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Definitions

Styles

Yo-yoing has been around for 1000s of years however it is only in the past 80 or so years that tricks have really started to be invented and discovered.

In the last 10 years more tricks have been invented that in the previous 50 combined, every year more new tricks are invented so there is always something new to learn, to simply sum up, you can never know it all!

Even more recently new 'styles' of yo-yoing have come about.

These are categorised into the following titles:

1A, SingleA or just A (all mean the same thing).
This is a more traditional style of yo-yoing. It involves having one yoyo tied to a finger. 'Looping' tricks with one yoyo is technically still SingleA style however most people think of 'string' tricks when they think of single A.

2A, DoubleA or just AA (all mean the same thing).
This is similar to A however two yoyos are used, one on each had and only 'looping' based tricks are really classed as AA tricks. However more and more complex AA 'wraps' look like AAA style tricks.

3A, TripleA or just AAA (all mean the same thing).
This is a mix between A and AA. Two yoyos, one on each had, just like AA but 'string' trick based tricks unlike AA which is 'looping' based.

OffString, OS, 4A or AAAA (all mean the same thing but Off String or OS are most commonly used). The yoyo is not tied to the end of the string in this style. Solo Ham is Off String but with two yoyos unattached.

FreeHand, CounterWeight, FH, CW 5A or AAAAA (all mean the same thing).
The yoyo is tided to a weight, traditionally a dice, instead of a hand. This style has been attributed to Steve Brown, US national master who infact owns a US patent on the term FreeHand.

There are many other different styles of yo-yoing (such as FHOS (9A), Mobious and Hydra style to name but a few) however the above list is that of the most recognised and developed styles at this moment in time. All 5 have their own division at The World Yo-Yo Contest and have their own very distinctive tricks.

For two person tricks the letter B has been used, for instance 1B would be one yoyo tied to one hand of the pair and 3 other hands unattached. This system can be taken and developed much futher and could possibly introduce totaly new styles of play.

 

Each style of play has its own tricks and feel and helps keep yoyoing varied and fun.

A common question is why all the 'A's and the answer is, I don't know. If you do please get in contact and the reason will be published to let everyone know!