Wyvern Strings

JJ and Rudy your MC

2017-07-27T11:16:00.000+08:00

Hello readers ,

Last Sunday on the 23rd of July , I had one of the best experience in my life !! I finally met JJ and Rudy !! WOOHOO !!

For those of you that has no idea who are JJ and Rudy is, they are one of the best radio DJ on Hitz.fm from my era in Malaysia. They are an explosive duo that has no stop button when they are live on the radio !! They are the most friendliest radio DJ that I have ever met too.

Anyways , I was lucky enough to have the opportunity and have a chat session with them about yoyos !! Want to know more ? Well here is the full video of the interview. Enjoy !!

For more info on the yoyo class, you may either visit HERE or just drop me an email at www.wyvernstrings.blogspot.com and I will reply back as soon as possible !!

P.S : Follow their weekly program on Facebook RIGHT HERE

Player of the week (July week 3) - Hassan Marialis

2017-07-25T11:47:00.000+08:00

A very good day to all of my readers. On the 20th of July 2017, I started a Facebook poll to determine who will be the player of the week for the month of July 2017 and the title "Player of the week" goes to Hassan Marialis !! With a total of 16 votes.

I manage to get in contact with him in order to have a mini interview and the purpose of this interview is to have a little insight for his fans to know more about him. How did it go ? Well, read all about it below

Me : " Goodmorning Hassan !! First off , congratulations on being nominated as the 'Player of the week' by the voter's choice !! So how do you feel about it ? "

Hassan : " Owh man. I feel so appreciated because it has been ages that I've been competing. It has almost been 3 years of absence from any yo-yo contest, I think. Plus, with the decreasing amount of trick circle that I can produce due to work, it is still unbelievable that I was being nominated for this. I am also considered as an old school player. So, I'm pretty much hype about this. "

Me : " Hei, you deserve every last bit of it for the amount of dedication that you have for this skill toy. Now, in the absence of 3 years from competing, what have you been brewing ? Will it be something new that no one has witness or invented ? "

Hassan : " The reason why I have been abstaining from yo-yo contest for the past 3 years is because I am in search of the essence of yo-yoing and to obtain the initial feeling that made me started yo-yoing. I would like to get back to my roots.

I'm not saying that competitive yoyoing isn't fun anymore but I would like to discover more about this skill toy besides competing with it. For the past 3 years, I've been trying to understand how some of the pieces of 'concepts' that I have been developing comes together. Its like a puzzle. Some of you may have seen it during AP (Asia Pacific Yoyo Contest) or Malaysia Nationals but its still a work in progress.

It takes time to achieve perfection since the elements and concepts consumes time, now that I am working, I may not have not have much time to spare compared to my teenage years. Honestly, I am into innovating tricks and till today, I still stand to my believe that yo-yoyoing have unlimited space for new creation of fun. To me, it is not just about tech or horizontal play or even speed play. For example, take a look at Ricardo Fraleni and Zammy Ickler. "

Me : " Would we be expecting you to compete any time soon in the future ? Im sure your fans are dying to know that. "

Hassan : " Yes, I am ready for World Yoyo Contest 2018 (Worlds or WYYC), Malaysia Nationals 2018 (MYYC) and maybe Clash44. Even though I have a slim chance of winning but I will try my very best to present the most memorable freestyle for the viewers. "

Me : " Owh wow, that is truly inspiring. I hope you will be able to achieve your dreams and probably this will be the fuel of inspiration of the readers and the future generations. What are your top 10 daily essentials ? "

Hassan : " Most probably would be my powerbank (cant leave my home without it), my iphone5s, my samsung S3, my wallet (otherwise how am I going to pay for anything ??) , my backpack, my Komuter card, my cap, my kickz, my yoyos (duh) and of cource, a bundle of extra strings (just incase my string gets worn out during practise).

Me : " Do you have any words of wisdom or inspiration for your fans ?"

Hassan : " I don't have fans in particular but I do have friends. I would like the readers and the future generations to believe in yourself, set a goal in your mind and do whatever it takes to achieve that.

How ? Keep practising, be bold, be brave and keep pushing forward. If you failed, take that experience and use it as your fuel to be better in the future. Eventually that experience would be a memory that will get you to where you want to be.

Life is too short to be dull. So keep on yo-yoing guys ! "

Me : " Thank you so much for your kind and inspiring words. It was a pleasure speaking to you and I appreciate it for taking a few moments of your time to have a chat with me. I will be looking forward to see exciting new yo-yoing concepts and ideas from you. Goodluck in your future endeavours."

