Revisiting Ed Hoponik's Fixed Axle Challenge

[Myk_Myk]

I missed this at the time. I’m not sure how far I would have gotten, especially with the time constraints, but I would have tried it for sure. I think it’s a great series of tricks, and a worthwhile challenge even without deadlines.

I thought it would be nice to compile them all on one thread, so that they are easier to access.

Thanks Ed!

Round 1:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE!!! ROUND 1 THREAD!

@ed

ed Haponik on Instagram: "Ok folks. First round of the @yoyoexpert #FixedAxleChallenge has officially begun! Go to the link in my bio for full rules. Basically it's a "monkey see, monkey do" shootout. Just film yourself hitting the trick I do on #fixedaxle and post the link in the Round 1 thread on the YYE forum. You've got 3 days to post it (ending at 12p on 4/27). Starting nice and easy for round 1: Trapeze Stall, Brother Stall, back to Trapeze (spinning) and then Flyaway Dismount. MUST hit it just like this and conform to the full rules to move on to round 2! Some GREAT prizes up for grabs so I hope you'll give it a shot!"

Starting nice and easy for round 1: Trapeze Stall, Brother Stall, back to Trapeze (spinning) and then Flyaway Dismount. MUST hit it just like this and conform to the full rules to move on to round 2!

Round 2:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE!!! ROUND 2!!!

@ed

ed Haponik on Instagram: "Alright! Round 2 of the @yoyoexpert #FixedAxleChallenge begins RIGHT NOW! Round 1 results are posted in the YYE forum thread. If you made it through, the difficulty gets a shot in the arm. Learn my Zipper Stalls trick in the #fixedaxle tutorial section on the site and then hit it just like this (3 clean reps) with a fixed axle yoyo. Post video links in the Round 2 thread by 2PM on 4/30 (Thursday)."

ZIPPER STALLS!!!
Learn it in the tutorial section if you don’t know it, and hit 3 CLEAN REPS of it (ending in a stall) JUST LIKE THIS to move on to Round 3. You DO NOT have to go this fast, but it does have to be clean. It should evoke the feeling of Mark McBride’s classic trick “the Zipper”. Have fun (or get horribly frustrated - either way) and KILL THIS TRICK!!!

Round 3:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE!!! ROUND 3!!!!!!!(!!!)

@ed

ed Haponik on Instagram: "ROUND 3!!! FIGHT!!! Still on what I consider the "fundamentals" for this round of the @yoyoexpert #FixedAxleChallenge. So far I'm picking tricks that represent the quintessence of modern #fixedaxle, but I promise we will get weird if you hang with me. For this round though, 3 reps of Shoot the Moon, ending in Trapeze Stall off Forward Pass and ending with a Makin' da Zines regen (yoyo must respond on the freehand side of your body). IF you are through to the 3rd Round, you've got 3 days (ending at 4pm EST on Sunday) to post your vid on the yoyoexpert.com forum. Go break some windows!!!"

3 reps of Shoot the Moon, DIRECTLY into a Trapeze Stall (on the 4th Forward Pass), with a Makin da Zines regen out.

Round 4:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE!!! ROUND 4..... (!)

@ed

ed Haponik on Instagram: "Round 4!!! Ok so if you survived the moons, you deserve a challenge, right? You proved you're up to it, right?? And everybody loves a Kickflip-Suicide combo!!! Kickflip to Lunar, then Stall-Suicide back to Trapeze-Stall, and finish with a double Kickflip. (First catch is on the thumb, next two on index - no string-grabbing!) All vids need to be posted in the @yoyoexpert #FixedAxleChallenge Round 4 thread by 6p EST on Wed, 5/6."

Kickflip to Lunar, then Stall-Suicide (no flip) back to Trapeze Stall, and finish with a [b]Double-Kickflip. First catch on the thumb, next two on the index - NO string-grabbing ;).

