Rafael Moves

Continuing with the set of Messes. Mikes Mess is a simple move. Simply juggle siteswap 522, with a Mills Mess motion of the hands.
In other words, keep crossing and uncrossing the arms, and always throw the ball on the hand passing below the other arm, and catch the coming ball with that same hand (you should have a ball on each hand most of the time).

This week we have variations of the classic 2up-1up move. The idea inside all these variations is that two balls are thrown simultaneously, and another ball is thrown in the middle step.
The siteswap, in general, is (4,4)(4x,0)(4,4)(0,4x), but this is changed during the variations, sometimes not making a cross, or sometimes making a cross in the 2up balls (like in the last variation).
It all begins with the usual columns (remember the fake columns), transfering then to W, from which it transfers then to infinity and then to reversed infinity, before getting to M, and finishing with crossed throws.
The name of all these variations is given simply by the shape shown in the pattern; in all except the first and the last, this shape is just drawn by the 1up ball.

Following the path of last week’s move, this week we have Boston Mess.
Boston Mess is a minor variation of Mills Mess, in which the balls are juggled in columns, instead of crossing in front of the body, but the siteswap (3) of Mills Mess is mantained.
This move is not much more difficult than Mills Mess, but looks nice.
In the video, Boston Mess is presented, then a transition to Mills Mess, and then back again to Boston Mess.

As a compensation for disappearing last week and not posting any move, this week we have one that is a little more difficult than the ones presented up to now. Mills Mess.
The main idea is simple: just juggle siteswap 3, while crossing and uncrossing the arms.
Look carefully, there is one ball that always travels on middle-top, while the other two alternate between the sides and crossing being carried under the arm.

531 is a simple siteswap, and a nice way to change all the balls from hand. Throw high, in the middle and low. Remember to practice both directions.

The previous week we practiced the half cascade and the fake cascade. This week we follow to the real (or full) cascade.
It is the best know juggling move, but not the easiest. Its siteswap is 51. Remember to do it both sides.

This week we visit some simple variations that can be done while juggling the simple siteswap 3. Beginning with the basic pattern (cascade), change to reverse cascade, then half shower (on both sides), fake shower - also called windmill (both sides) and then a claw catch in a very bad-styled waterfall also on both sides.

Balance and flexibility are always a good tool for improving juggling (and other) skills. The better this capabilities are, the more you can concentrate in actually making a move, and not in forcing your body into a position.
For that reason, the last week of every month, I will visit an Asana targeted mainly toward balance, although flexibility might appear once in a while. This first month, the chosen asana is Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III), which is a balancing variation of the basic Warrior asana.

This week’s move is another siteswap. 441. Throw one ball from the hand having 2, up, for being catched again with the same hand, do the same with the other hand, and then transfer the last ball to the empty hand. Repeat.

When you can do this fluently, you can try to keep the shape drawn by the balls to be a box. The sight is really appealing.

Week three’s move: fake mess.
Juggle siteswap 423, but cross and uncross the arms continuously while doing that. This move looks complicated, but is in fact quite simple to do.