Difficulty: Medium

Safety Warning: Be careful not to hit anyone or anything with your clubs as they can hurt or do damage. Make sure you have plenty of space.

Els shows you how to do a clubs 441 trick. 441 is a siteswap, which is a ‘numeric juggling notation…something something…’ – maybe just google it like Els did!

All you need to know for this particular siteswap is what a ‘4’ is and what a ‘1’ is. 4 is a straight double (two rotations of the club in the air) caught with the same hand that you threw it with. 1 is a simple passing the club to the other hand (no throwing). So, a 441 is a double, a double, then a pass from one hand to the other.

Els shows you how to build up to the trick in sections:

This is a very good trick for practising your doubles. To begin with, practice throwing a double and catching with the same hand you threw with. Practice on your right hand and your left hand. Then, put them both together – throw with your dominant hand first.

Next, add in the correct timing – throw the second double before the first one lands, in a ‘one-two’ count pattern.

Before you add the third club, do the same again with two clubs but add in a clap – so double, double, clap. This represents the ‘1’ that you are about to add in.

Finally, add in the third club which simply passes from one hand to the other. Throw one double straight up from your dominant hand, then one double straight up from your other hand, then pass the remaining club from one hand to the other

When you’ve got the hang of this clubs 441 move, try starting with your other hand. That way, you can repeat the pattern continuously – starting with a different hand each time.

If you’ve gotten really good, why not try adding a flourish such as passing the club behind your back? You can add this move to a solo juggling routine, and it also works in passing.

You can see all our clubs and other juggling video tutorials by tagging ‘juggling’ on our Youth Circus Home Edition library page here.

Difficulty: Medium

Safety Warning: Always make sure you’ve got room when juggling, and keep control of the balls so that they don’t hit anything – or anyone – around you!

Tom teaches you one of the most famous juggling tricks, Mills Mess! This three-ball trick uses underarm throws to create a wonderfully weaving effect.

To learn this trick, you’ll need to be comfortable with underarm throws and catches using both hands. Once you’ve got the hang of this, position your hands with wrists crossed and two balls in the upper hand.

You’re going to uncross and recross your hands, so that the ball that is on the top ends up on the bottom. As each hand moves, it’s throwing the ball it’s holding to the other hand. Confused? Don’t worry!

A useful thing to remember is that it’s always the same ball that is thrown underarm, every time. Tom shows you a slowed-down version of the trick, and also uses an onion (yes, an onion) to demonstrate this.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, follow Tom’s performance tips to really bring the trick together. Focus on that weaving motion that makes this trick look so fluid!

You can also try going into Mills Mess from a three-ball cascade with an over the top throw.

You can learn other juggling moves by tagging ‘Juggling’ on our Home Edition library page here.

Difficulty: Medium

Safety Warning: For practicing any of these club tricks make sure you have plenty of height and are working in wide, open space. You should also make sure you have done a good warm up, especially for your wrists.

In this tutorial one of our Mynah students catalogues a series of his club tricks that you can learn. This video was made by our student for our Virtual Showcase in May, but we thought it was so well edited and demonstrated such a good variety of tricks that we would share it with you as another home edition tutorial.

In this video you see a wide variety of different club tricks to give some inspiration for what move you could learn next.

Why not learn how to club balance? Place one club on top of another before tossing it up into a cascade. You can practice this with peacock feathers or spinning plates as well.

Then see a demonstration of how to pirouette while juggling. This trick is useful for all types of juggling, whether its cigar boxes, diablo, or clubs.

Up next is the shower. Learn how to make your clubs do a double spin. While the double spin is more specific to club tricks, the shower can be used with other props like rings and balls.

Next you look at the club trick ‘claw catches’. You catch the club before it has finished its full rotation and then send it back into its cascading pattern.

We hope you enjoy this fantastic demonstration of different club tricks and that it gives you some ideas for your next trick to try. For more inspiration why not check out Els video on no throw club juggling.

You can see all our juggling videos and other tutorials and activities here.

Difficulty: Medium

Safety Warning: This juggling technique is trickier than some of our others as your coordination for throwing and catching can change while lying down. Make sure you’ve got a clear space around you with nothing breakable nearby. Using softer objects like rolled up socks instead of balls can help protect your belongings and your face while learning. And remember to warm up your wrists first.