Hassan : " You're most welcome and thank you for having me. "

Well there you have it. Our hope for the future generations is to unlock your true potential by discovering the endless possibilities in yo-yoing. Despite being the second oldest toy in the world, new ideas and concepts are constantly discovered. Its all up to you.

Till next time,
Adam Hamzah

5 Ways to prevent your bearing from rusting.

2017-07-20T13:28:00.000+08:00

Iron oxide is formed when Iron and Oxygen oxidizes through time. However, this oxidization is accelerated in the presence of water or when there is moisture in the air. Iron oxide or in common terms, rust, occurs commonly because iron can easily react with oxygen in the air. If a piece of steel is left unused for a long period of time and sufficient amount of oxygen and moist is present, the steel will begin to oxidize and corrosion will start to take place. What will happen in the end ? The steel's surface will be begin to be flaky, friable and sooner or later, it will turn to dust.

So, why am I emphasizing on this ? In my previous article, the most important part of a yo-yo is the inner spinning mechanism and in the modern era of yo-yoing, the inner spinning mechanism that was once made out of wood is now replaced by ball bearings that is made out of steel. Hence, without proper care of your bearing, rusting will eventually take place and your bearing would not be able to spin as well as it should be or in worst case scenario, it would be stucked.

How do you properly care for it ? Well, here are 5 ways that you could prevent bearings from rusting :

1) Remove your strings

Strings are your worst enemy when it comes to bearing rust. Why and how ? Its simple, by looking back at how rust occurs, it needs oxygen and water or moist. When the yo-yo is kept untouched for a period of time, the string wrapped around the bearing will start to absorb moist from the air and with a little mix of oxygen, your bearing will start to rust. It would be a good idea to remove your strings if you are not planning to use the yo-yo on a daily basis.

I've had a personal experience with this. At first, I thought it was a myth or just something that we should brush it off our shoulders and ignore this advice. Well, that didn't go to well. My yo-yo was kept in my drawer with a string being wrapped around it for a week. When I tried spinning it, it would just turn responsive (it shot back up). When I took a closer look at the inner part, the bearing was covered with flaky dark orange rust. So my advice is, please remove your strings.

2) Don't ever spin your yo-yo on the water surface

I know for a fact that some yo-yo players has the tendency to wonder "What is the result of a yo-yo spinning on that water surface ?". The effects would be cool for an instagram shot, but if you do not properly dry your bearing, it would rust. As mentioned, water is also one of the accelerating components that reacts with air that creates rust. So it would be wise to avoid playing wit your yo-yo in the water or above the surface of the water without proper drying method.

(P.S : unless you are a sponsored player that gets regular yo-yo spare parts , then by all means , go ahead)

3) Soak your bearing in thin lube

Why would I want to soak my bearing in thin lube for ? Well, its definitely not a conventional method but it does help to prevent my bearing from rusting. The idea is that this lube will prevent excess moist to contribute to the rusting process. For example, the density of oil differs from the water which prevents the water from passing through the oil. Same goes for lubes.

However, do dab your bearing with tissue paper in-order to remove the excess amount of lube before proceeding playing with it. I would usually use an absorbent kitchen rolls to remove the excess lube from the bearing. Besides providing an extra coating for the bearing , it would also enhance the smoothness and the spinning speed of the bearing.

4) Silica gel packets

Its great to keep your prize possession in casings or yo-yo bags but this does not ensure that the bearing will not rust after a long period of time. Moist may sip through the bag or casing (if it is not airtight. That would be the next tip) and will contribute to the rusting process. If we couldn't eliminate oxygen from the equation, then we will try to eliminate or minimize the amount of moist in the case or bag by placing silica gel packs in it.

What does this silica pack does ? It basically absorb access moisture in the air. So this will prevent your bearing from rusting. You could just recycle a pack of silica gel whenever you purchase a bag or shoes or you could just get it at any hardware store nearby you.

5) Place your spare bearings in a portable airtight container

Instead of eliminating or minimizing moist, this would be the opposite instead. By sealing your spare bearing in an airtight container, you would minimize the amount of oxygen that is available to contribute to the rusting process. By placing silica gel packs in it, you will have an ultimate rust free bearing container. Try obtaining a small size container. This would be easier for you to carry your spare bearing wherever you go.

Well , there you go. Those are my top 5 tips to prevent your bearing from rusting. I hope this helps in some way or another.

The below articles might be helpful too in regards to bearing :

Bearing Maintenance
Types of bearing
Bearing removal
Response system

Till next time,
Adam Hamzah

Reliable resources

2017-07-17T12:05:00.001+08:00

Hi readers ,

"Where can I get my yoyos ?"

