The art of Japanese Pen Spinning Pen spinning is a form of object manipulation that involves the deft manipulation of a writing instrument with one's hands. Although it is often considered a form of self-entertainment (usually in a school/office setting), multinational competitions and meetings are sometimes held. It is a form of contact juggling. It can also be classified as a sport. Pen spinning is known as "pen mawashi" (compare for example Mawashi geri, "round-kick") or, more disparagingly, "rōnin mawashi" "college student spinning" in Japan where the pastime has been popular since at least the 1970s, and where the Pen Spinning Association Japan is now dedicated to promoting the aspiring art form. While its origins remain unclear, pen-spinning is quickly gaining international popularity through on-line video sharing and forums. According to Masaki Tsukada, chairman of the Japanese pen spinners, pen spinning now has dedicated movements in South Korea and the United States
For convenience pen spinners have adopted a common numbering of fingers and the spaces between them ("Finger Slots"). The fingers are numbered sequentially from "1" the index finger, to "4" pinky. The thumb is the letter "T". Finger slots are represented by combining any two of these. For instance the space between the middle and ring fingers is "23". A pen held between index and pinky is in slot "14". (Sometimes the space between the thumb and index fingers is called "TF" (thumbflap).)
Fundamental tricks
The four basic penspinning tricks are:
ThumbAround
The "ThumbAround" (previously known as "360 Degrees Normal") is performed by pushing a pen by one's middle finger (the index finger is also used to make it look smoother in combos) so to initiate the pen to spin around one's thumb a single time, then catching it in between the thumb and index finger. There are many variations, but one used most often for combinations uses just momentum and only a rotation around the thumb with a jerk of the hand or a push with the middle finger. To do this the 1st finger is put on the eraser, the 3rd finger near the middle, and the thumb in between. Pressure is then added on the pencil/pen with the thumb.This is most easily done with pens and pencils with a center of mass nearer to the writing tip, such as mechanical pencils and cheap disposable pens.
FingerPass
The "Pass" involves spinning the pen through the fingers. A combination of Passes are called FingerPasses. The FingerPass was used in the James Bond film GoldenEye by Boris Grishenko, in a variation using only three fingers instead of the usual four.
Sonic
The idea behind the Sonic is to move the pen from one finger position to another finger position in as little time as possible. In this trick, the pen is normally held between the middle and ring fingers (but could be performed with other fingers using mapping) and is moved so that it ends up between the middle and index. The move is done by revolving the pen in a conic-like motion behind a finger (or fingers). As this trick can be executed in a very short amount of time, its name means a supersonic movement.
Charge
The Charge does not involve spinning the pen around any fingers or any body parts, rather, the pen is manipulated in such a way with two fingers, that it seems to spin in a very fast motion, in a conic-shaped path. Its conic path and its speed thus create an illusion of the charging motion of the pen. This trick is often performed by drummers using drumsticks rather than pens. It looks like the pen is spinning in the two fingers.Right-handed people performing this trick would mean that the pen is revolving clockwise. If it is going the opposite direction, it is called Charge Reverse.
Advanced Tricks
In addition to the 4 fundamental tricks, more have been invented and used successfully in combos by numerous people
Infinity
The pen should begin by being held in the writing position, near the tip of a pen. A wiper reverse is performed, where the pen pivots from the top of the thumb and index finger to the bottom of the thumb and index finger. A pass to the index/middle fingers is then performed. The pen pivots from the top of these fingers to the bottom. The pen is then swung back up to the writing position. When the pen is not passed to a different finger slot, the trick is called "Figure 8". When more passes are involved, the trick may be called other names such as "Double Infinity".
Shadow
This is a trick where the palm is facing down. The pen starts at any finger slot (usually 12) and does 0.5 rotations in the charge position before traveling up to the top of the hand. The pen should revolve 0.5 times on top of your fingers. As it nears the end of the 0.5 revolutions on top, slowly lift any of your fingers to catch the pen (usually the index finger to catch it in the 12 slot). At the end, a final 0.5 revolutions of charge should end the trick.
