Spinworkx First Mount #36 - Double or Nothing with Mindbend (Back)

Remember Spinworkx First Mount #31? It was the Trapeze with Mindbend (Back) Mount. Here, First Mount #36 has the exact same logic as #31, but instead of a simple Trapeze, you have to get into a Double or Nothing and then getting the Mindbend to wrap around the yo-yo.

Let's begin to explain how the Double or Nothing with Mindbend (Back) is performed.

First, throw a straight Breakaway. It doesn't need to be too strong a Breakaway as you would not want the yo-yo to be swinging too fast.

As the yo-yo is swinging upwards, let it hit your non-throw hand index finger and continue around to your throwing hand index finger before heading back to your non-throwing hand index.

As soon as the yo-yo comes back around to hit your non-throw hand index, slack the string over and into the yo-yo gap from the back. When the yo-yo string is caught / wrapped around the bearing, it should end up appearing like a regular Double or Nothing. However, when you try to hop the yo-yo up or off the string, you should not be able to as there is a mindbend around the yo-yo.

And there you have it, the Double or Nothing with Mindbend (Back) Mount.

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Double or Nothing with Mindbend (Back) Mount:

1) Remember not to throw your Breakaway too hard.

2) When throwing the slacked string into the yo-yo, aim and swing the string from the back into the yo-yo gap.

3) Try doing this Mount slowly to get the idea and the hang of the trick.

There you have it, #36 of the Spinworkx First Mount Project.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show us your Double or Nothing with Mindbend (Back) Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount #spinworkxfirstmount. 

Till the next Mount,

Keep Spinning!~

Spinworkx First Mount #35 - Chop & Grab Double Mount

For First Mount #35, it is something slightly different and requires you to move relatively quickly to do.  This Mount looks kinda like a weird/warped Double or Nothing, and it opens up various string segments for you to land on, giving you the option to explore. This Mount may have been done by other players in the past, but we first learnt it from local Spinner, Li Hao, from back in the day. Li Hao is a 2-time Singapore National Champion, and is one of the most consistent Spinners we have here in Singapore. 

Without further ado, let us get into explaining how the Chop & Grab Double Mount is done.

First, throw a Breakaway and let the string hit the bottom of your non-throwing hand index finger.

Once that is done, the string should be around your non-throwing hand index finger. Take note not to let this string slip off your finger.

Then move your throwing hand index finger to your left and intercept the string as it swings around your non-throwing hand index. Your throwing hand index should be like a 'hook' that is pointing towards you in the direction of your non-throwing hand.

With this 'hook', hook the string.

Now, quickly move you non throwing hand index finger, with the string still looped around, under your throwing hand and around over your throwing hand and 'chop' the string, landing the yo-yo onto the outer string like a Double or Nothing.

Once the yo-yo has landed onto the string, you have completed the Chop & Grab Double Mount.

This Mount may look easy to do, but it requires some practice and focus to be able to hit it consistently. Keep going at it, and you will get the hang of it.

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Chop & Grab Double Mount:

1) When first learning this Mount, do not throw your Breakaway too hard lest the yo-yo moves too quickly.

2) Try to visualise this trick in your head, and then attempt it, and visualize again, and attempt, repeat.

3) When landing the yo-yo onto the string for the complete Mount, remember to aim and cushion the drop of the yo-yo onto the string.

4) This Mount requires you to move both hands around each other in like a 'rolling' motion, so practice that rolling motion and the Mount with a 'dead' yo-yo first.

That is all for the Spinworkx First Mount Project this time around.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show us your Chop & Grab Double Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount #spinworkxfirstmount. 

Till the next Mount,

Chop & Grab!~

Spinworkx First Mount #34 - Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5 Under Whip Mount

First Mount #34 is similar to First Mount #33 in the way it is performed, but both Mounts have different outcomes and are used for different purposes. If you are able to do #33, #34 should not be too hard to learn. The main different between the two is basically the way the string is whipped into the yo-yo. Though it can be rather challenging, with practice, it will not be too hard. Just like #33, the Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5 Under Whip Mount requires two actions/movements at the same time making it tougher to pick up for the newer Spinners. 

Once you get into the Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5, if you let go of every string on your throwing hand, the mount and all string segments will magically disappear, leaving just the one string wrapped around your non-throwing hand. It is a pretty cool and nifty trick on it's own, and the Pseudo Mach 5 can be used as an 'ending' for your long combos.