"Is this website reliable ?"

Those are the two examples of a common question for yo-yo players that aren't too familiar on where to get their yo-yos. So, today , I will be giving you hints to identify which web-store or physical store that is reliable and recommended to purchase your yo-yos. I will also be listing the reasons to choose a reliable yo-yo store.

What to look out for ?

It is pretty simple actually. Whenever you are looking for a yo-yo on an unknown website or non-yoyo related web-store, always look out for the price. If a yo-yo is overpriced, then I would not recommend you to purchase the yo-yo from that website. Its common sense really, would you purchase something at a higher price when you could have gotten it at a cheaper price or market rate at another place ?

I have seen yo-yos that cost twice the amount than it should have been. For example, a Yoyofactory Shutter usually worth USD44.99 (price taken from yoyoexpert.com ) and from another website, it could go up to USD60. If you are looking for a yo-yo through Ebay or some other online web-store, then you may get it at a higher price but this does not mean that it is entirely a scam. Ebay is known as a bidding place, so if you were to purchase it at the higher bidding price, then no party is to be blame because you understood that the higher bidder gets to purchase the item.

In the event that you had the opportunity to visit a yo-yo store, you could always evaluate the yo-yo by requesting to hold on to the yo-yo and feel the quality of the yo-yo before purchasing it. Some stores do allow you to test out the performance of the yo-yo by playing with a sample. So do ask them whether they have any samples for you to test out. If there aren't any samples for you to test, you may request for assistance from the storekeeper to ask other yo-yo players present to let you have a test run with their yo-yos instead before deciding on what to purchase. Please be careful with other yo-yo players possession and try not to ding it.

Based on the pricing and the quality of the yo-yo, you should be able gauge your trust level on that website or store. If you do not have the confidence to purchase on that website or store, then don't. No one can force you to do so.

Which yo-yo store ?

There is quite a few of yo-yo webstore that is highly trust worthy and I can vouch for that. The list below are few of the yo-yo webstores that I have been using to purchase my yo-yo and hopefully this will help you to get your yo-yos with ease.

1) 28spin
"28spin is founded by 3 very talented skill toys enthusiast, being an enthusiast ourself, we have an extensive history in the skill toys world. We are also one of the co-founders of the Malaysian yoyo club. Being managing n supporting the scene here in Malaysia we have understand the need of making the skill toys available to the market here in Malaysia. "
-Quote from 28spin website-

In line to their yo-yo webstore, their physical store is currently located in POP Jaya One , PJ. For more info or to purchase your yo-yos, please visit www.28spin.com

2) Kedaiyoyo
Another local Malaysia yo-yo webstore that used to have a physical store in Sungei Wang, but for a particular reason (that I've no information on it) is now no longer operating in Sungei Wang. However, do not fret, they are still providing great discounted quality yo-yos on their website.

If you wish to get your own yo-yo, please do not hesitate to visit their official website at www.kedaiyoyo.com

3) Spingear
Spingear... what can I say about spingear.... To me, its a worldwide known yo-yo webstore from Japan that is highly trust worthy. The owner is Taka Hasegawa. He is a really friendly store owner and a remarkable yo-yo enthusiast. He is famous for his trademark yoyo trick, shoot the moon, with an extremely long string and the silly pinwheel trick.

Trust me on this, if you ever meet him in any yoyo contest, do go up to him and greet him personally. He loves to meet new yo-yo players that shares the same passion as he does. The products that is sold on his website are reasonably priced and if you were to purchase to a certain extent of amount, the courier charges would be FOC.

The website is www.spingear.jp or if you do get the chance to have trip to Japan, dropby his store in Akihibara !

4) Spinworkx

Hands down, the best yo-yo store in Singapore ! That's all I can say. I have been visiting this store since 2005 and I am so fortunate to be friends with the owner of Spinworkx. The shopkeeper, Fong is so so friendly and very helpful. The service that they provide is great !

Spinworkx store is a "must go" place for every yo-yo player whenever they visit Singapore. The official website is www.spinworkx.com.

5) Yoyo Store Rewind

This is another Japan based yo-yo webstore founded by Shinya Kido, Hinonori, and Jun Aramaki. They currently have a physical store in Iwakura, Aichi and in Shibuya, Tokyo. You may visit them too if you are taking a trip to Shibuya or Aichi by any chance. If you couldn't make it to Japan, no worries, they are selling yo-yos through online too.

