2004.[11][12] The Universal Pen Spinning Board was an English-speaking board created with the goal to be the first forum in which pen spinners from any website or location around the world could communicate, and would later close during October 2018.[13][14] PenDolSa, an unrelated Korean pen spinning board released in 2003, was the first large-scale pen spinning forum.
The number and variations of tricks has since grown into at least the hundreds, with newer tricks such as the Shadow, Palm Spin, and Bust. Since the early 2000s, video hosting websites, such as YouTube, and a growing number of other Internet forums from various countries have been used to share videos and to centralize the community, which has contributed to a rise in popularity of pen spinning. In 2007, the World Tournament acted as the first global pen spinning competition, and pen spinners from communities centered around the world could join.
Community
[edit]This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2016) |
The pen spinning community is present mostly on the Internet through forums, video hosting platforms, and chat services such as Discord. Forums are often centered in specific countries, such as Japan, France, Germany, India and China. Forums may also be international, as is the case with the Universal Pen Spinning Board and Reddit-based communities.[15][16] Over time, users may migrate to a similar or upgraded forum, causing some forums to become inactive. While forums are operated largely as separate entities, cross-communication occasionally occurs for international events. Pen tricks are also quite common among a subset of the Yeshiva world, having become a common habit by those midst of their learning. It has also become something of a status symbol in said communities.
Competitions
[edit]Tournaments are organized online and live tournaments are occasionally held in China,[17] Japan,[18] and Korea.[19] The biggest competitions held are the World Tournament and World Cup, each usually held on alternating years since the first World Tournament in 2007. Both are held in a single-elimination format, but the World Tournament consists of single-person participants, and the World Cup consists of teams made of multiple spinners representing their board. As in international competitions, anyone associated with a board can request to join, and spots are usually given to the pen spinners deemed most skillful, often by qualifying videos or as a benefit from winning a previous competition. Judging systems for the competitions have not been completely standardized, and bias is often present among the judges. Due to pen spinning being considered a highly subjective activity to judge, scores and comments concerning a single video can vary greatly.
Aside from large tournaments, small competitions also occur. These so-called “battles” involve at least two pen spinners submitting a video of themselves spinning, and the community decides who the winner of the battle is by collectively judging and voting on who demonstrated superior spinning.
Finger slots, notations, and breakdowns
[edit]Spinners use a variety of systems, symbols, and abbreviations to help them express how the pen is spun.
Finger slots
[edit]For convenience, pen spinners have adopted a common numbering to represent the fingers and the spaces between them, called finger slots. The fingers are numbered sequentially from "1" for the index finger, to "4" for the little finger, to the letter "T" for the thumb. Finger slots are represented by placing any two or more of these together. For example, the space between the index and middle fingers is called "12". A pen held between the thumb and ring finger is in slot "T3". Symbols and slots can be expanded to include other parts of the hand, body, and surrounding atmosphere. The webbing at the base of the thumb and index finger is called "TF", for thumb flap, and the palm is usually notated as "P". The "*" symbol is sometimes used to refer to the absence of a second body part or object holding the pen (e.g., a pen resting on the surface of the palm is in slot P*, or, more literally, PAir). Other slot systems have been invented in order to describe complicated positions, but these are usually only used when necessary to avoid ambiguity.
Notations
[edit]A notation system often consists of a combination of names for tricks, their direction, and the slot system in order to convey in what way a pen was spun. Notation systems range from formal with high detail to informal with almost no detail. More complicated ways of spinning, such as using one pen with two hands (called "1p2h"), have amplified the ambiguity of some notation systems and have generated the need for using more descriptive and technical systems. The following system is often used for its relative simplicity and effectiveness in describing the tricks used.[20]
- Modifier: A modifier adds aspects not done by default to the base trick. Modifiers may not need to be added depending on what trick is performed and are often abbreviated (e.g., Fingerless to FL, which means the initial push for the trick comes from the movement of the whole hand or wrist, rather than a singular finger).[21]
- Trick name: This is the base trick. While the trick name may not be omitted, it can be abbreviated for certain tricks (e.g., ThumbAround to TA).
- Direction: This is the direction of rotation of the pen during a trick. If the direction is omitted, it is assumed to be the "Normal". If the direction is "Reverse", it can be shortened to "Rev". Outside of notations, the direction is often omitted to refer to an entire family of tricks, and the omission does not automatically imply Normal.
- Number of revolutions: This is the total amount of revolutions of the pen throughout the entire trick, written in decimal form. If omitted, it is assumed to be the default amount for the individual trick stated. Some tricks can only have a certain number of revolutions.