Here's how you go about doing the Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5 Under Whip Mount.

First, throw a steady and straight Breakaway.

Once the yo-yo is in motion and swinging, let it hit your non-throw hand index finger as though it was going to land into a Trapeze.

Now, this is where the two actions/movements come into play. As the yo-yo is going to land into a trapeze, you will need to have the string attached to your throwing hand be positioned on the top of your throwing hand index finger.

Then, swing the string segment that connects to your throwing hand under your throwing hand (your index finger that should be positioned under the string) forming a sort of loop/whip.

For this loop/whip, you will need to have the outer string segment of the loop whip into the bottom of the yo-yo as it lands into a Trapeze, forming a Pseudo Mach 5. 

Once the string hits the yo-yo, pull your hands apart to straighten and form the Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5 Mount.

And you have successfully performed the Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5 Under Whip Mount. Good job!

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5 Under Whip Mount:

1) Remember not to throw your Breakaway too hard when first trying this trick

2) It will help if you first practice landing a Trapeze, and then attempt the whip into the Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5. Once you perfect the two components separately, try doing both components together.

3) Always aim the whip to have string go where it is supposed to go.

4) Practice doing this Mount slowly to get the idea and the hang of the trick.

That is all for the Spinworkx First Mount Project this time around.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show us your Sidestyle Pseudo Mach 5 Under Whip Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount #spinworkxfirstmount. 

Till the next Mount,

Keep Spinning!~

Spinworkx First Mount #33 - Sidestyle Mach 5 Whip Mount

The first thing we must say about First Mount #33 is that it can be rather challenging. It requires two actions/movements at the same time making it tougher to pick up for the newer Spinners. We will elaborate more on these two actions a little later on in this write up.

Once you get into the Sidestyle Mach 5, there are many other mounts you can transit from there, making it a useful and versatile mount to be familiar with, and explore from. One example of a trick that makes use of the Sidestyle Mach 5 is the trick Kamikaze. 

So now without further ado, let us get into describing the mount.

First, throw a steady and straight Breakaway.

Once the yo-yo is in motion and swinging, let it hit your non-throw hand index finger as though it was going to land into a Trapeze.

Now, this is where the two actions/movements come into play. As the yo-yo is going to land into a trapeze, you will need to throw a string segment that connects to your throwing hand over your throwing hand forming a sort of loop/whip.

For this loop/whip, you will need to have this string loop whip into the yo-yo as it lands into a Trapeze, forming a Mach 5. This string loop should have the top of the loop hit the yo-yo as the bottom of the loop falls down on the inside of the yo-yo (closest to you) in sort of a whip or slack kind of thing.

Once the string falls into the yo-yo, pull your hands apart to straighten and form the Sidestyle Mach 5 Mount.

When you are successfully in a Sidestyle Mach 5, you have successfully completed the Sidestyle Mach 5 Whip Mount. Give yourself a pat on the back!

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Sidestyle Mach 5 Whip Mount:

1) Remember not to throw your Breakaway too hard when first trying this trick

2) It will help if you first practice landing a Trapeze, and then attempt the whip into the Sidestyle Mach 5. Once you perfect the two components separately, try doing both components together.

3) Always aim the whip to have the top string hit and enter the yo-yo gap.

4) Practice doing this Mount slowly to get the idea and the hang of the trick.

That is all for the Spinworkx First Mount Project this time around.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show us your Sidestyle Mach 5 Whip Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount #spinworkxfirstmount. 

Till the next Mount,

Practice hard!~

Spinworkx First Mount #32 - Trapeze with Mindbend (Front)

Just like First Mount #31, this First Mount involves a Mindbend but instead of a back Mindbend, this is the Trapeze with a Front Mindbend. Definitely another mount that is worth exploring. The Mindbend can lead to tricks such as Flops and could also be combined with slacks to get into more complex mounts. If you could hit the Trapeze with Mindbend (Back), this one should not be too hard to hit as well.

Now, this is how the Trapeze with the Front Mindbend is done.

First, throw a straight Breakaway. It doesn't need to be a hard Breakaway as you do not need the yo-yo to be swinging too fast.

As the yo-yo is swinging upwards, let it hit your non-throwing hand index finger.