Elly teaches us how to juggle a 3 ball cascade while lying down. First you’ll learn the technique, then the pattern, and then you’ll be shown how to transition into it from a regular cascade to lying down.

You’ll start by practicing your single ball throws while lying on your back. You should be in a comfortable position, and not be holding tension in your neck and shoulders. To ensure a good throw and catch aim the ball at the ceiling directly above your head. Not too low and not too high.

Next Elly teaches you the technique for juggling 2 balls. Your balls should be making an X pattern in the air as they cross paths. Remember to throw them singly and not simultaneously. Try saying the order out loud to help you with the timing ‘throw, throw, catch, catch’.

After you’ve mastered 2 balls its time to move on to the 3 ball cascade. Pick up your third ball, and whichever hand is starting your throws should be the one with 2 in it. It will take some practice to be able to continuously juggle like Elly, but to help make sure to keep switching which hand starts with 2 balls as this will help develop the pathway.

Finally Elly will teach you how to transition seamlessly between a regular 3 ball cascade to lying down and juggling above your head and back up again.

Already mastered a 3 ball cascade lying down? Why not check out Val’s tutorial on Antipodism – foot juggling while lying on your back.

Or you could try some of Tom’s 2 ball juggling tricks lying down.

You can see all our videos and activities here.

Difficulty: Medium

Safety Warning: Make sure you warm up your feet and toes thoroughly – follow Val’s exercises below.

Val teaches us some antipodism! Antipodism is foot juggling whilst lying on your back – it;s great fun and you don’t need loads of space.

If you don’t have your own juggling balls, check out our earlier video on How To Make Juggling Balls.

First, Val shows us how to warm up our legs, feet and toes and stretch them out, increasing our mobility and flexibility. When you’re warmed up, you’re ready to start!

Then, Val shows us the correct leg position to start in. Once you’re in position, practice balancing the ball on your toes and move around to see if you can keep it balanced. You can also try balancing the ball on both feet.

Once you’ve got the hang of this, you can learn to throw the ball from your feet to your hands. Follow Val’s tips for keeping the ball in a straight line as you throw it.

Then, you can try throwing a ball from your hand and catching it on your foot! Again, follow Val’s tips for making this catch easier.

You can see all our videos and activities here.

Difficulty: Medium

Safety Warning: Make sure you warm up your feet before you start. This move is quite safe, but always be aware of your surroundings when juggling.

Val shows us how to do foot catches with a juggling ball! In this video, you’ll learn how to do a standing foot catch, neatly catching the ball on your foot as you drop it.

First, Val shows us how to warm up our feet with some exercises to increase mobility and dexterity.

Then, Val demonstrates how to hold the ball on your foot by curling your toes and raising your outside arch. Practise moving your foot around with the ball balanced on it first, to get used to the feel of it. You can also try to walk with it – why not have a race with a partner?

After these warm up exercises, Val teaches us how to kick up the ball, from our foot to our hand. Then, you’ll be ready to practice throwing the ball from your hand to your foot!

This will take a few tries – Val gives us some tips on common mistakes to help with perfecting your throw and catch. Remember to practice your foot catches on both sides!

You can see all our videos and activities here.

Difficulty: Easy

Safety Warning: Hats are quite safe to juggle with, but always be careful not to hit yourself or anyone around you when juggling!

Rachel K shows us how to juggle hats! You can use a proper juggling hat or bowler hat, or a regular baseball cap if that’s what you’ve got at home.

First, Rachel shows us how to throw a hat onto our head. She shows us how to angle the hat correctly and practice throwing and catching it first. When you’re ready to aim for your head, you can spot the inside of the hat to make it easier.

Next you’ll learn how to do a body roll with your hat. Rolling a hat along your arms and across your body looks very cool! Rachel shows us how to curve our arms correctly and flick our wrists to spin it across our bodies.

Both these tricks can be done with a juggling hat or a sun hat. Why not try other types of hats that you have at home? Just remember to ask the owner first!

You can see all our videos and activities here.

Difficulty: Medium

Safety Warning: These are quite safe to juggle with, but always be aware of your surroundings and try not to hit yourself with the boxes!

Jono is back with Cigar Boxes 2, showing you some more cigar box juggling tricks!

If you don’t have cigar boxes, check out our video on How To Make Cigar Boxes.

