2014-07-16

【Aiden in English】

        I used to think that Yo-Yo didn't need skill until today I learned it @ Guang Hua Chinese Summer Camp. Boy, it is so wrong. The Chinese Yo-Yo is probably even harder than any Yo-Yo you've ever experienced.

        First off, the Chinese Yo-Yo has two discs connected with a smooth thick bar in the center. The idea is to spin the Yo-Yo by pulling a rope hooked up with two sticks used for the handle. This comes to the easy part. The not-so-easy part is when you try to do tricks by throwing the Yo-Yo up and catching it. Our Yo-Yo instructor, Eric did something I've never seen before. He threw the Yo-Yo up in the air, made a shape with the string, and caught it while it's still spinning. He looked like a magician, except with no trickery.

        The Chinese Yo-Yo has so many more features than the one of the US. It performs tricks or uses it like a jump rope. There are so many more to do and explore. It seems hard, but worth giving it a try. You never know what the Yo-Yo happens if you don't try.

【紅霞譯文】

        我一向以為抖空竹沒什麼了不得的，直到今天在賓州光華中文學校夏令營實打實學習玩的技巧，天哪，我這才發現其實並非簡單。比起其它悠悠球的玩法，中國式的大概難度更大。

        首先，中國的空竹兩頭帶有兩個圓形轉盤，中間靠一根光滑結實的棍子將它們串在一起，雙手通過牽拉套在上面的繩子帶動圓盤轉動，當然這僅僅是玩耍的基本要領。其次，上拋空竹並在空中接空竹，需要相當的個人技巧。夏令營里埃里克教練的示範叫我大開眼界，他先將空竹扔向空中，然後再表演花樣繩操，等快速旋轉的空竹優哉游哉下落時，才動用手中那根扭動的繩子。他如同魔術師一般，只不過耶桁玩的不是掛羊頭賣狗肉的把戲。

        中式抖空竹比美式悠悠球有更多玩法，它可以變戲法或用來跳繩，還有其它用途有待你去體驗發掘。雖說看上去複雜，但值得親自上手一試，否則你確實無法了解抖空竹的秘笈所在。