This is where the Front Mindbend (#32) defers from the Back Mindbend (#31). As soon as the yo-yo hits your non-throw hand index, slack the string on the inside of your body, to have the string wrap around the yo-yo from the Front. The string should go from the inside of your body into the yo-yo gap. When the yo-yo string is caught / wrapped around the bearing, it should end up appearing like a regular Trapeze. However, when you try to hop the yo-yo up or off the string, you should not be able to as there is a mindbend around the yo-yo.

To dismount, you will need to unwrap the string from the Front and you will then be back into a Trapeze. Tadah, that is how you do the Trapeze with a Front Mindbend mount.

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Trapeze with Mindbend (Front) Mount:

1) Remember not to throw your Breakaway too hard.

2) When throwing the slacked string into the yo-yo, turn your body to face the yo-yo and throw the string on the inside of your arm.

3) Always aim and swing the string into the yo-yo gap.

4) Practice doing this Mount slowly to get the idea and the hang of the trick.

That is all for the Spinworkx First Mount Project this time around.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show us your Trapeze with Mindbend (Front) Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Till the next Mount,

Keep Spinning!~

Spinworkx First Mount #31 - Trapeze with Mindbend (Back)

This First Mount trick is something that is not commonly found or seen in tricks these days, but it has the potential to lead on to other mounts and is definitely worth exploring. The Mindbend trick was made popular by Doctor Popular in The Glass Lab - Lab Experiment 4 clip video where he used it to do tricks like the Robot, Flop, etc. Furthermore, this method that we are using to get into the Mindbend is rather interesting as it requires a fair bit of slack and precision. 

So let us explain how the Trapeze with Mindbend mount is done.

First, throw a straight Breakaway. It doesn't need to be too strong a Breakaway as you would not want the yo-yo to be swinging too fast.

As the yo-yo is swinging upwards, let it hit your non-throw hand index finger.

As soon as the yo-yo hits your non-throw hand index, slack the string over and into the yo-yo gap. When the yo-yo string is caught / wrapped around the bearing, it should end up appearing like a regular Trapeze. However, when you try to hop the yo-yo up or off the string, you should not be able to as there is a mindbend around the yo-yo.

And that is how you do the Trapeze with Mindbend (Back) mount.

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Trapeze with Mindbend (Back) Mount:

1) Remember not to throw your Breakaway too hard.

2) When throwing the slacked string into the yo-yo, aim and swing the string into the yo-yo gap.

3) Try doing this Mount slowly to get the idea and the hang of the trick.

That is all for the Spinworkx First Mount Project this time around.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show us your Trapeze with Mindbend (Back) Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Till the next Mount,

Keep Spinning!~

Spinworkx First Mount #30 - Through the Backdoor Mount

After all the First Mounts that you have learnt so far, the next few up-coming mounts shouldn't be too tough to handle. The 'Through the Backdoor' Mount is a relatively simple Mount to understand, but executing it may be a little hard for some as there is a 'Chopstick' element in the Mount. 

It is through this 'Chopstick' element that enables the string to be passed onto both the Thumb and Index finger of your throwing hand, allowing for more complex trick options.

So let us explain how to get into the 'Through the Backdoor' Mount.

First, throw a straight Breakaway, and allow the string to fall on-top of your non-throwing hand just like doing a Trapeze Brother Mount.

Following this, the yo-yo should be changing directions and swinging back over to your throwing hand.

Before/while this happens, you will need to position the thumb of your throwing hand under the string segment that is coming out from the string loop that is tied to your finger.

Now, as the yo-yo is swinging towards your throwing hand, position your throwing hand in a way that your Thumb 'hooks' onto the string and your Thumb should now be above your index finger and all your other fingers.

This creates a small string segment in-between your thumb and middle finger.

Now, as the yo-yo is swinging towards your throwing hand, allow the yo-yo to go in-between your throwing hand thumb and middle finger, landing onto that string segment.

Once it lands onto the string, your non-throwing hand should be crossed above your throwing hand.

Viola, you have completed the 'Through the Backdoor' Mount.

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Through the Backdoor Mount:

1) Remember to aim the yo-yo to land onto the string that is in-between your throwing hand thumb and index finger.

2) When performing the mount, practice it slow and steadily first before building up speed.

3) During the Mount, remember to keep the yo-yo spinning straight. If it starts to tilt, catch back the yo-yo and try again.