Their official website is http://www.yoyostorerewind.com/

6) Yoyoexpert

An online yoyo webstore designed by Andre Boulay and it is based in USA , Easthampton. This online webstore do not only provide yo-yos for purchase, but it is also a trick site that has over 150 videos, ranging from beginner to expert level.

Their official website is www.yoyoexpert.com

So there you go. Those are the very few yo-yo webstore or physical yo-yo store that I have been dealing with. There are a few other yo-yo webstore/physical store out there. Take your time to evaluate those stores carefully and once you are confident with the service provided by the store, go ahead and purchase that yoyo.

If you are in doubt, there are always yo-yo enthusiast Facebook group that you could depend on. Try asking around and I am pretty sure they are more than happy to help you out.

For an easier access to the website that I have noted in this website , CLICK HERE

Till next time,

Adam Hamzah

"Why so expensive ?"

2015-10-05T08:15:00.000+08:00

In 12 years of my yo-yoing journey, I always come across parents telling their kids ,

"You don't know how to play"

OR

"Aiyah, you buy so expensive for what ? Later we will buy at pasar malam"

What is pasar malam ? It is directly translates as night market. Similar to flea markets in certain countries. Whereby cheap yo-yos that is sold for RM3.00 , equivalent to USD$0.68 (give or take a few bucks due to currency changes). Do you see what is going on right here ?

Parents would not buy a yo-yo for their children that is eager to learn how to play with a yo-yo. From my first statement "You don't know how to play", it is obvious that the kid has zero or minimum knowledge about a yo-yo which triggers their curiosity, hence they would like to purchase a yo-yo. Why do they want it ? To learn my dear parents. They would like to explore the possibilities of a simple toy that goes up and down. This are Malaysian parents.

As comparison to Singaporean parents, they would ask whether their children would want to buy and learn ? If the kid says yes, they would buy and request for assistance from the shopkeeper and without a doubt, the shopkeeper would teach. Parents would even send their kids to the shop on weekly basis, every Saturday, just learn the basics of yo-yoing.

It is totally understandable that the price of a yo-yo this days could be over the top but do understand this when I say that yo-yo is no longer made out of cheap plastics that you could buy off the "Roti man" honking around your neighbourhood. In this era, yo-yo materials are made out of high quality durable plastic that can withstand a certain amount of impact if it ever hits the ground. I am talking about a basic yo-yo that usually cost about Rm20 or Rm40.

As for the yo-yos made for a professional, it is commonly made out of aluminium grade 7075 or 6065. A yo-yo that is made out of aluminium have higher price compared to plastic yo-yos because instead of using plastic moldings to create the shape of the yo-yo, a huge CNC machine is needed to cut out the shape of a yo-yo from a cylinder of aluminium. This also includes the intangible skill of a machine operator to handle the machine and a group of yo-yo designers to design the shape of the yo-yo, whereby the aim is to produce a better performance yo-yo from the previous yo-yos made by a company. Hence the price of a high quality metal yo-yo could be within the range of Rm100 up to Rm800. Rest assure that your children do not need to upgrade to a high end yo-yo until he is recommended to do so based on the skills that he or she has by their instructor or yo-yo professionals.

This is a documentary produced by CLYW x ONEdrop in the making of "The Summit"

I used to be one of the kids waiting for my turn to buy a RM0.20 yo-yo , that doesn't spin. I feel satisfied and eager to learn even though it just goes up and down. We, as a yo-yo professional would like to expand the knowledge of yo-yo theories and fundamentals to the younger generations. If a parent would stop them from learning, how would they ever improve or gain a new skill in life ? Let's just say that it isn't a yo-yo , what about ballet ? Or piano ? Or inventing a new machine that could save million of lives ? Now imagine, what would happened, if you would have stopped them from learning something that they might be passionate about ?

The answer is, you may have stopped them from achieving greatness in the future.

Now ask yourself this, would you want your children be passionate about something that they could be great at ,

OR

Would you rather stop them from learning something new and believe in the fact that they are not allowed to be out of their comfort zone and explore.

I shall leave that question to the father reading this, or to the mother reading this, or to the both of you.

(NOTE : We would like to point out that the choice to purchase a yoyo at a higher price is subject to the discretion of the parents to work within their budget. It does not mean that a parent is compulsory to purchase the yo-yo upon request.)

Feel free to drop me a message, or comment, or inquiry if you have any further questions that need to be clarified at wyvernstrings@gmail.com

Till next time,

Wyvern Strings x SPIKE Kendama

2015-10-02T08:11:00.003+08:00

We have been working on this project for about a month or so and we are finally proud to announce , our very first kendama , Wyvern Strings x SPIKE !!

