THIS IS TRICKING
What is tricking?
A tendency to exhibit techniques that are more flashy and complex was observed in martial arts during the period following the 1960s, pre-dating the current tricking movement. Especially in taekwondo, an increasing emphasis on spectacular spinning, jumping or flying kicks developed during the mid-1960s with the introduction of international competitions.
The actual sport of tricking is an internet phenomenon, emerging in the early 2000s. Xtreme Martial Arts is thought to be a close precursor to the sport, being shown at various martial arts tournaments in the 90s and early 2000s. By late 2003, the online tricking community was well-developed, bringing trickers from across the globe together. With the rise of YouTube, trickers were able to share their videos with others and the discipline experienced a massive rise in popularity and interest. Since the beginning of 2008, tricking has been receiving much wider publicity and popularity among the general public due to efforts of popular tricking teams. Showcasing an aesthetic blend of flips, kicks and twists.
Since its rise in popularity, tricking has been featured in various media.
- Anis Cheurfa, a French professional tricker, portrayed the masked antagonist Rinzler in the 2010 film Tron: Legacy, utilizing tricking in combat.
- Jacob Pinto, a three-time Red Bull Tricking Champion, has been featured tricking in television, film and commercials, such as Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, Blackish and The Voice with CeeLo Green.
- Arrow, the DC television series played on the CW, showcased fight scenes by actress Caity Lotz, who portrays Sara Lance in the series.
- Daredevil, the marvel television series, showcased fight scenes which incorporated tricking as well as many other martial arts
- Got7, a South Korean boy group under JYP Entertainment is famous for using tricking as part of their choreography.
The greatest athletes the world has never seen..
As is the case in most modern day things, Gymnastics, martial arts and free running are evolving.. Into something super. Many of the death-defying stunts performed in the latest blockbusters are carried out by some of our best and favourite trickers. Black Panther's stunt double was none other than Daniel Grahem, a professional martial arts tricker. Tom Holland, the actor who plays one of our favourite avengers, SpiderMan, has most of his background in Free running and martial arts tricking, (bottom left picture is Tom Holland practising on an airtrick mat). In the top left you can see Captain America performing a corkscrew, a popular tricking manoeuvre performed by trickers around the world. All modern day super films are overflowing with kicks, twists and flips, performed by trickers themselves - with no stunt lines used! Beyond this, some of the most acknowledged dance performers also have extensive background in martial arts tricking, gaining an edge on their competition by adding an aesthetic flare to their dance performance.
The community
Since it's inception, gatherings have been a regular part of the tricking community. Organised by trickers, usually with the assistance of online communities or sponsors, gatherings are an opportunity for individual trickers to showcase their styles and seek advice from other trickers. Gatherings usually have one or more Gym Sessions, where a gymnastics studio is rented out specifically for the gathering.
In addition, there are also mini-gatherings (also known as seminars/sessions) that usually take place in grassy fields. Compared to regular gatherings where tricksters from all over the world attend, mini-gatherings generally attract local trickers to a one-day session. This, in turn, allows local trickers to meet, trick together, strengthen tricking in their own communities, and increase exposure to the local community.
Tricking as a sport
Tricking is possibly the fastest growing action sport in the world at the moment. Combining martial arts with gymnastics, the balletic movement and control at its core is proving a hit with competitors and spectators around the globe. Tricking has international level competitions worldwide, as far away as South Korea and competitions as big and renowned as the Red Bull Throwdown, a tricking competition that’s rapidly gaining steam. Competitions like Redbull Throwdown gives this discipline, previously made popular through social media, a platform that is sure to get the next generation of trickers hooked. Bringing together 16 of the sport's best exponents from across the United States, Europe and Asia, trickers go head-to-head and three-on-three over two days to find out who truly has the most acrobatic skills. Other companies like Adrenaline worldwide host large scale competitions for tricking athletes to compete against one another. Within the UK there are also multiple competitions annually which trickers get involved in. Here at WTX, we also plan for our students to be a part of this.
Tricking at it's very core
So what is tricking? Is it gymnastics? Is it martial arts? The answer to all of these questions is.. No. Tricking is tricking!
Tricking no longer clings to it's origins of martial arts, nor is it gymnastics. Gymnasts have set linear tumbling paths, mostly using two feet take-offs to complete their tumble pasts, staying on a strict axis of twisting. (Vertical axis) Tricking's movements are vastly different, combos are non linear in structure, and skills are more regularly performed from one foot than the traditional tumble pass seen via a gymnast. Twists are often done on various axis too, where gymnasts mostly aim to keep all twists inverted, trickers often diverse and have various levels of inversion depending on the given skill and combo. So, what is similar? Gymnastics techniques are governed by principles, for example, angular momentum. A word referring to the force at which a gymnast rotates on the somersault axis, these laws are all the same for the sport of tricking, which is why gymnasts pick up sports like tricking faster, physics aside, these sports couldn't be more different!
So tricking isn't gymnastics done differently or, in a different style?
This is very interesting, tricking has created quite literally hundreds of "Tricks", that didn't exist prior to it's emergence. Many of it's top athletes have done skills that outclass even the highest level gymnasts. For example, the first ever landed standing double back-tuck, was landed by Nick Fry, a martial arts tricker. (As seen in GIF) Mike Guthrie, a tricker widely regarded as the best tricker on the planet was the first person to ever land a quadruple corkscrew - a one legged back-tuck with four performed twists. More recently Alexander Anderson also landed this move, making him the second on the planet to land this legendary skill. (Shown in GIF) In comparison, gymnasts use tumble techniques such as the named quadruple full twist, a back-layout with 4 completed twists, however whilst this is a very rare and difficult skill, two trickers have performed the same move, taking off just ONE LEG! This is extremely impressive considering they don't have use of the other leg for extra power on take off, nor they get the extra power provided by a long tumble pass. (Round offs and back-handsprings) Tricking has become it's own entity and it's proud of it. Now, more than ever, the tricking community is growing, thriving and pushing the boundaries of what the human body is capable of and we can't wait to see what impossible physics-defying skills get landed next. What tricking really comes down to at it's very core, is a bunch of individuals getting together, sharing their cool new trick with their friends, and having a great time in the process. Tricking is, an art.
