juggling.tv

This one is quite easy, assuming you can already do a forward roll from a standing position. So, learn to do a forward roll from a standing position (get a gymnast to teach you :-) then put a hat on the floor in front of you, with the opening facing skywards and give it a go!

Place the back of one hand against the front of the crown and the palm of the other hand against the back of the hat. Lift the hat off and roll the hands round each other so that the hat tumbles through one complete spin as you carry the hat down to waist level. Reverse the process to return the hat to the head.

Grip the front of the crown of the hat and remove it from the head. Hold the hat vertically and spin it outwards while pushing the hat up with the finger tips. After one spin catch the hat in an outside grip. With a bit of extra practice you can do this with two or three spins or do it in "slow motion".

Hold the hat by the brim in an outside grip with the crown facing forwards. Swing your arm up infront of you, until your hand is about eye level, with the hat tilting slightly upwards. If you let go at the top of the swing, the hat's momentum should carry it through, and it will roll down your arm. The movement that follows is similar to the one arm tumble. Look down your arm, tuck your chin in, and raise your arm slightly so that the hat rolls downhill and on to your head. Once you can do that, try throwing the hat from your left hand, and using the right hand to guide it into a dynamic arm tumble.

Start with a normal right handed upward curl and as soon as the palm is facing forward at the top reach the left hand over and put it onto plate to the right of the right hand. Curl both hands round the front of the plate, which comes down in front of the belly, and then continue to bring the hands round to the back, pushing the plate back up to the left. Take the right hand off and do a left handed downward curl. From the TricksWithHats archive

The Willy Catch: Throw the plate vertically, then reach between your legs from behind and catch the plate in front of your crotch. From the TricksWithHats archive

Take a pinch grip at the front of the hat's crown and flick it up and forwards. Turn the hand round so the palm is facing forwards to catch the hat in another pinch grip at the back. After you've got a feel for this try doing it without looking at the hat. Either place it straight back on the head or reverse the process to return it. If you use a bowler hat make sure you take a really firm pinch to crease the top of the hat when removing it, otherwise you'll be left trying to catch the smooth round surface of the back of the hat. Once you've mastered this one it's a trivial task to start by pinching the back of the hat and flicking it to a catch on the front.

Turn your head to the left, then reach over with the right hand to grab the front of the brim (in as close to an inside grip as you can manage). Lift the front of the hat and remove it from the head so it is upside down above the shoulder. Straighten the arm so it ends in an inside grip at arms length. Turn your head to the right so you are looking at the hat, flex the wrist so the hat lies inside the forearm then bend the elbow and replace the hat on the head (with your hand at the back). Repeat on the other side.

twhFrontCrossTwiddle.mpeg

twhFront_plate_drop.mpg