Before that, here is a little introduction of SPIKE. What is SPIKE ? I am going to quote from their webpage on what SPIKE is all about. Just to avoid any confusion based on my own explantion.

"SPIKE kendama is a series of unique kendama targeted for the upcoming kendama community in Malaysia, it is partnered with Yoyoskeels originals."

"Run by Ewin EE and Muhammad Shakeel, SPIKE kendama has a wide range of products from the regular kendama, to the pill kendama, and to the jumbo kendama ever since it is established in 2014"

"SPIKE Kendama aims to become the best locally made and assembled high quality kendama and not forgetting the vision to spread the love of Kendama in Malaysia"

Wyvern Strings was given the opportunity to work with SPIKE Kendama with the same vision and intention which is to spread the Kendama culture around Malaysia.

The Kendama is made out of 100% walnut and based on what we were told, it is very rare to obtain a walnut material to produce a kendama out of it. It takes an enormous amount of skill work and dedication to the production of the Kendama.

The tama has a bright yellow colour to compliment the crazy grains on the ken as well as the sarado. It blends perfectly together. We are aware that "Balance" is everything for a kendama. Hence, you will not be disappointed with the performance of this kendama.

Currently there is only 30 pieces made and order can be made through wyvernstrings@gmail.com or visit www.kedaiyoyo.com to place an order. Do not forget to mention Wyvern Strings to Kedaiyoyo or hashtag us in your instagram #wyvernstrings.

Till next time,

Need a new yoyo ? Earn it

2015-09-30T08:14:00.001+08:00

"That yo-yo looks so good ~ I wish I can buy it but I don't have the cash"

" Omg.... I wish I have more money to get that yoyo ! It looks so tempting !"

Sounds familiar ? Trust me kids, I have been through what you are going through right now. You do not have sufficient amount of cash to buy a yo-yo that you desire the most and to make it worst, the yoyo is on discount but your parents still would not buy it for you.

If you are thinking

"I can't buy it, so maybe I could try asking someone to give it to me"

Then my dear friend, you have just dug your own grave. If you have not read my previous post on "It's a big NO NO", then I would highly recommend for you to read it first. However, if you had read it, then you should know by now that it is a bad move asking for a yo-yo from someone without making any effort obtaining a yo-yo.

So, in order to help you guys out, I will be listing my very own top 10 ideas for you to get that extra income to purchase the yo-yo that you have always wanted. Do take note that the idea contributed here varies by age and by your current location.

#10

House chores

There is no better option for you to earn that extra income while staying at home. You could start charging your parents for that extra house chores that needs to be done. For example, raking the leaves, water the plants, plucking the garden weeds, taking out the thrash, sweeping the house, or if you are old enough, you could try cooking meals instead of your mum doing all the cooking.

This would not only ease your parent's burden, but you will actually impress them by putting effort in-order to get that yoyo. They will soon realise that you are willing to work hard for something that you want. It may not be an easy cash for you but it is definitely a method to get into your parent's heart. That "awww" factor.

"Sirap limau" stand

Instead of your conventional lemonade stand, I would like to introduce to you, Sirap Limau stand ! What is Sirap Limau ? Well, Sirap means....Syrup , in English and Limau means Lime. So, in general, it is a cordial syrup drinks mixed with lime. Usually in Malaysia, we will use Rose Syrup and it has that flowery taste to it.

This is what it looks like

Pour the cordial into a jug, add 3-4 fullspoon of sugar (according to your taste), squeeze the lime into the jug and add hot water to mix them together. Once it is mix thoroughly, add ice cubes into the mixture and now you are all set for a "Sirap Limau" stand. This would definitely be in high demand on a hot sunny day. Come to think of it... I might need to make one now. *poof*

Dog & Cat Bathing Service

Who doesn't love both of this furry creatures ? Why not gain some extra income by giving them a good clean bath. You do not need much besides water, a bucket to fit the cat or the dog in it and a big bottle of "Pet Shampoo".

As a gentle reminder, please do not use human hair shampoo on them because this might have other effects rather than making their coating shine and fluffy. Get a proper pet shampoo that is meant for cats and dogs. I have seen dogs being blown dry but I am not too sure about cats. So if they are afraid of the noise coming out of the hair blower, just use a clean towel to dry them up and make sure they stay warm and cozy. Otherwise, there is a chance they might catch a cold, especially cats.

No idea how to do it by yourself ? Get your parents to join in too ! This is a great weekend activity for the family while you earn some extra cash too.

EXTRA PRO-TIP : Give them a good soft massage with warm water during bathing because they enjoy that alot and brush their fur once you have dried them up.

