I played with Imperials and Butterflies when I was a kid. I had a few throws during the boom, my favorite was a gold Firestorm(just cause I thought it looked cool). Learned all the tricks that everyone was doing in a little book and thought that was it. I played longer than the other kids but eventually moved on to something else. Skateboarding was my main hobby for years. I injured my knee and decided to give it up and was looking for something else. I found a Bumblebee in a toy store. First time seeing a yoyo with a bearing so I bought it. Went home and searched YouTube for yoyo tricks. Mind was blown, found my new hobby. Ordered an unresponsive throw and played 1A for 15 years.
I always admired what Ed Haponik did with responsive play, watched every video he dropped, read his blog, and always listed him in my top 5 favorite players even though I didn’t play responsive. I just thought he was a cool dude and admired what he did. I tried out other styles over the years but never spent much time with them. My main focus was learning more 1A so all my play time was happily devoted to it.
Two years ago I became bored with 1A and decided to dive into 0A and found a passion for yoyo again. I found myself making up my own tricks, something I wasn’t confident about in 1A and despite all the years playing 1A, I never thought I was that good or that I would go anywhere with it, and I was content just learning other people’s tricks anyway. I discovered there’s a lot of room in 0A for new tricks, something I “know” is also true for 1A but I just never really felt that way or that it was worthwhile for me. I’ve really been enjoying playing 0A and trying to come up with new tricks. I “feel” like I kind of have my own “style”, but at the same time I feel like I’m carrying a torch I lit with the fire from Drew Tetz’s torch, because most of my tricks involve Mystics or Drew inspired elements. Like, most of my tricks are really “Drew’s Tricks” and they just found me cause I was following his footsteps while he’s extremely busy living his dream with his awesome career. I feel like there’s so much unexplored potential with Mystics. It’s hard to play much 0A without some essence of Ed or Drew weaved in somewhere.
Anyway, it’s just been a really cool journey and I’m really happy to be playing 0A and have the opportunity to share tricks with everyone and help inspire others to play and grow 0A. I feel like I found “my place” in yoyo, and after all these years I feel like I’m actually able to offer something of value to yoyo and the community, an activity that has given me so much over the years and a space that has held a special place in my heart. Maybe a trick I’ve shared will be enjoyed by someone, maybe even after I’m gone. My tricks are your tricks, all tricks are our tricks. Maybe sharing a trick will inspire someone to go throw, to try something new, to take the trick in a different direction, inspire something all together new, or just to throw. I wish more people would play 0A and share it because I would love to see more 0A content, and I’m happy to contribute to that because I feel others that enjoy it feel that way too. I’m really thankful for all the kind words and inspiration from everyone who’s liked my content or said anything about it. It means a lot.
I play Duncan Butterflies because it’s nostalgic to me, they play well enough, and while other throws are cool, the Butterfly is super affordable and accessible, and I like representing that anyone with $5 can go to a local store and grab one and do any of this stuff. So if you’re reading this and you haven’t tried 0A, give it a try, it only costs $5, and there may be a whole new world of possibilities and fun waiting for you.
