Diabolo Siteswap Introduction

If you’re into diabolo, then you know how exhilarating it is to discover, invent, and share new tricks and patterns. But let’s face it, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Well, I have some good news for you. There’s a nifty tool called Siteswap that can make the process a whole lot easier. It’s a way to write down and share complex juggling sequences using a simple mathematical notation system. With Siteswap, you can quickly communicate and document your latest diabolo moves, making it easier to learn and share with others. So go ahead, let your creativity flow, and explore the endless possibilities of diabolo with Siteswap!

Why did I research on diabolo siteswap?

When I first started exploring the possibilities of diabolo siteswap, I found that the existing notation proposals that diabolists where using were limited and didn’t capture the range of movements that I was working on. That’s why I decided to adapt juggling siteswap for diabolo, discovering notation system specifically adapted for diabolo.

The Usual Diabolo Way, which you must know from Diabology, treats the diabolo as a one-handed juggling pattern. However, when I play diabolo, I use both hands, I also go to the dark side of the string, and I even do half turns of my body while playing switch . So how can we describe all of this using a one-handed Siteswap system?

With the Diabolo Siteswap Notation that I’m proposing, I hope to provide a common language that can help diabolists share and collaborate on new tricks and push the boundaries of what’s possible with the diabolo.

Unifying the diabolo siteswap go beyond just the diabolo community, creating a common ground with other juggling disciplines, like balls, clubs and rings. This can help jugglers from different backgrounds and specialties collaborate and learn from each other.

Whether you’re a PRO, a seasoned diabolo performer or just starting out, mastering Diabolo Siteswap can open up a world of possibilities and connect you to a broader juggling community. In the following section, I’ll share more about my journey and the inspiration behind my research.

Teaser video of Diabolo Siteswap

Check out this short demo video to see Diabolo Siteswap in action!

Why saying “3 Diabolos Low” is just the beginning

When we say that we juggle with five balls we suppose that we juggle the normal cascade (5). However, we can juggle five balls like a shower (91) or a half-shower (73), etc. The same goes for the diabolo. When we say that we achieved 3 Diabolos Low nowadays we know what it means but how many ways exist for juggling 3 Diabolos Low? If you go deep into this siteswap it becomes obvious that juggling has no limits.

All the siteswap patterns that I propose for the diabolo are only a few samples of what is actually possible and should not be mistaken for the only way to do it – there exists an infinity of different diabolo-patterns.

You can download Juggling Lab, which I have modified to include diabolos, from the bottom of this site. With this software, you can have fun while learning the concepts discussed on this site.

Important points to keep in mind when juggling diabolos

  1. The diabolos spend very little time in our “hands”, so the dwell time is quite low.
  2. When referring to throws made with the string, we assume that half of the string is on the right and the other half is on the left. However, the hand that generates the throw could be the other hand or both.
  3. When juggling diabolos, we can think of the string as a surface where we can control the time that the diabolo spends (similar to table juggling). To indicate when the diabolo is on the string, we use bouncing notation and put an “F” after the number that we throw (_F).
  4. While we usually catch and throw the diabolo using the string, we can also catch it with our hands.

Basic Notation Omitting the Sticks [Classic Diabolo Way]

This notation is essentially a translation of the bouncing ball notation applied to diabolo. We will use the common understanding that when the diabolo is on the string, it behaves as if it’s on a controlled surface, similar to how a ball behaves when rolled on a table or bounced on the ground.

Asyncronich Notation

0 . Nothing inside of the string.

1 . The diabolo goes directly from one side of the string/hand to the other.

2 . Retention of the diabolo in the string, stick, or hand.

3 . The diabolo goes through the air from one side of the string/hand to the other and it spends in the air the time of three ones.

4. The diabolo is thrown to the same side of the string and it spends in the air the time of four ones.

5. The diabolo goes on the air from one hand to the other and it spends in the air the time of five ones.

6.  The diabolo is thrown to the same side.

etc…

Syncronich Notation

In the syncronic notation we throw and catch the diabolos simultaneously and we must write de siteswap in between brackets like that (left throw, rigth throw).  Also in the syncronic notation we do not use odd numbers. We put an x after the number to say that that throw crosses.

To explain this notation I will write only the throws of the left hand.

(2,0) . The diabolo stays in one side of the string.

(2x,0) . The diabolo goes from one hand to the other through the air.

(4,0) . The diabolo is thrown to the same side of the string and it spends in the air the time of four ones.

(4x,0). The diabolo goes from one side of the string to the other by the air.

etc..

Specific notation for the string

B —  Bounce the throw off the floor. The format is to put as many B’s as you want bounces, followed by the style of the bounce:

BL or L for lift bouncing

BF or F for force bouncing

BHL or HL  for hyperlift bouncing (for a description of hyperforce/hyperlift bouncing, see this discussion on rec.juggling)

BHF or HF for hyperforce bouncing

Usually we will use BF or F because when we recive the diabolo from the air, we force it to enter in the string but there are some patterns where it is useful only to use B, like in the 3 diabolos Low Cascade.

You can find more information about the specific notation here

Asinch String Notation for the string [ _F ]

1F . Diabolo goes from one side of the string to the other.

2F . Retention of the diabolo in the string.

3F .   The diabolo goes by the string from one hand to the other and it spends in the string the time of four ones.

4F .  Retention of the diabolo in the string and it spends in the string the time of four ones..

5F .  Retention of the diabolo in the string and it spends in the string the time of four ones..

etc…

Sinch String Notation for the string ( _F )

(2xF,0) . The diabolo goes from one hand to the other by the string (2 Diabolo Low Synch rythm, or the Diabolo that goes on the rope in High)

(2xF,0) . The diabolo goes from one hand to the other by the string (2 Diabolo Low Synch rythm, or the Diabolo that goes on the rope in High)

(4F,0). Diablo goes from one side of the string to the other by the string. ( 3 Diabolo Synch Low Rythm)

(4xF,0).  Diablo goes from one side of the string to the other by the string. ( 3 Diabolo Synch Low Rythm)

etc..

*** Folowing you can see some examples ***

*** All the examples are done with JugglingLAB ***

1 Diabolo

Basics

1 Diabolo Orbits → Siteswap = 3F00300
1D Orbits → Siteswap = 3F00300
1 diabolo |423| → Siteswap = 3F004000
1D |423| → Siteswap = 3F004000

Suns

1 Diabolo Slow Sun → Siteswap = 3T003F00
1D Slow Sun → Siteswap = 3T003F00
1 Diabolo Quick Sun → Siteswap = 1T1F
1D Quick Sun → Siteswap = 1T1F

*** We can mix Slow and Fast suns and do “3001F” or “13F00”, that is usefull with 2 or more diabolos. ***

2 Diabolos Asynch

Shuffles

2D Low Asynch SitesWap . 13F
31F
2D Low Asynch SitesWap . 31F
53F00
2D HIGH Asynch SitesWap . 53F00
7001F
2D HIGH Asynch SitesWap . 7001F

2D Asinch State Transitions [stairs]

2 Diabolos Transitions Asynch for the SitesWap
2D Transitions Asynch for the SitesWap
Download the Diabolo Transitions Cards

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