Part time newspaper delivery boy

If you are cycling to school, how bout being a part time newspaper delivery boy. All you need to do is to collect the newspapers at your local newspaper distributor and accurately throw the newspaper into their lawn or for extra bonus points, aim for the front porch of their house.

If you don't own a bicycle, you might be able to jog to school instead. As an additional benefit, you get to lose weight during your jog and from carrying the weight of those newspapers.

Friendly Neighbourhood Spiderman

Not all heroes wear cape and you could be one of them too. You could help your neighbours to mow the lawn or to water their plants but for a price of course. They might not be able to pay you at the same rate as the usual lawn mower guy, but you are gaining income in a safe environment, which is your own neighbourhood.

P.S : Please don't get yourself bitten by a radioactive spider for this job. You definitely don't need a spider bite to be a superhero, especially for house chores.

Carwash

Who likes their car to be dirty that is full of dust and mud all around it ? The answer is , no one. So what do you do ? Get your bucket out, fill it with soap and water, and start putting up a sign that says "CAR WASH FOR $5 !!" . You would be surprise that you will be getting customers in no time.

Make sure to soap the exterior of the car properly and spray all the dirt away with water. Use a soft sponge to avoid scratches on the surface of the car. Take a clean, microfibre cloth to wipe dry the windshield and for an additional price of $4, you could offer to wax the car. Bright and shiny ~

This could be a tough job for one person, so you might need to do it in a small group of 4 people or once again, get your family into it to if it is possible.

Carpool

If you have a driving license and you have your own personal car, then you might be able to provide carpool service to your friends that do not wish to walk or take the bus to college or to their workplace. Set a price that covers your fuel cost and toll fee (if applicable), and mark up by a certain amount of percentage.

Do take note that is only applicable to young adults that have their own driving license and please do not mark up excessively that is too absurd for anyone to pay for your service. Make it reasonable and do not be late for any appointment.

Garage sale

This is definitely one of the best way to get rid of your old items / pre-loved outfits and gain an extra income through it. A garage sale is where you have old items in your house that is sitting in the store room collecting dust, being put on sale for anyone to purchase it. As the saying goes "A one man's thrash , is another man's treasure"

Please do not sell items that is badly damaged and it is beyond repair unless there is someone that is willing to purchase and fix it on their own. Otherwise, it would be bad idea to sell damaged goods. Old toys, Gaming Console, Televisions, Boombox, Pokemon cards, or clothings are good examples that can be sold. (pssst ... stay away from your mum's cutlery collection or her jewelries )

Babysitting

This idea is mainly applicable to young adults that is capable to keep a close eye on smaller kids. You need to be very alert and you need to watch over them like a hawk. Parents has entrusted their safety in your care and you wouldn't want to get into trouble if anything were to happen to their kids.

Ensure that the house are safely locked, especially any backdoor in the kitchen room or entrance to the garage. This is to avoid any burglars coming in and to avoid kids getting out of the house without your knowledge. To be on the safer side, have the parent's number on speed dial or any other emergency contact on standby.

Finally we are down to our last and final suggestions for you to earn that extra income for a yoyo. The number #1 idea is :

Sell / Trade your yoyos

Yes I know. It sounds ironic because you are selling a yoyo to purchase another yoyo but this is one of the many methods that us yo-yo players use to get that extra income to buy a better yo-yo. Not all

yo-yos are suitable for everyone. Unless you are a collector, it would be better if someone else purchase your yo-yo at a lower reasonable price and you could use the cash from that sale to purchase the yo-yo of your choice.

Another method would be to trade your yo-yo for the yo-yo that you want from another yo-yo player. Do not expect to get a brand new yo-yo by trading a secondhand damage yo-yo. If you would like to trade for a yo-yo , make sure that your yo-yo is in good condition for a trade. For guidelines , please take a look at "5 things to look out for before a trade" .

Well, I hope that this 10 ideas would be useful to you in someway or another but if you do have other suggestions, feel free to email me at wyvernstrings@gmail.com and I will write up another article based on your comments.

Till next time,

How professional are you to be considered professional ?

2015-08-26T08:09:00.002+08:00

Hi readers,

"PROFESSIONAL YOYO PLAYER"

That is something that you hear everyday whenever a person comes up to you and ask how long have you been playing with the yoyo. You will be telling them "oh , I have been a yoyo professional for almost a year" or 3 years or 25 years BUT what does it mean to be a yoyo professional ?

Is it the age factor ?

Is it the years of experience factor ?

