History of Devil Stick or Flower Stick

STEP 5. STAND UP AND BE PROUD
You've probably learned that
when you bring the devil stick off the
ground, you tend to stand up. This is
the correct thing to do. Once you are
standing straight up, you are devil
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CONGRATULATIONS
You've just learned the basic
control of the devil stick. There are
many tricks, throws and handling
techniques possible with the devil
stick. However, you must always
know the basics of the devil sticks
before you attempt
any tricks.
Sometimes, many tricks are learned
by simply making mistakes as you
practice.
So practice,
practice,
practice.
History of Devil Stick
or
Flower Stick
The knowledge and materials for
making devil sticks have been
around for thousands
of years.
However, we can only trace the devil
stick back a few hundred years to a
kind of folk dance that developed in
China. It was during this folk dance
that devil sticks or flower sticks were
used as props.
The original devil sticks were
made from bamboo and like today,
the devil stick consisted of two
smaller hand-sticks and the larger
"devil stick" was wrapped with cloth.
On the ends was a sort of pom-pom
or cut cloth. Many of the maneuvers
performed during the folk dance were
done to simply make the pom-poms
or tassels spin and look like flowers
opening
up. Hence, devil stick
maneuvers were more a rolling
motion as opposed to today's back
and forth movements.
Throughout the years devil stick
performances
improved,
became
more involved and became a solo act
very similar to what we see on the
streets today.
ENJOYl
STEP 1. START ON THE GROUND
To get a good feel for the devil
stick, we recommend you start with
the devil stick on the ground. With
one knee on the ground, assume the
position as in Figure A.
Figure A
Point the tips of your hand-sticks
slightly inwards. This will help keep
the devil stick from falling away from
you. Make sure your handstick is at
the "contact point". You will always
"catch and throw" the devil stick from
this point.
STEP 2. GET IT GOING
Now push the devil stick to your
other hand-stick. Let the devil stick
"fall" on to your other hand-stick.
Again, you are at the starting position
as in Figure A, but the devil stick is
now leaning on your other handstick. TIP - Always let the devil stick
fall to a 45 degree angle.
STEP 3. BACK AND FORTH
Basically, in step 2, you have
learned how the devil stick will act.
Now it's time for a little practice. Push
the devil stick back to your other
hand-stick. Again, always let the devil
stick fall to about 45 degrees. Do this
back and forth, back and forth. Now
you are getting it! Feel the devil stick
going back and forth. This motion is
NOT hitting the devil stick back and
forth. It's more like you are gently
throwing and catching the devil stick
back and forth. Keep practicing this
step until you are ready to bring the
devil stick into the air! TIP - ALWAYS
catch and throw from the contact
point!
STEP 4. INTO THE AIR!
Now that you feel comfortable
with the feel of the devil stick, start
the devil stick on the ground going
back and forth. When you feel brave,
give the devil stick a little extra push ."
to lift the devil stick off the ground.
TIP - DON'T PANIC. Don't start
"hitting" the devil stick back and forth.
It's the very same as when the devil
stick was on the ground. Let the devil
stick fall to your hand-sticks, back
and forth, catching and throwing. Just
like you did on the ground!