Notation of the figures of juggling around the body

The notation of the figures around the body ( bodytricks theory in English) is used in Jonglerie for to note the throws and receptions bringing into play various zones and plans of the body. It was introduced by Denis Paumier in 2001. By combining a small number of Syllable S elementary, it thus makes it possible to compose a simple word describing a complex throw.

Principles of the notation

By preoccupation with an economy in the concept, the theory of the figures around the body considers the juggler according to two dimensions, to delimit 3 fundamental zones noted by a syllable:

ac ( has rm- C rane) for space between the arm and the head;
Al ( has rm- L eg) for space between the arm and the leg;
bowl ( bo HT L egs) for space enters the legs.

To differentiate the sides, one rajoutte an operator:

COp ( COp posite) when one speaks about the zone on the side opposed to the hand which launches.

Thus to note a throw, one simply notes in the order all the zones crossed by the ball. Simple means are to represent the juggler like a drawing on a sheet of paper, it is then enough to note all the holes which one must make to simulate to launch it.

Examples

a throw crossed behind the back (backcross) will be noted alopac : the ball leaves by space between the arm which launches and the leg ( Al ), passes behind the back then crosses space between the head and the opposite arm ( opac ).
a throw behind the head will be noted acopac .
a throw uncrossed over the shoulder of the back forwards (shoulder throw) will be noted alac .

Relationship with the other notations

The notation of the figures around the body specifies the type of the throws and is thus compatible with all the notations describing the succession of the throws, the Siteswap being most commonly used. One can thus write 441 , 441 , 441 , 531 … It can also accompany by the notations describing of other aspects of the trajectories as the EBN which distinguishes the various trajectories used in juggling with rebound, as follows: 6s33 , 5b5b2q …

Except for ms, limited to the crossings of arm and the figures of the type Millets Mess , there does not exist at present of another fixed terminology to describe the throws around the body. Most of the time one uses the English terminology, itself floating and not-systematic. Without being incompatible with ms (one can thus write the Mills Mess 333 by adding out for the external throws), the notation of the figures around the body is less effective in the specific field of the crossings of arm since it does not distinguish between throws interior and external and that it does not make it possible to build diagrams of transition between the various states from crossing.

Limits of the notation

In its effort of simplification, the notation of the figures around the body excludes certain aspects:

It gives an account only of the figures where an object crosses the zones formed between the various parts of the body and is thus inapplicable with those where in fact the body crosses the object. It does not allow, for example to note many figures around the body specific to the rings.
It does not specify the direction of the passage through the zones. It does not allow, for example, to make the difference between a throw initiated behind the back and returning in front of and its opposite initiated since before and caught up with behind the back.
It does not make the difference between a ball carried and a launched ball, the zones being able to be crossed as well by the hand which carries the ball as by the ball alone.
It does not define the position of the body at the time launching it. A simple throw under the leg with the raised leg will be thus noted albol , in the same manner as a '' Albert '' or a '' trebla '' which oblige to keep the two feet on the ground.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

original Article of Denis Paumier on the group rec.juggling
of demonstration by Sylvain Garnavault showing at the same time the force and the limits of the notation.

Random links: