Chops (juggling)
Encyclopedia
Chops is a 3-ball juggling
pattern based on the cascade
but involving a semicircular carry performed with either one or both hands (Single Chops/Double Chops). Chops can be performed continuously, by one or both hands, or in single instances.
The distinctive carry occurs at the moment of catch; rather than returning the ball into the cascade pattern the juggler carries the ball in his/her hand in a downward-pointing semicircle over the ball just thrown by the other hand, in the case of Single Chops, or over the other hand, in the case of Double Chops. At the end of the semicircular movement the carried ball is tossed virtually straight up to be caught by the nearby other hand. The hand used to carry then quickly returns to its original position to catch the ball that was thrown by the other hand and in mid-air throughout this whole process.
This pattern is of medium difficulty since very fast and controlled arm movements are necessary. Though with practice, the pattern can actually be performed in a slow-looking motion: the produced feeling is somehow casual and relaxed as opposed to a sportive interpretation.
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
pattern based on the cascade
Cascade (juggling)
In juggling, a cascade is the simplest pattern achievable with an odd number of props. The simplest cascade is the three-ball cascade. This is therefore the first pattern that most jugglers learn.-Three-ball cascade:...
but involving a semicircular carry performed with either one or both hands (Single Chops/Double Chops). Chops can be performed continuously, by one or both hands, or in single instances.
The distinctive carry occurs at the moment of catch; rather than returning the ball into the cascade pattern the juggler carries the ball in his/her hand in a downward-pointing semicircle over the ball just thrown by the other hand, in the case of Single Chops, or over the other hand, in the case of Double Chops. At the end of the semicircular movement the carried ball is tossed virtually straight up to be caught by the nearby other hand. The hand used to carry then quickly returns to its original position to catch the ball that was thrown by the other hand and in mid-air throughout this whole process.
This pattern is of medium difficulty since very fast and controlled arm movements are necessary. Though with practice, the pattern can actually be performed in a slow-looking motion: the produced feeling is somehow casual and relaxed as opposed to a sportive interpretation.