Today you’ll be learning some more complicated cigar box tricks.

First, Jono shows you a Shuffle Out, moving a cigar box from the end of the row to the middle of the row.

Next, you’ll learn how to Switch Ends, moving a cigar box from one end of the row to the other.

The third trick is called a Flair, where you spin each end block as you throw the middle block.

Jono then shows us how to do Take Downs and Take Outs, but this time with the box on the end of the row. If you haven’t tried these yet, check out Cigar Boxes 1 to try this trick.

The final trick is a bit trickier – you’ll be moving the boxes from a Stack to a Line.

Practice these tricks loads, and then try putting them into a routine! Maybe you could combine tricks from Cigar Boxes 1 and Cigar Boxes 2?

You can see all our videos and activities here.

Difficulty: Medium

Safety Warning: As always, keep your juggling controlled and check your surroundings.

If you haven’t got your own juggling balls yet, why not make 2 balls or more with our How To Make video?

Tom shows you how to juggle 2 balls in one hand!

There are multiple techniques for juggling 2 balls – the most common one is throwing one ball behind the other. But, you can also rotate the balls outwards, which is important for juggling four balls, or rotate the balls inwards. You can also juggle in columns – which, as Tom demonstrates, is the starting point for loads of cool tricks!

Once you’ve mastered columns, you can build up to the Yo Yo, orbits, follows, and even the Machine – although it may take some practice…

Remember, we also have videos on 3 ball juggling, and beginners’ juggling if you’re just starting out.

You can see all our videos and activities here.

Difficulty: Easy

Safety Warning: This is pretty safe as cigar boxes are nice and light. As always with juggling, make sure that you’re well clear of anything that you could hit or knock over.

Now that you’ve made your own cigar boxes, Jono teaches you some juggling tricks in Cigar Boxes 1!

You’ll learn how to hold your cigar boxes correctly and stack them together. Then, Jono shows you how to do an Elevator, throwing and catching the boxes all at once.

Next, you’ll learn a 3 Box Flash and a Turnaround. Finally, you’ll learn a Takeout – one of the most popular tricks we teach. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could try a Takeup too!

After Cigar Boxes 1 we’ll have some more advanced videos, so keep your eyes peeled.

You can see all our videos and activities here.

Difficulty: Easy

Safety Warning: This one’s pretty safe, but make sure you follow Alan’s instructions on controlling your juggling to avoid hitting or knocking anything. It’s always best to practice in a clear space where possible.

Alan shows you how to juggle with 3 balls! This is the next step once you’ve mastered scarf juggling, so if you haven’t tried this yet, go back and watch Alan’s 3 Scarves video first.

You’ll learn how high to throw your juggling balls, and then Alan will show you how to throw 2 balls first in a crossover pattern.

Once you’ve practised this, you’ll learn how to throw 3 balls at once in a 1-2-3 pattern, letting them fall on the floor to practice the throws. You’ll build up, catching another ball each time. Soon, you’re throwing and catching all three balls!

This will take practice – don’t be disheartened if it takes you a while to get it. Remember that throwing and dropping is a great way to learn!

If you want some variety, Alan also shows you how to juggle 2 balls in one hand. You can mix this up as good hand-eye coordination practice – and you might even get to juggling 4 balls!

Alan also talks you through some common mistakes, such as juggling too high, juggling with the 3 balls too close together, and moving hands backwards and forwards.

We’ll soon have more advanced tricks from Els and Tom, so keep your eyes out! You can see all our videos and activities here.

Difficulty Level: Easy

Safety warning: Even soft things can hurt or break things – keep control of your juggling balls and use a clear space where possible. Don’t try balancing big objects straight away – work up to it!

Juggling and balancing objects is an easy and fun indoors task – learn the basics with Alan and Tom!

Beginners’ Juggling 1 is aimed at our students aged 4-8 but is also perfect if you’re older but haven’t done much juggling before, or want to brush up on the basics!

Alan shows you how to juggle with scarves (and home alternatives) and juggling balls – if you don’t have your own, watch our How To Make Juggling Balls video!

Alan and Tom then look at balancing objects on your hands and other body parts. Remember:

Make sure an adult is supervising
Ask permission before borrowing household objects to balance on your face!

You can see all our Youth Circus Home Edition videos here.