The diabolo (commonly misspelled as diablo) is a juggling prop consisting of a spool which is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand. A huge variety of tricks are possible using the sticks, string, and various body parts. Multiple diabolos can be spun on a single string.

Diabolos come in different shapes and materials. Large/heavier diabolos tend to retain their momentum for longer, whereas small/light diabolos can be thrown higher and are faster to get spinning quickly. Rubber diabolo's are less prone to breakage, metal diabolos can be set on fire using some wick and fuel.

Diabolo is a modern variant of it's close relative Chinese yo-yo, which is used in a form of etchnic dance . They have many Chinese names (扯鈴,中國搖搖,響簧,斗空竹,空竹). Some of Chinese Yo-yo's are designed to whistle when spinning at high speed.

Traditional Chinese yo-yo's have a long thin axle, with disc-shaped wheels, while the Western Diabolo is more cone-shaped.

History

History of how Chinese yo-yo evolved into Diabolo juggling prop would be appreciated.

Terms

• Suicide - To temporarily let go of either or both sticks and then do a trick and catch them again.
• Grind - To balance the diabolo on a stick
• Snaps, Burners, Thrusts, Pulls - Methods to accelerate the diabolo.
• Sun - The diabolo is pushed round in a large circle.
• Cradle - The line is tangled to form a shape and the Diabolo itself is tossed on or in the shape.
• Whip (catch) - Diabolo is tossed into air and catched with a whipping motion of the line towards the diabolo
• Orbit - Diabolo is tossed and catched repeatedly to make it go rounds,
• Over (bodypart) - Advanced orbits to go around some body part. Primary hand arm and leg are considered the easiest.
• Knot - The line is tangled in a way it creates an illusion that the Diabolo is jammed. It can be released usually with an upwards toss motion.

External links

• DiaboloTricks.com http://www.diabolotricks.com/
• 2Diabolo.net http://www.2diabolo.net/
• Mad French Diabolo Posse http://www.artofdiabolo.com/
• Diabolo.ca http://www.diabolo.ca/
• English Diabolo Forum http://www.diabolo.ca/forum/
• DiaboloFoSho http://www.diabolofosho.co.uk
• Harvard Chinese YoYo Club http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~yoyo