- Starting position: This is the finger slot, or other position on the hand/body, of the pen when the trick starts. If omitted, it is assumed to be the default position for the individual trick.
- Ending position: This is the finger slot, or other position on the hand/body, of the pen when the trick ends. If omitted, it is assumed to be the default position for the individual trick. When notating a trick, a "-" is placed between the starting and ending positions.
For example, a ThumbAround executed fingerless in the forward direction with the pen starting and ending in the thump flap slot would be fully notated as "Fingerless ThumbAround Normal 1.0 TF-TF" or, with some information abbreviated or omitted, "FL TA TF-TF".
Breakdowns
[edit]Breakdowns are annotations of hybrids (a mix of a few "interrupted" tricks) and combos (combinations of tricks) which are used to define how a hybrid or combo is performed.[22] The simplest breakdowns often only have a ">" between tricks to show that they are connected. Using this system, a Pass from slot 12 to 23 connected to another Pass from slot 23 to 34 would be notated as "Pass Normal 12-23 > Pass Normal 23-34". More formal breakdowns use other symbols to show different aspects of the connections between tricks, such as describing which trick was interrupted.[23] No one format is used every time, and formats are often deviated from when certain pen spinners write out breakdowns.
Fundamental tricks
[edit]In pen spinning there are four main fundamental tricks spinners often learn first. The fundamentals do not represent all fields in pen spinning nor are they the smallest individual pen movements possible, but they are recognized as providing useful foundations for basic technique and concepts.
ThumbAround Normal
[edit]A ThumbAround is performed by pushing a pen using any finger (usually the middle finger if done in isolation) except the thumb to initiate the pen to spin around the thumb one time, then catching it between the thumb and a finger. Before the pen spinning community became significantly organized, the ThumbAround Normal was known by a multitude of names, including 360 Degree Normal, Forward, Normal, and Thumb Spin (now the name of a separate trick).[24][25]
Sonic Normal
[edit]The primary goal of a Sonic is to transfer the pen from one finger slot to another quickly. In the Sonic Normal, a pen is held in a finger slot not involving the thumb and is spun in a conic-like motion behind a finger (or fingers) to another finger slot further up the hand, making a single revolution.[26] Hideaki Kondoh is generally accredited with giving the Sonic its name, which he did because of the rapid speed at which the pen would move compared to the ThumbAround.[8]
Charge Normal
[edit]A Charge does not involve spinning the pen over any fingers or any body parts rather, the pen is spun conically in a single finger slot.[27] When viewing the palm-side of the hand during the Charge Normal, the pen spins clockwise in the right hand and counterclockwise in the left hand. The Charge forms the basis for all tricks that rely on conical movement, including the Sonic. This trick is often performed by drummers using drumsticks rather than pens.
FingerPass Normal
[edit]A single Pass involves rotating a pen 0.5 times from one finger slot to another. When performing the Pass Normal on the palm-side of hand, the pen goes downward. When performing a Pass Normal on the other side of the hand, the pen goes upward. A small combination of Passes involving the pen rotating fully around the hand, starting and ending in the 12 slot, is called a FingerPass, with the FingerPass Normal being constructed out of Pass Normals.[28] This short combo is consistently considered the hardest fundamental to master because Passes between the little finger and the ring finger are often difficult to make smooth. A Pass combo similar to a FingerPass was performed by the character Boris Grishenko in the James Bond film GoldenEye, using only three fingers instead of the usual four.[29]
Advanced tricks
[edit]In addition to the four fundamentals, more tricks have been invented and used successfully in combos. All tricks other than the fundamentals are usually grouped under the term "advanced tricks" (this is somewhat a misnomer due to many spinners considering many of these tricks rather simple.)[citation needed] Most advanced tricks are hybrids, which is a pen movement that consists of at least two tricks, and one or more of the tricks is "interrupted", that is, not completed fully before the next trick is executed.[30] A more complex hybrid can also involve another hybrid within itself. Over time, individual names for hybrids have become increasingly uncommon because, instead of a unique name for each new hybrid, breakdowns explaining the interrupted tricks performed are now used. The following are common trick groups, the first three of which are often considered low-difficulty. [citation needed]
Spins
[edit]A Spin refers to the motion of a pen circularly spinning while it is in contact with the hand or other body part. Spins done on the knuckle-side of the fingers are called "Top Spins". There are many versions of the Spin, and the names usually involve the body parts the pen spins on (e.g., in the Thumb Spin, the pen spins on top of the thumb). Spins are mostly performed as a part of a larger trick, such as a Shadow, which consists of Charges and a Top Spin.
