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	Á:''This is an article about the round toy. For people with the same name, see ], ] or the band ].''

	The '''yo-yo''' is a ] consisting of two equally-sized discs of ], ], or ], connected with an ], around which string is wound. There is a slip knot at the free end of the string, and, on a properly strung yo-yo, an uncut loop around the axle end which allows it to spin freely, or "sleep" upon reaching the string's end.

	It is played by tying the string's free end around the middle finger, grasping the yo-yo, and then throwing it downwards with a smooth motion. As the axle spins within the loop, a ] effect occurs, permitting time to perform a number of movements. By flicking the wrist, the yo-yo can be made to return to the player's hand, with the cord again completely wound into the groove. Any movement, or combination of movements, which result in the return of the yo-yo to the player's hand in this fashion is considered a ''trick''.

	Yo-yoing is a popular pastime around the world. Although generally associated with children, it is not uncommon for people who gain a level of proficiency at the sport in youth to continue playing into adulthood. A Yo-yo player is referred to as a ''Yo-yoer''.

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	==History of the yo-yo==
	]There is no conclusive documented evidence that the yo-yo is derived from, nor even existed in any form intended for use as a ]. Generating enough force to create a fatal blow with a yo-yo would also be difficult due to the fact that as the toy is reaching the end of the string it is slowing down. This rumor was possibly started by Tom Ives, ] PR man in the 1930's. There is speculation that created the weapon myth during the 1930's fad for the publicity. Combine that with stories of hunters in the ] in the 16th century using sharp rocks with strings attached to kill prey from trees. The development of the modern yo-yo began in the Philippines at around this time, which is probably the source of the confusion.

	===Ancient origins===
	The yo-yo is a truly ancient form of amusement with as many names as ]s which have assimilated it. ], it is the second oldest ] known (after ]s). Although it is thought to have originated in ], evidence of yo-yo-like toys first appears in the historical record around ] in ] ]. A ] yo-yo, as well as a vase depicting play, are on display in the ].

	The toy is likely to have spread throughout ] and ] via ]s, and is known to have enjoyed periods of popularity in ], ], ], and even ]. The ''emigrette'' gained particular notoriety in the ] during the ]; it was seen as a welcome source of relief from stress, likely epidemic during that period of ] history.

	Yo-yos would incubate for a time in the ] near their supposed point of origin before leaping across the ] and exploding ] in the ] to become an international phenomenon.

	===The yo-yo in modern times===
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	As mentioned previously, the modern incarnation of the device was refined in the ], where tradition maintains that use of the folk toy dates back at least a number of centuries. The name ''yo-yo'' is believed to have derived from ] and translates as "come-come". In reality, however, ''yo-yo'' is not a Tagalog word (the word for "come" is ''halika''). It is possible that the term came from another ]. The term was first published in a dictionary of Filipino words printed in 1860. The principal distinction between the Filipino design and previous, more primitive "back-and-forth" models is in the way the yo-yo is strung. One continuous piece of string, double the desired length, is twisted around itself to produce a loop at one end which is fitted around the axle. Also termed a ''looped slip-string'', this seemingly minor modification allows for a far greater variety and sophistication of motion, thanks to increased stability and suspension of movement during free spin. It is, without a doubt, the most important development in the evolution of the yo-yo.

	The first ] ] on the toy was issued to James L. Haven and Charles Hettrich in 1866 ({{US patent\|59,745}}) under the name ''whirligig'', however, the yo-yo would remain in relative anonymity until 1928 when a ] named ] opened the '''Yo-Yo Manufacturing Company''' in ]. The business started with a dozen handmade toys; by November of 1929, Flores was operating two additional factories in ] and ], which altogether employed 600 workers and produced 300,000 units ''daily''. Shortly thereafter (''ca.'' 1930), an entrepreneur named ] recognized the potential of this new fad and purchased the Flores' Yo-yo Corporation and all its assets, including the Flores name, which was transferred to the new company in 1932. He is reputed to have paid more than $250,000, a fortune by ] standards. It turned out to be a sound investment, making many, many times this amount in the years to follow. Harvey Lowe from Canada won the first-ever World Yo-Yo Contest in 1934 in London, England. At 12 years old, he was a demonstrator for the Cheerio Yo-Yo Company.

	===Commercial success===
	A ] of the yo-yo's commercial history would mimic the path of the toy itself, finding peaks and lows many times over the course of the 20th century. In 1946, Duncan opened a yo-yo factory in the ], prompting the town to dub itself 'Yo-yo Capital of the World'. Declining sales after the ] prompted Duncan to launch a comeback campaign for his trademarked "Yo-Yo" in 1962 with a series of ] ]. The media blitz met with unprecedented success, thanks in great part to the introduction of the Duncan Butterfly, which was effectively an inverse version of the classic Imperial design that made landing the yo-yo on its string (in tricks such as "trapeze") much more accessible to the beginner. This success would be short-lived, however, and in a landmark ] case in 1965, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the Royal Tops Company, determining that ''yo-yo'' had become a part of common speech and that Duncan no longer had exclusive rights to the term. As a result of the expenses incurred by this legal battle as well as other financial pressures, the Duncan family sold the company name and associated trademarks in 1968 to Flambeau Plastics, who had manufactured Duncan's plastic models since 1955. They continue to run the company today.