Whether a person is sponsored by a yoyo company is considered as a professional ?

The truth my friend, there is no proper guidelines to determine who is a yoyo professional or not. I have been playing with the yoyo at the age of 10 and that would be 17 years of experience in total. I could be calling myself a yoyo master but on contrary, I still have doubts branding myself as a yoyo professional. To me, it is similar to the education system, it is a never ending learning process.

If anyone would to ask me "What are your definition of a yoyo professional ?"

I would say, it is not by the amount of yoyos that you have collected and keeps neatly on your shelf like a shiny victory trophy. Instead, I would rather say, a yoyo professional would actually play with their yoyos. Scar marks on a yoyo shows the amount of mistakes that you make while coming up with a mind-blowing routine, combos or tricks. We always learn from mistakes and mistake gives birth to a new concept or idea. So always make mistakes and learn from it to achieve something better (but please don't la simply make mistakes for fun sake and ain't learning from it).

A yoyo professional is not branded by the amount of winning trophies or medals won from yoyo contests. It does determine that you are the champion of that particular division but there will always be another person to be the next champion. Instead, a yoyo professional are those that is willing to kneel down to a 5 year old kid, teaching how to tie a knot, teaching parents how to cut the strings for their kids because it is hazardous for a 5 year old to handle scissors by their own, teaching how to throw a long sleeper and doesn't mind dusting off stains off their jeans from kneeling down on the ground.

Do you see where I am going with this ? You do not need to have a huge collection of yoyos to impress people. You do not need to be obsess with a brand to get sponsor. You definitely do not need to think that you are not a yoyo professional just because you do not have the required set of skills to take on the world champion. What's important is the amount of dedication that you are willing to spread the love for this skill toy.

My advice is, carry a basic yoyo wherever you go. If anyone request to see "walk-the-dog" , whip out your yoyo and walk that dog. If anyone requested that trick that looks like a rocket, show them the Eifel Tower. They will be impressed and you are already classified as a yoyo professional in their eyes because this could be the tricks that they do not know how to do but they are impressed by you.

Let me summarise this for you to have a better understanding. Be yourself, stay true to yourself, do what you love and always remember why do you pick up yoyoing. That's how you become a,

Yoyo professional.

Till next time,

Yoyofficer Yo-yo Contest 2015

2015-07-09T08:34:00.000+08:00

Hi readers ,

On the 25th of July 2015, Kedaiyoyo.com will be organising a yoyo contest, presenting Yoyofficer and the event will be taking place in Sungei Wang Plaza , Concourse Level. As far as my understanding, there will be one main division, which is Single A (1A) Division and a few other exciting side divisions.

A little introduction of Yoyofficer

What is Yoyofficer ?
Yoyofficer, properly pronounced as Yoyo Officer, is a professional yoyo manufacturer from China and it was incorporated in the month of April 2012. Their yoyos are created with the aim to provide the smoothest anodization out in the market and by incorporating excellent design at a reasonable price that's suitable for all ages to purchase it any part of the world.

Their goals is to take the yoyoing scene up to the next level than what it is currently at. They wish to provide assistance to make the yoyoing community much advance and to enhance the quality of the yoyo players skill through the yoyos manufactured by Yoyofficer.

Yoyofficer models

Pause

Orbis

Nifty

Musket (Acidwash)

Lava

Kilter

Jaeger

Imp

Hatchet

Gravity

Eager

Fit

Aura

Brave

Crayon

Dasher

Note : I (Wyvern Strings) do not own any of the pictures as depicted above and all or any copyright of the picture solely belongs to Yoyofficer and it's affiliates. I do not wish or intend to infringe any copyright laws implemented by Yoyofficer.

Team
Glen Kempster (Australia)
Franstisek bina (Czech Republic)
Ondrej Horak (Czech Republic)
Michal Malik (Czech Republic)
Ryan Gee (USA)
OuYang (China)
Adi Raihan Mahmud (Brunei)
Ryan, Jian Liang Lim (Malaysia)

Any yoyo players that is interested to join the contest, CLICK HERE for registration.
Registration fee is RM50 for online registration. However, for walk-in registration, it will be Rm70. It is a 2 minute freestyle and a 50/50 judge format. For more information, please visit www.kedaiyoyo.com.

For more information about Yoyofficer, here is the link to their page. WWW.YOYOFFICER.COM

Till next time,

2006 - 2015

2015-07-08T13:00:00.002+08:00

Hi readers,

I've always enjoyed going for Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship and thankfully I manage to go for 3 of it. It isn't much but I have met many new yoyo players that I eventually could call friends. It is amazing how people have improved throughout the years. Anyways, unfortunately I was not able to attend this year's AP but on the good side, Brian Low from Singapore has released his own edit of AP and it is really entertaining.