Wipers are a group of Spin tricks that are usually categorized separately from other Spins due to the unique way the pen is held. In the Wiper Normal, the pen, held from one of its ends pointing downward, rotates 180 degrees upward in the shape of an arc. Wipers are considered to be some of the simplest tricks because they consist of this single movement. Because of the unusual way the pen is held, Wipers are often used to diversify the appearance of the pen movement in a combo. Combos in which the pen is always held from one of its ends are sometimes known as "Wiper combos". Wipers, in conjunction with Passes, form the Infinity trick category, which is characterized by pen motions that follow a path similar to a figure-eight or infinity symbol.
Arounds
[edit]An Around is a trick in which the pen rotates around one or more body parts and is named after the body part(s) the pen rotates around. For example, in a Middle Index Around, the pen goes around the middle and index fingers. The ThumbAround, as a fundamental, is usually the first Around a pen spinner learns.
When an Around Reverse is executed fingerless with a turn of the hand or wrist, it is known as a BackAround, or simply "Bak". Baks, while technically a type of Around, is often discussed as a separate family of tricks than other Arounds. A type of Bak Reverse executed with an upward bump motion of the finger adjacent to the finger(s) the pen spins around is known as a Bust. Baks were invented by David Weis, an American spinner, in order to create a combination of tricks in which the pen would follow a smooth continuous motion without explicit finger pushes,[31] and they have since become a widely used trick today.
Sonic variations
[edit]Sonic variations are different ways of transferring the pen from one slot to another, the main goal of the basic Sonic. The Sonic family is different from other trick groups in that the defining characteristic of tricks in the family is that they simply have "Sonic" in their names, and they may share few characteristics in common with the original Sonic trick. For example, the Twisted Sonic is made of a Charge motion followed by a Pass, unlike the original Sonic, which is made of a sole Charge motion combined with the pen switching between finger slots (called a Fingerswitch). Tricks in this category mostly use conical movements.
Power tricks
[edit]Power tricks encompass a specific type of advanced tricks and short combos. The definition of what qualifies as a "power trick" varies between different pen spinners, but they are usually said to be fingerless, aerial, and/or continuous in nature, thus greatly reliant on the momentum of the pen. French spinners often define power tricks as many difficult tricks linked together.[citation needed] Many power tricks are simply Continuous Fingerless Arounds or a Spin followed by a Fingerless Around. The use of power tricks in combos varies between spinners, but oftentimes power tricks are used at the end of the combo as a "finisher". The term "power tricker" is applied to a spinner who uses power tricks very often and perhaps creates combos composed entirely of power tricks ("power combos"). Pen spinner Spinnerpeem greatly popularized the use of power tricks in combos and is said to be one of the first power trickers.[citation needed]
Pen modifications
[edit]Pen spinners often modify pens to construct a pen better suited for spinning. This practice of making pen modifications ("pen mods") is called pen modding. Pen mods are usually made with different parts from separate pens and markers however some mods are made of or include parts such as paper, bullets, archery tips, and tape. While any pen that has been modified is technically a pen mod, mods are often balanced, longer, and heavier than non-modded pens to assist with the momentum requirements of certain tricks.[32] Out of the hundreds of pen mods, prevalent ones include the BICtory, Metallic Comssa, RSVP MX, Waterfall, Dr. KT, and Buster CYL. There is some speculation that using a heavier mod when beginning to learn tricks will lead to worse performance due to excessive reliance on the mod's momentum, rather than developing refined finger control.
In addition to modified pens, mass-produced spinning pens also exist. These pens are usually heavier than many pen mods, but ones with adjustable weights are available. Pen spinners often do not use these spinning pens because of the greater customization ability of their own modified pens.
One niche of pen modding involves spinners who favor aesthetically pleasing designs over a mod's spinning functionality. To increase customization potential, such mods often use a pen with a clear barrel as the base. This allows the spinner to put a printed design called an insert into the barrel without affecting the tactile quality of the mod. Some spinners use stickers to help customize their mods, which may change the feel of the mod due to the uneven surface it creates. Common mods with more custom aesthetic options include the RSVP MX, Fir3fly G3 Mod, and Ayatori Mod.
Another aspect of pen modding is Grip Cuts, where the modder cuts a design into a grip piece to further increase the aesthetic quality. Despite this, grip cuts are often impractical since intricate cuts can easily be unintentionally affected by Wiper tricks, which involve grasping the mod at the grip.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ There are two other pen spinning sources that are commonly believed to be possibly as old as or older than Kondoh's website: the Pencil Manipulation website created by pen spinner Chris and the Iluvitar pencil spinning articles created by Patrick Szeto.[4] However, no exact date is available for when the Pencil Manipulation website was published, and the Iluvitar articles were actually published on March 13, 2000.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Pen spinning world cup launched". Metro. Associated Newspapers. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2007.