Inverse Shadow
If the Shadow is performed with the palm of the hand facing up, the trick is called the Inverse Shadow and is much more difficult to master than the Shadow.
ThumbSpin
The ThumbSpin is a variation of the ThumbAround, except it spins more than one revolution and spins on top of the thumb. The starting and ending positions are the same as the ThumbAround and the spinner can make the pen spin as many revolutions as they would like.
Korean BackAround
The Korean BackAround, or simply "Bak", is a popular trick where the pen goes around any of the four fingers that are not the thumb. It is basically a Fingerless FingerAround Reverse, except follows a diagonal motion when spinning. A Bak that goes around the index finger would be called the Index Bak. A popular mini combo executed by pen spinners is called the BakFall (Korean BackAround Fall), where the spinner executes four Baks, connected by Passes, starting from the index finger and making their way down to the pinky.
Hai Tua
The Hai Tua is a trick that involves the pen spinning around the hand. The breakdown of the Hai Tua is a twisted sonic bust to a HandAround to a Fingerless ThumbAround Catch. The trick begins with the twisted sonic bust, but instead of catching the pen, the spinner turns their palm down so that the pen continues to spin, gliding over the back side of the hand. The pen moves to the end of the hand and is released into the air for a very short amount of time. The spinner then turns their palm back up to catch the pen as they would with a Fingerless ThumbAround. The Hai Tua makes 2.5 revolutions.
The art of Japanese Pen Spinning Pen spinning is a form of object manipulation that involves the deft manipulation of a writing instrument with one's hands. Although it is often considered a form of self-entertainment (usually in a school/office setting), multinational competitions and meetings are sometimes held. It is a form of contact juggling. It can also be classified as a sport. Pen spinning is known as "pen mawashi" (compare for example Mawashi geri, "round-kick") or, more disparagingly, "rōnin mawashi" "college student spinning" in Japan where the pastime has been popular since at least the 1970s, and where the Pen Spinning Association Japan is now dedicated to promoting the aspiring art form. While its origins remain unclear, pen-spinning is quickly gaining international popularity through on-line video sharing and forums. According to Masaki Tsukada, chairman of the Japanese pen spinners, pen spinning now has dedicated movements in South Korea and the United States
For convenience pen spinners have adopted a common numbering of fingers and the spaces between them ("Finger Slots"). The fingers are numbered sequentially from "1" the index finger, to "4" pinky. The thumb is the letter "T". Finger slots are represented by combining any two of these. For instance the space between the middle and ring fingers is "23". A pen held between index and pinky is in slot "14". (Sometimes the space between the thumb and index fingers is called "TF" (thumbflap).)
Fundamental tricks
The four basic penspinning tricks are:
ThumbAround
The "ThumbAround" (previously known as "360 Degrees Normal") is performed by pushing a pen by one's middle finger (the index finger is also used to make it look smoother in combos) so to initiate the pen to spin around one's thumb a single time, then catching it in between the thumb and index finger. There are many variations, but one used most often for combinations uses just momentum and only a rotation around the thumb with a jerk of the hand or a push with the middle finger. To do this the 1st finger is put on the eraser, the 3rd finger near the middle, and the thumb in between. Pressure is then added on the pencil/pen with the thumb.This is most easily done with pens and pencils with a center of mass nearer to the writing tip, such as mechanical pencils and cheap disposable pens.
FingerPass
The "Pass" involves spinning the pen through the fingers. A combination of Passes are called FingerPasses. The FingerPass was used in the James Bond film GoldenEye by Boris Grishenko, in a variation using only three fingers instead of the usual four.
Sonic
The idea behind the Sonic is to move the pen from one finger position to another finger position in as little time as possible. In this trick, the pen is normally held between the middle and ring fingers (but could be performed with other fingers using mapping) and is moved so that it ends up between the middle and index. The move is done by revolving the pen in a conic-like motion behind a finger (or fingers). As this trick can be executed in a very short amount of time, its name means a supersonic movement.