	===The rise of the ball bearing===
	In the 1970s there was a yo-yo fad when ] made yo-yos with ]. It was probably started as a ] gimmick, but it caught on. Ball bearings significantly reduce friction when the yo-yo is spinning, enabling longer and more complex tricks. The first ball bearing yo-yos were considered 'cheating' by the yo-yo community until yo-yoers started creating new and innovative tricks that had not been possible before.

	==Contemporary yo-yo culture==

	The 1990s saw a resurgence of the popularity of the Yo-Yo and Yo-Yo culture. Contributing to this ] was the introduction of the ] Brain auto-return Yo-Yo, the Playmaxx (later ]) Pro-yo and various imitations of these. The Brain yo-yo contained a centripetal clutch mechanism which, as the spin of the yoyo slows to a predetermined RPM, engages, freezing the spinning axle and causing the yo-yo to automatically return to its user's hand. The Pro-yo was a take-apart fixed axle yo-yo, this was achieved through use of a wooden sleeve that went over the threaded axle and was partially recessed into the side of the yo-yo itself.

	===Yo-yo contests===
	].]]
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	Yo-yo competitions are held every year at the world level in Florida, USA during August. Countries such as the United
	States, Japan and the UK also hold competitions at the national and regional levels.

	A yo-yo competition normally consists of two parts, a set of ''compulsory tricks'' and a ''freestyle'', where points are scored for each and the winner is the yo-yoer who scores the most points. Compulsory tricks are a set of tricks that have been chosen before the contest, and the competitor must successfully complete each trick on their first or second attempt to score points. The freestyle is when the yo-yoer performs a routine to their choice of music in front of a panel of judges, and is judged based on difficulty of the tricks, synchronization with the music and artistic performance. Currently there are six yo-yo divisions to compete in:

	*1A The player uses a long spinning yo-yo to perform tricks that typically require manipulation of the string.
	*2A The player uses two yo-yos simultaneously to perform reciprocating or looping maneuvers. This tends to be the most visually entertaining style with some players incorporating acrobatics into their routines.
	*3A The player uses two long spinning yo-yos and performs tricks with both simultaneously.
	*4A The player uses an ''offstring'' yo-yo, often releasing the yo-yo into the air and attempting to catch it on the string.
	*5A The player uses a yo-yo with a counterweight on the other end of the string rather than having it attached to a finger.
	*AP This is Artistic Performance where the yo-yoer uses any type of yo-yo or other prop in order to perform a freestyle.

	Competitors usually bring a number of yo-yos to the performance stage with them to allow for mid-routine replacements in the case of tangling (common with string tricks), string breakage (common with looping tricks), or drops (common with offstring tricks).

	===Yo-Yo Ball===

	In the nineties, a spherical yo-yo was created. It had a mechanism that made it retract automatically. Called the Yo-Yo Ball, it was the perfect alternative for those who couldn't figure out how to use a regular yo-yo.

	===Yo-yo club (sport)===
	A ] is a sporting side (typically in ] / ]) that is regularly promoted and relegated between a higher and lower league and division.

	==See also==
	*], or ]
	*]
	*]

	==External links==
	* at ''Spintastics''
	* A wiki completely dedicated to yo-yos

	*
	* on Smothers Brothers Website
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	* compiled by Rick Brough, yo-yo memorabilia collector
	* Official Website of 3rd place world yoyo champion Doctor Popular
	* yo-yo links and information
	* Free webspace for yo-yo sites and videos
	*; Free web space for yo-yocentric web communities
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	* YoYoing.com - A Yo-Yo Starting point.

	===Forums===
	* Discussion forum, including reviews, maintenance tips and polls.
	* Yo-Yo talk, tricks, reviews and more -- not affiliated with any yo-yo store.
	*; A large yo-yo discussion forum.
	*; Yoyoing.com's message board.
	*;
	*; The European Yo-Yo message board.
	* Large yo-yo discussion forum.
	*;one of the oldest producers of yo-yos in the World
	*; the yo-yo forum of Taiwan.WELCOME!!

	===Trick instructions===
	* Beginners instruction site.
	* Clearly illustrated beginner yo-yo tricks.
	* The Yo-Yo video site - Streaming yo-yo videos and yo-yo video hosting.
	* Sector_Y - Yo-Yo tricks and Videos
	* The Glass Lab - Yo-Yo tricks and Videos
	* Yo-Yo Tricks site with colorful illustrations and videos
	* Advanced trick list with slow-motion video instructions.

	===Contests and associations===
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	* The World Yo-Yo Contest Web Site
	* Hong Kong Yo-Yo Fans Club official web site
	* U.S.A. National Yo-Yo Contest and Museum Website
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	* Associação Brasileira de Ioiô Website

	===Yo-yo players===
	* Harry Houdini yoyo website
	* '''Team Yomega Hong Kong - UK national YoYo champion''' * Web site of a Hong Kong top player
	* Web site of Team Yomega Hong Kong player

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Revision as of 05:37, 16 August 2006