Learning How to Juggle

Learning how to juggle is something that is more useful than it might seem to a lot of people. Sure, you're probably not going to earn money from juggling (although you might). But juggling is something that you can do to entertain yourself and others in almost any situation. If you can learn to juggle well, you can pick up any items that are available and juggle them. You'll get the attention of children, senior citizens and passersby. It can be a way for an introverted person to break the ice in certain social situations. And it can be a way to pass the time when you're by yourself. Learning how to juggle is something worth investing a little time in.

But that's the first thing that you should know about learning how to juggle: it's going to take some time. Most people aren't naturally good at juggling to it's not going to come easily to you when you first get started (although you might be lucky and find that it does). Learning how to juggle really is an exercise in the old adage that "practice makes perfect".

The best way to start learning how to juggle is to approach it with the "one, two, three method". This means that you'll learn the basic act of juggling with just one ball. Then you'll add another and learn to juggle two balls. Finally you'll add the third ball and then you'll really be juggling. Of course, you can add additional juggling balls on after that if you're so inclined but this "one, two, three method" will teach you what you need to know about basic juggling.

Here's how to do it:

o Buy some juggling balls. Yes, you can juggle anything. But there's a reason that they make juggling balls the size, shape and weight that they do. Invest in some to make learning to juggle easier. They're not very expensive and it's worth the cost.

o Practice juggling one ball. This may seem kind of boring but it will teach your body the art of juggling. By ingraining the action into your body, you'll make juggling come more naturally. Place your hands in front of you at waist level. Put the ball in your right hand. Toss it in an arc to your left hand. It should be a smooth motion that doesn't require you to watch your hands or reach for the ball. Now toss it in an arc back to your right hand. Don't pass it off; toss it in the arc motion. Practice until you can do it with your eyes closed - literally.

o Practice juggling two balls. Once you've mastered the art of tossing the ball in a smooth arc, you can add a second ball. This is a little more complex but follows the same basic motion. Hold one ball in each hand. Start off by tossing the ball from the left hand towards the right hand. When it is in mid-air, release the ball that is in your right hand in the same arc-like motion to your left hand. Your right hand will now be open and ready to catch the first ball that you tossed. Catch the ball in your right hand and then the one in your left hand. Start over. Practice until you can do it with your eyes closed - literally.

o Get ready to juggle three balls. If you can juggle one ball and you can juggle two balls, you can juggle. You just need to add that third ball. You'll put the extra ball in your left hand so you have two in your left and one in your right. Toss one of the balls in your left hand into an arc. When it's in mid-air, release the ball that's in your right hand into an arc. (This should be familiar, it's the two-ball juggling.) Before catching the second ball that you tossed, you'll toss the third ball that is still in your left hand. Congratulations, you're juggling!