Round 5:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: rrrrooouuuunnnndddd fffiiiivvvveee

@ed

ed Haponik on Instagram: "Round 5, still alive! The @yoyoexpert #FixedAxleChallenge rolls on, and if you've made it this far, you are either a bona-fide fixed axle stud or you have worked your butt off... probably both. It occurs to me that sometimes I make a big deal about "modern #fixedaxle" as though it's distinct from or better than the play of years gone by. Here's a trick that proves otherwise: 2 somersaults of Split the Atom (with this Taffy-Puller entry), then an Inside-Loop out and Punch-Regen the other way, through the legs and into your freehand-side pocket (Bank Deposit). Take it out and Snap-Start it to show you're ready for Round 6. (You guys can Snap-Start, right?) Note that the yoyo MUST completely disappear within your pocket. No touching your pocket, no putting stuff in it to keep it open, no jostling or intentionally obscuring it. Dale Myrberg can hit this every time (although I learned it this way from Larry Sayco). Old school is the true school. Put on your big-boy pants and get to work. Vids due in the Round 5 YYE thread by 7p EST on Saturday 5/9."

Throw 2 somersaults of Split the Atom (using the same Taffy-Puller entry shown), perform an inside loop out, then punch-regen the other way, between the legs, and straight into your freehand-side pocket. Take it out and Snap-Start it to show you’re ready for Round 6! … You guys can Snap-Start, right? 

A few quick notes:
a. No touching your pocket or stuffing it with something to make it more open. You’ll notice I turn mine out to show it’s empty when I take out the yo-yo. This trick is ALL about precision and accuracy.
b. The yo-yo must disappear within your pocket completely (and without you doing anything to obscure it or jostle it). Until you start taking it out, it should be entirely enclosed within your pocket.
c. You must do a proper Split the Atom (just like Andre’s version on this site) with both index fingers inside the loop on the somersaults, as opposed to outside like Braintwister. Might seem obvious, but I’ve seen a ton of players do that.
d. SNAP-START IS NO LONGER NECESSARY. TRICK ENDS WITH BANK DEPOSIT… however a snap-start trick WILL be coming up in future rounds.

Round 6:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: Round VI

@ed

ed Haponik on Instagram: "If you guys want to keep living in my world, y'know it's cool. But you gotta pay rent... 😉 Round 6: Spirit Bomb. Starting with a Cheese Whip wrist-mount and ending with a clean Outside Loop. Vids due in the @yoyoexpert #FixedAxleChallenge Rd 6 thread by Tuesday 5/12 at 8p EST."

Spirit Bomb. Starting with a Cheese Whip wrist-mount and ending with a clean Outside Loop.
Vids due Tuesday 5/12 by 8pm EST.

Round 7:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: Round the Seventh.

@ed

ed Haponik on Instagram: "Alright fixed-axle paladins… Round 7 of the @yoyoexpert #FixedAxleChallenge commenceth now. You guys have hit some burly stuff to get here. We press on though, and if you’re new to Snap-Starts or Backhand Balances, this one might have you talking to yourself. Snap-Start (and ONLY Snap-Start) into a cross-armed 1.5 Stall (like Kwyjibo), Kickflip to the same mount, then Kickflip AGAIN to Trapeze Stall. Regen in a reverse-Breakway to a Backhand Balance. After you’ve shown control of the yo-yo in the balance, bring it back to the hand. Show your yo-yo, and post your vids in the YYE thread by 9p on 5/15, and prepare your soul (along with your Last Will & Testament) for Round 8. #gopro #fixedcircle #trickcircle"

Snap-Start (and ONLY Snap-Start) into a cross-armed 1.5 Stall (like Kwyjibo), Kickflip to the same mount, then Kickflip AGAIN to Trapeze Stall. Then regen in a reverse-Breakway to a Backhand Balance. After you’ve shown control of the yo-yo in the balance, bring it back to the hand. Show your yo, post your vid here, and prepare your soul (along with your Last Will & Testament) for Round 8.

Round 8:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: Round 8

@ed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f46CdwDeK54

Double-Sidewinder (throwhand-freehand) to Backhand-Balance (showing control), then Undermount Stall before Kickflipping to Trapeze Stall. Regenerate into UFO and recapture in another Trapeze Stall before bringing it back to the hand with a Makin da Zine.