Charge
The Charge does not involve spinning the pen around any fingers or any body parts, rather, the pen is manipulated in such a way with two fingers, that it seems to spin in a very fast motion, in a conic-shaped path. Its conic path and its speed thus create an illusion of the charging motion of the pen. This trick is often performed by drummers using drumsticks rather than pens. It looks like the pen is spinning in the two fingers.Right-handed people performing this trick would mean that the pen is revolving clockwise. If it is going the opposite direction, it is called Charge Reverse.
Advanced Tricks
In addition to the 4 fundamental tricks, more have been invented and used successfully in combos by numerous people
Infinity
The pen should begin by being held in the writing position, near the tip of a pen. A wiper reverse is performed, where the pen pivots from the top of the thumb and index finger to the bottom of the thumb and index finger. A pass to the index/middle fingers is then performed. The pen pivots from the top of these fingers to the bottom. The pen is then swung back up to the writing position. When the pen is not passed to a different finger slot, the trick is called "Figure 8". When more passes are involved, the trick may be called other names such as "Double Infinity".
Shadow
This is a trick where the palm is facing down. The pen starts at any finger slot (usually 12) and does 0.5 rotations in the charge position before traveling up to the top of the hand. The pen should revolve 0.5 times on top of your fingers. As it nears the end of the 0.5 revolutions on top, slowly lift any of your fingers to catch the pen (usually the index finger to catch it in the 12 slot). At the end, a final 0.5 revolutions of charge should end the trick.
Inverse Shadow
If the Shadow is performed with the palm of the hand facing up, the trick is called the Inverse Shadow and is much more difficult to master than the Shadow.
ThumbSpin
The ThumbSpin is a variation of the ThumbAround, except it spins more than one revolution and spins on top of the thumb. The starting and ending positions are the same as the ThumbAround and the spinner can make the pen spin as many revolutions as they would like.
Korean BackAround
The Korean BackAround, or simply "Bak", is a popular trick where the pen goes around any of the four fingers that are not the thumb. It is basically a Fingerless FingerAround Reverse, except follows a diagonal motion when spinning. A Bak that goes around the index finger would be called the Index Bak. A popular mini combo executed by pen spinners is called the BakFall (Korean BackAround Fall), where the spinner executes four Baks, connected by Passes, starting from the index finger and making their way down to the pinky.
Hai Tua
The Hai Tua is a trick that involves the pen spinning around the hand. The breakdown of the Hai Tua is a twisted sonic bust to a HandAround to a Fingerless ThumbAround Catch. The trick begins with the twisted sonic bust, but instead of catching the pen, the spinner turns their palm down so that the pen continues to spin, gliding over the back side of the hand. The pen moves to the end of the hand and is released into the air for a very short amount of time. The spinner then turns their palm back up to catch the pen as they would with a Fingerless ThumbAround. The Hai Tua makes 2.5 revolutions.
The art of Japanese Pen Spinning Pen spinning is a form of object manipulation that involves the deft manipulation of a writing instrument with one's hands. Although it is often considered a form of self-entertainment (usually in a school/office setting), multinational competitions and meetings are sometimes held. It is a form of contact juggling. It can also be classified as a sport. Pen spinning is known as "pen mawashi" (compare for example Mawashi geri, "round-kick") or, more disparagingly, "rōnin mawashi" "college student spinning" in Japan where the pastime has been popular since at least the 1970s, and where the Pen Spinning Association Japan is now dedicated to promoting the aspiring art form. While its origins remain unclear, pen-spinning is quickly gaining international popularity through on-line video sharing and forums. According to Masaki Tsukada, chairman of the Japanese pen spinners, pen spinning now has dedicated movements in South Korea and the United States
For convenience pen spinners have adopted a common numbering of fingers and the spaces between them ("Finger Slots"). The fingers are numbered sequentially from "1" the index finger, to "4" pinky. The thumb is the letter "T". Finger slots are represented by combining any two of these. For instance the space between the middle and ring fingers is "23". A pen held between index and pinky is in slot "14". (Sometimes the space between the thumb and index fingers is called "TF" (thumbflap).)
