Almost Friday everyone!!
Excited to have with us today Jerrod Chitwood!!!
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
I played with yoyos when I was a kid, but I didn’t know it was more than the basic responsive tricks until years later when I found a yoyo with a bearing in a toy store, bought it, and looked up tricks online.
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not?
Finish my tutorial series
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
Duncan Butterfly
What trick are you working on currently?
I’ve been playing around with Engineer’s Wind Up and string grind/slide/rolls, trying to find new or out of the box ways to move the yoyo around on the string and see where it takes me. I’m also working on T-Bird, Arm Slide, and Fingerboard stuff.
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
Buddha’s Return. It doesn’t look like it’s one of my harder tricks, but the Mystic Dump in that trick is tough, especially hitting it in rhythm three times for a repeater.
What’s your favorite trick?
Mystic/Mystic Dump. I think there’s still lot of unexplored potential there.
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
Duncan Butterfly
What’s the most meaningful throw you have??
A butterfly with the starburst work down from play.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
Continuing to use string that is way past its prime.
What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
Spending time with my family.
What song best fits your personality?
Probably something by The Aquabats.
Favorite restaurant and order?
An Italian restaurant called Tony’s in Chattanooga Tennessee, chicken parm, and then a short walk to the coffee shop next door for a cappuccino.
Favorite movie?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?
Depending on the moment, it can be self expression, a challenge, play, or meditation.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby ?
There’s so many. The best ones involve connecting with others.
**What’s your best advice for people to get better at yo-yoing? **
The best yoyoer is the one having the most fun. But if you put in the time and effort in the areas you want progress, the skills will come. Follow the fun, follow your desires, and carve your own path.
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
In a lot of ways it’s the same, which is awesome. 0A has blossomed and grown. I would love to see it continue to grow.
If you never picked up a yo-yo - what would things look like now?
I’d like to think I would have found another skill toy, like kendama. I used to skateboard and I was looking for a similar hobby when I found yoyo. They’re similar forms of artistic expression earned through perseverance and will.
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?
There’s been times when I felt like something was impossible, but I just kept trying and found out it wasn’t. Also, putting in the effort to learn proper technique pays off down the road more often than not.
What do you want to tell the world?
Be kind.