Round 9:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: The 9th Level of Fixed

@ed

SUPERFLOW.
ed Haponik on Instagram: "The @yoyoexpert #FixedAxleChallenge final four are too quick and too good!!! So we've got to accelerate things a bit. Enter Round 9: SUPER-FLOW, Alex Lozyniak's mid-school classic. If you don't know it, learn it. And give me 3 reps (with flyaway dismount) by Tuesday 5/19 at 9pm."

This Alex Lozyniak trick is a true mid-school classic from the era when ball-bearings were really cementing their dominance over fixed axles with regard to mainstream play and progression. I have always found this trick to be beautiful in its simplicity. It is the quintessential “smooth repeater” and its length and string geometry present a fun challenge for fixed axle. If you don’t already know it, learn it and give me 3 reps with a flyaway dismount. Oh, and do me a favor and don’t make it look all gross and staccato. It’s called Superflow.

Round 10:

FiXED AXLE CHALLENGE: The Tenth Circle

@ed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdobYVGYnFU

Snap-start to Trapeze Stall, perform a backside 360 Varial (by pulling the string toward your body), immediately throw a Kickflip, then regenerate and Shoot the Moon into a Mars Landing before hopping the yo-yo up and into a Lunar Landing. Regen back to the hand…

Round 11:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: The Round of Eleven

@ed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n_ahUyJe9M

Throw Trapeze and pull up into a Stop-n-Go. Perform a Stop-n-Pop into a Brother Stall. Kickflip into another Brother Stall, then Kickflip again into reverse Trapeze Stall (throw-hand underneath). Regen into a Lunar Trapeze Stall before regenerating again into a Shoot the Moon on the throw-hand side.

Round 12:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: XII

@ed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADZw0I5A120

GT Wrist-Whip (NOT Brent Stole), hop out to Trapeze. Somersault into a Suicide. Eli Hop into Trapeze Stall, Kickflip out, back to the hand.

Round 13:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: Lucky 13

@ed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA0zJDSZhME

Snap-Start to Archery Flip, Windshield Wiper regen to outside loop out.

Please do show it clearly so we can see all the loops on the correct digits. No wiggling allowed looking for loops. Hit it clean.

Round 14:

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: XIVth Round!

[quote=“ed,post:1,topic:74784”]
WINNER!

FIXED AXLE CHALLENGE: The End. (Behold the Face of YoYo Triumph.)

Bonus 1:

YoyoExpert Fixed Axle Challenge: The Kickflip Suicide Shootout!!!!!!

Bonus 2:

Fixed Axle Flappy-Yo Challenge

This takes more effort than I realized! Work in progress…

[Myk_Myk]

Post a video(s) in this thread of yourself performing one or more of these, and I’ll add you to the wall!

Someone:
Did it all, and won!

[yoyoboy224 (major_seventh)]

It was so fun. Haven’t picked up a fixed in awhile; I really should.

[Myk_Myk]

Yes you should! We’ve seen you imitate, now show how you innovate! …I’m sure you have, but do it more… please. ;D

[Myk_Myk]

Okay, so I don’t think I would have made it through the 2nd round! :-\

I got the 1st round easily within the time frame, but I think that’s only because I was already working on Trapeze and Brother Stalls. I just can finally do the Zipper stall repeater. I don’t think I would have made it in time, although it is possible the deadline would have motivated me to accomplish it.

Just shows the amazing natural talents, as well as the tenaciousness of Logi and Someone. I got the impression they were both new to this style of tricks? Mind boggling. I haven’t gone through the entire challenge, but I’m sure that’s also true of some of the other contestants.

Hard for me not to develop an inferiority complex, but I have to remind myself I’m not a competitor, and I yoyo for fun.

[Myk_Myk]

I started to feel a bit better, because I hit round 3 after just a few tries!

Then I looked at round 4… :o

I will get around to posting some video proof of the ones I can do.