Fundamental tricks
The four basic penspinning tricks are:
ThumbAround
The "ThumbAround" (previously known as "360 Degrees Normal") is performed by pushing a pen by one's middle finger (the index finger is also used to make it look smoother in combos) so to initiate the pen to spin around one's thumb a single time, then catching it in between the thumb and index finger. There are many variations, but one used most often for combinations uses just momentum and only a rotation around the thumb with a jerk of the hand or a push with the middle finger. To do this the 1st finger is put on the eraser, the 3rd finger near the middle, and the thumb in between. Pressure is then added on the pencil/pen with the thumb.This is most easily done with pens and pencils with a center of mass nearer to the writing tip, such as mechanical pencils and cheap disposable pens.
FingerPass
The "Pass" involves spinning the pen through the fingers. A combination of Passes are called FingerPasses. The FingerPass was used in the James Bond film GoldenEye by Boris Grishenko, in a variation using only three fingers instead of the usual four.
Sonic
The idea behind the Sonic is to move the pen from one finger position to another finger position in as little time as possible. In this trick, the pen is normally held between the middle and ring fingers (but could be performed with other fingers using mapping) and is moved so that it ends up between the middle and index. The move is done by revolving the pen in a conic-like motion behind a finger (or fingers). As this trick can be executed in a very short amount of time, its name means a supersonic movement.
Charge
The Charge does not involve spinning the pen around any fingers or any body parts, rather, the pen is manipulated in such a way with two fingers, that it seems to spin in a very fast motion, in a conic-shaped path. Its conic path and its speed thus create an illusion of the charging motion of the pen. This trick is often performed by drummers using drumsticks rather than pens. It looks like the pen is spinning in the two fingers.Right-handed people performing this trick would mean that the pen is revolving clockwise. If it is going the opposite direction, it is called Charge Reverse.
Advanced Tricks
In addition to the 4 fundamental tricks, more have been invented and used successfully in combos by numerous people
Infinity
The pen should begin by being held in the writing position, near the tip of a pen. A wiper reverse is performed, where the pen pivots from the top of the thumb and index finger to the bottom of the thumb and index finger. A pass to the index/middle fingers is then performed. The pen pivots from the top of these fingers to the bottom. The pen is then swung back up to the writing position. When the pen is not passed to a different finger slot, the trick is called "Figure 8". When more passes are involved, the trick may be called other names such as "Double Infinity".
Shadow
This is a trick where the palm is facing down. The pen starts at any finger slot (usually 12) and does 0.5 rotations in the charge position before traveling up to the top of the hand. The pen should revolve 0.5 times on top of your fingers. As it nears the end of the 0.5 revolutions on top, slowly lift any of your fingers to catch the pen (usually the index finger to catch it in the 12 slot). At the end, a final 0.5 revolutions of charge should end the trick.
Inverse Shadow
If the Shadow is performed with the palm of the hand facing up, the trick is called the Inverse Shadow and is much more difficult to master than the Shadow.
ThumbSpin
The ThumbSpin is a variation of the ThumbAround, except it spins more than one revolution and spins on top of the thumb. The starting and ending positions are the same as the ThumbAround and the spinner can make the pen spin as many revolutions as they would like.
Korean BackAround
The Korean BackAround, or simply "Bak", is a popular trick where the pen goes around any of the four fingers that are not the thumb. It is basically a Fingerless FingerAround Reverse, except follows a diagonal motion when spinning. A Bak that goes around the index finger would be called the Index Bak. A popular mini combo executed by pen spinners is called the BakFall (Korean BackAround Fall), where the spinner executes four Baks, connected by Passes, starting from the index finger and making their way down to the pinky.
Hai Tua
The Hai Tua is a trick that involves the pen spinning around the hand. The breakdown of the Hai Tua is a twisted sonic bust to a HandAround to a Fingerless ThumbAround Catch. The trick begins with the twisted sonic bust, but instead of catching the pen, the spinner turns their palm down so that the pen continues to spin, gliding over the back side of the hand. The pen moves to the end of the hand and is released into the air for a very short amount of time. The spinner then turns their palm back up to catch the pen as they would with a Fingerless ThumbAround. The Hai Tua makes 2.5 revolutions.
