Yo-yo
The yo-yo (also called " yo-yo ") is a toy which consists of two interconnected by a central web panels. The central web a string is fixed and wound. This allows the disks - more or less skilful way - be moved up and down.
History
The exact origin of the yo-yo is controversial, as likely candidates are China, Greece and the Philippines.
The Greek National Museum ( National Museum of Athens) in Athens houses a vase with the image of a yo-yo playing boys, and a terracotta disk, which served as a yo-yo.
From the 16th century reports from the Philippines are known to hunters hiding in trees and bound to up to six meters long ropes boulders hurled down on prey, with the boulders pulled up several times and could be thrown down again. While it is more than doubtful whether these devices can actually be regarded as a forerunner of the yo -yo's, but the fact is that the yo-yo enjoyed in the Philippines for a long time as a children's toy popular.
For the term yo-yo, there are two explanations:
From the late 18th century pictures Jo- Jo are known gambling men from France. Between 1790 and 1794, the yo -yo was a pronounced fad that had penetrated into the highest social strata and spread to Germany. From this period dates the designation Joujou de Normandie.
Until then, the name Jo- Jo, however, was not common in the West. In France, the yo-yo was referred to at the time as " Bandalore ". In Germany it was rolling wheel, but Meyers encyclopedia of 1889 also still knows the expression Joujou, who was of French origin. One of the first mentions of the name " yo-yo " comes from the magazine " Scientific American " from the year 1912.
The first U.S. patent owned James L. Haven and Charles Rich Blanchett from the year 1866.
Pedro Flores, a Filipino immigrant in the USA, brought his yo-yo and founded in 1928 a company of that name for the production of yo-yos. The company was acquired by Donald F. Duncan Sr., who contributed with very efficient advertising campaigns for large popularity of yo-yos. The principle of the free-running yo-yos he had in 1932 patented. In 1962 he sold 45 million yo-yos. Duncan could be the brand name "yo - yo" app, but this proposal was withdrawn from him years later, because the term "yo - yo" has become commonplace.
In Chico, California today is the National Yo- Yo Museum, where you can admire, among many historical things about the yo-yo also the largest wooden yo-yo in the world of Tom Kuhn (123 kg ).
Every year the World Yo- Yo Contest held in which the title yo-yo world champion is awarded.
In honor of the birthday of Donald F. Duncan Sr. is the World Yo- Yo Day (world yo-yo day) every year on June 6.
Material types
The yo -yos used in Greece were made of terracotta, the Flores and Duncan made of maple wood. Since about 1960, the preferred material is plastic. Since recently, yo-yos, which are made entirely or partially of metal, however, find.
The original yo-yos, the axis was fixed to the cord. A significant improvement was created in 1928 by introducing the cord loop through Flores. Thus, the axis within the cord loop was free to rotate. As an effect, it was found that the yo-yo continued to turn in very unsettled cord without immediately to rewind. Through a small tug on the string, the loop involved in the axis and the resulting increased friction, the yo-yo up on again. With this improved technique as many new tricks came into being.
There are two types in general axis. On the one hand there is the already mentioned solid axles with a matter specified string loop on the other, there are the so-called " transaxle ". These can be further subdivided: Mainly at cheaper yo-yos you will find a transaxle in the form of a rigid metal shaft down plastic ring. A variation of this may be found for example in the ProFire Duncan are two (metal) rings, which are successively and then put on a metal axle. Furthermore, there are yo-yos with ball bearings ( standard today ). All transaxles decrease in comparison with a rigid shaft, the friction and enable a longer duration of rotation.
Another variant of the modern yo -yos are centrifugal clutches. These give at a sufficiently high speed, the axis freely, and the yo-yo can rotate without the cord is wound up. Slows the rotation, then "picks up " the clutch and fixed the connection axis - string and the yo-yo up upon itself. These yo-yos are available with various axis systems and are especially suitable for beginners.
In addition, modern yo-yos often have little "response " so that is referred to how well the yo-yo responds to a tug on the cord. The characteristic to return to a slight tug is in many modern yo-yos avoided that the gap of the line is increased. Some modern yo-yos even come only with a so-called "Bind " back to the hand. In a Bind an extra layer of string is in the string gap brought whereby friction on the yo-yo halves is formed which allows the yo-yo retrieve but by a jerk.
" Imperial ( Standard) Shape" vs. "Butterfly Shape"
With Shape to describe the shape of yo-yos:
Yo-yos with Imperial Shape ( round shape ) are more suitable for so-called loop tricks and have a narrow string gap. Yo-yos with Butterfly Shape have a very wide string gap and are therefore very good for string tricks ( string tricks ).
See also the Chinese yo-yo variant diabolo.
Game species
In competition, the participants are divided into different divisions, depending on which way the yo-yo is played:
- A (or Single A): Play with a yo -yo.
- AA ( or Double A ): Play with two yo-yos, one each per hand. Shown loops ( Loop) - and Wraptricks.
- AAA (or Triple A ): Play with two yo-yos, one each per hand. In contrast to AA, the focus here is on string tricks (String Tricks) and not on loops.
- 4A (or offstring ): The yo-yo string is not attached to the axle. The yo-yo is similarly played like a diabolo.
- 5A (or free hand) the yo-yo is not attached to the hand but to a counterweight, such as a cube.
- Team Competition: Two to six players compete against each other in a team freestyle competition. The tricks are in free improvisation linked.
Association
- Yo- Yo Association Germany eV ( GYYA )