- ^ The Asahi Shimbun. 31 January 2008. p.37.
- ^ Kondoh, Hideaki (1998). "Rūtsu o saguru" ルーツを探る [Exploring the Roots]. 私のペン回しの歴史 [My pen spinning history] (in Japanese). Hideaki Kondoh. Archived from the original on 17 November 1999. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ a b Toh, Shawn (24 April 2005). "[REF000005]First Pen Spinning Website?". Universal Pen Spinning Board. Archived from the original on 21 October 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ Szeto, Patrick (13 March 2000). "New Article". Iluvitar. Patrick Szeto. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ Kondoh, Hideaki (29 August 1998). "Yōkoso, pen mawashi no hōmupējihe" ようこそ、ペン回しのホームーページヘ。 [Welcome to the pen spinning home page]. 私のペン回しの歴史 [My pen spinning history] (in Japanese). Hideaki Kondoh. Archived from the original on 7 December 1998. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
Since '97.12.1
- ^ Kondoh, Hideaki (10 March 1998). "Welcome....Please look at some Animated GIFs..." Pen Spinning. Hideaki Kondoh. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ a b Kondoh, Hideaki (1998). "Motto kuwashī rekishi" もっと詳しい歴史 [More detailed history] (in Japanese). Hideaki Kondoh. Archived from the original on 21 February 1999. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ Kuo, Fernando (29 October 2002). "About". Pentix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 2 August 2003. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Kuo, Fernando (2002). "About". Kam's Test Zone. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 2 January 2004. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
I believe it started back in 1993 when I was living in Taiwan.
- ^ Kuo, Fernando (2003). "Pentrix - Pen Spinning Revolution". Pentrix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 24 July 2003. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
Pentrix has been around since January 2000 and has grown in popularity among pen spinners ever since. Due to limitations imposed by certain hosting services, and the great demand for the content at Pentrix, I finally decided to move Pentrix to a new server.
- ^ Kuo, Fernando (11 January 2004). "News". Pentrix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 9 February 2004. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
Jan. 11, 2004 UPSB is released
- ^ Kuo, Fernando (2003). "Pentrix - Pen Spinning Revolution". Pentrix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 24 July 2003. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
The Universal Pen Spinning Board project is an attempt to unite pen spinners from all over the world. In the past, pen spinners faced the problem of having to register for multiple message boards to find the information they needed. With UPSB, any Pen Spinning site can link to it, and all users can share its benefits, independently of which site they came from.
- ^ "About UPSB". Universal Pen Spinning Board. 2004. Archived from the original on 18 February 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Category:Pen Spinning Communities". UPSB Wiki. Universal Pen Spinning Board. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Penspinning Websites and Communities". Universal Pen Spinning Board. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "泰日轉筆高手商場獻技—東方日報". orientaldaily.on.cc. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- ^ "ナランハ ペン回し フェスティバル 2019年 東京大会 コンテスト". ジャグリングショップ ナランハ. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- ^ "일본, '펜 돌리기' 세계 챔피언 청년 화제". KBS 뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- ^ "Full Trick Name Convention". UPSB Wiki. Universal Pen Spinning Board. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ^ "Modifier". UPSB Wiki. Universal Pen Spinning Board. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Combo". UPSB Wiki. Universal Pen Spinning Board. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ^ "Interrupted Trick Notation". UPSB Wiki. Universal Pen Spinning Board. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ^ "ThumbAround Normal". Pentrix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ Kuo, Fernando. "360 Degree Normal". Pentix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Sonic Normal". Pentrix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Charge Normal". Pentrix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "FingerPass Normal". Pentrix. Fernando Kuo. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009.
- ^ Campbell, Martin (Director) (1997). GoldenEye (FLV) (Motion picture). Event occurs at 0:23. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
YouTube title: Pen Spinning in 007 | PensAndLeather.com
[dead YouTube link] - ^ "Combo". UPSB Wiki. Universal Pen Spinning Board. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ Weis, David (27 July 2002). "Backaround". Universal Pen Spinning Board. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
Firstly, the origin of the trick was about 3 years ago when I was trying to develop a technique to 'pump' the pencil to keep it spinning instead of pushing it with a finger as it passed by during continuous links.
- ^ Chan, Darren (August 2003). "Pen Spinning Tricks & Videos | The Troposphere Pen Spinning Website (Since 2003) - Info - Tips for Choosing a Pen". penspinning.org. Retrieved 2019-09-25.