That is all for the Spinworkx First Mount Project this time.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show us your Through the Backdoor Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Till the next Mount,

Keep Spinning!~

Spinworkx First Mount #29 - Frontstyle Green Triangle

If you have mastered the Green Triangle from our Spinworkx First Mount #13, then this Mount should not be too difficult for you to hit as well. What the Frontstyle Green Triangle is is basically just doing the same Green Triangle, but in front of you. The Green Triangle trick has been well known to be one of the mounts used in a combo that ends of the combo. However, the Frontstyle Green Triangle Mount is a good way to start off complex Frontstyle tricks.

The original Green Triangle trick was invented by Duncan Crew USA member, and trick innovator, Paul Escolar, and has been around for over 10 years now. So without further ado, let's go on to a step-by-step explanation on how to perform the Frontstyle Green Triangle Mount.

Firstly, throw a sleeper straight down in front of you, and lift the string up with your non-throwing hand like you were going to do a Braintwister. 

Once the yo-yo has been lifted up, allow the yo-yo to swing and hit your throwing hand wrist as though you were doing a Split Bottom Mount, but with your wrist instead of your throwing hand finger.

Let the yo-yo go around your wrist and land onto the string.

When the yo-yo has landed onto the string, let the string that is around your throwing hand wrist drop off and onto the connecting string segment.

Once you have done this, you should comfortably be in a Frontstyle Green Triangle Mount.

Ta-dah!

**Do note, when dismounting the Frontstyle Green Triangle mount, hop the yo-yo off the string on the RIGHT side, not the left, so that you do not get into a knot.**

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Frontstyle Green Triangle Mount:

1) Remember to aim the yo-yo to land onto the right string.

2) When swinging the yo-yo over your throwing hand wrist, allow a slightly longer string segment to go around your wrist. If not, the yo-yo will hit your wrist and it will stop spinning.

3) When dropping the string off your wrist to complete the Frontstyle Green Triangle, remember to do it slow and steady to prevent the yo-yo from dropping off the string entirely.

That is all for this edition of the Spinworkx First Mount Project.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show us your Frontstyle Green Triangle Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Till the next Mount,

Keep Spinning!~

Spinworkx First Mount #28 - Slack Trapeze

Back in the day before contests had the 1 minute preliminary freestyles, contests used to have Compulsories instead of 1 minute freestyles. This Compulsory trick list comprised of 10 difficult tricks that players had to perform to accumulate points, and the players with the highest points then moved on to 3 minute final freestyles. In one of the last few Compulsory trick lists, Slack Trapeze was one of the trick components on the list and players had to hit it two times in a row.

The Slack Trapeze is one trick that was created back when Slack tricks were still new and an unexplored area of Spinning. Now, the Slack Trapeze is one of the tricks that practically every advanced Spinner can hit. Slacks opened doors to get into new and intricate mounts for Spinners and it is still one of the main components of trick combos seen today.

Without further ado, let us get into the Slack Trapeze proper.

First, throw a straight Breakaway and instead of swinging the yo-yo over and onto the string into a Trapeze, use your Thumb and Index Finger of your non-throwing hand to pinch the string about 2-3 inches away from the yo-yo.

Next, wrap the string segment that is hanging down from your throwing hand onto your throwing hand Index Finger as seen in the picture below.

The purpose of wrapping the string segment around your throwing hand Index Finger is so that it makes throwing the slacked string from your throwing hand easier.

After wrapping the string segment around your Index Finger, throw this string over your non-throwing wrist and have your throwing Index Finger go to (or even touch) your non-throwing wrist as the string slack goes over the wrist.

Next, maneuver the string so that the front string goes into, and hits, the yo-yo gap.

Once the string goes into the yo-yo gap, let go of the pinch on your non-throwing hand and let the string just fall onto your non-throwing Index Finger.

Following this, swing the yo-yo clockwise with your hands positioned close together to get back into a regular Trapeze.

You have just successfully hit the Slack Trapeze, so give yourself a pat on the back!

Some pointers to take note of when learning this trick:

1) Ensure that the yo-yo is spinning straight and keep everything in one straight plane, especially the yo-yo string slack.

2) Remember to aim the slack into the yo-yo gap.

3) Perform the trick slowly and steadily, don't rush through it, giving it a little more 'flow'.

That's all for #28 of the Spinworkx First Mount project.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show off your Slack Trapeze by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Till next time,

Keep the Slack (on the yo-yo string) coming!~