First , lets have a little flashback. The video below is the main reason why I wanted to compete in yoyo events and have the desperation to attend AP in 2009.

This video is made by Ian Poh

Next video is how everyone has improved and grown up. Even though it is at a different place with newer competitor face involved, the fun never ends. Once you have watched this , you will understand why I always have the urge to go for AP every year.

THIS

2015

Till next time,

Yoyo Ranger - MAFIA

2015-07-07T13:57:00.001+08:00

Hi readers,

There is a buzz going around Facebook and I have just came across the latest yoyo made in Malaysia by Stanley Low Jia Cheng, founder of Team Tr-Yo, and he is from Terengganu. This yoyo goes by the name of Yoyo Ranger.

What you are looking at is the latest signature series of Ryan Han, Sarawak's very own yoyo mafia.
Ryan Han is the founder of Sarawak Yo-Blitz team and he has been educating Sarawak's younger generation to compete nationally and internationally.

I have tried playing with this yoyo and I must say that I'm impress with the performance of this yoyo. It is slightly lighter than what it looks like but it is stable. The beadblasted surfaces makes it easier for finger grinding tricks or finger spin tricks. I would love to get my hands on it someday and maybe I could elaborate more on the feel of the yoyo but for now, below are the yoyo's specs that I have obtained directly from Stanley.

Yoyo Specs :
Wide : 43.7mm
Diameter : 55.6mm
Bearing Gap : 4.2mm
Weight : 68 Gram
Material : 6061

This yoyo was used by Adi Hisham Mohtar during our recent Malaysia National yoyo contest and he is the current champion for 3A division. If you would like to enquire more on this product, you may contact Stanley directly through his Facebook. All you need to do is CLICK HERE.

If you wish to talk directly to the Yoyo Mafia himself , Ryan Han.

AND

Last but not least , if you wish to be a fan of Adi Hisham , then just CLICK HERE

If you have further enquiries , suggestions, or comments , feel free to drop a message at wyvernstrings@gmail.com don't forget to "like" our Facebook page.

Till next time,

Malaysia Rep

2015-07-02T13:18:00.000+08:00

Hi readers ,

AP2015 has just ended and all of our Malaysia's representative are now back home. I would like to say that I am very proud of all our Malaysian player that went up on the stage and put up a good show. Those of you that did not make it to the finals, don't feel down because this is not the end. Hei , you guys are competing against the best in Asia. That's definitely something to be proud of.

Anyways, so far I could only obtain two videos of our Malaysians that made it through to the finals which is Zafran Aqil and Ho Swee Jim. I have not seen any video from Dimi nor Azrul posted on Facebook yet but once I am able to find the link, I would definitely post it here for you guys to see it.

I have included a video of Zafran and Jim below for your viewing. The reason that Zafran looks really tense is because the pressure going up against Asia's best could be overwhelming. Hence the lack of smile, but off the stage, he is the best chap to talk to in any yoyo event.

Representing Yoyofactory Malaysia

As for Jim, mind twisting combos that he puts up on stage is just amazing. After going through preliminary round against 150 other player from 13 different countries, I can't even describe the amount of time dedication, practising to compete and this is the result, you have to see it for yourself to know what I am talking bout.

If you guys like what you see, feel free to send them greetings, kisses, hugs, your best wishes, fan mail, love letters, or just plain friend request on their Facebook ! I'm pretty sure they are more than delighted to have more fans

Zafran Aqil

Ho Swee Jim

Ahmad Dhamiri Nur (Dimi)

Azrul Hafriz

Till next time,

Ease of accomodation

2015-07-01T10:50:00.000+08:00

Hi readers,

What's important for most yoyo players that travels overseas for a yoyo contest ? Money ? Well , yeah , thats partially true. I would say accommodation would be the answer. It is part of my experience to hunt for hotels that provides the best price to stay closest to the contest venue or atleast somewhere appropriate and it is troublesome to go through google to search for it.

Looking through google for a hotel one by one can be a real hassle. So, we would like to make your life much easier. Without going through the hassle looking through google, this blog has place a search engine to look for a hotel on your next destination.

I always have the thought that "how great it is if we could just book it directly from a link that is prepared in the blog / forum / yoyo website". That's how I came up with this.

Why should I look for a hotel from here ?

Its simple. This blog is niche towards yoyo players. Whenever you get an update on a yoyo event that is happening right here in Malaysia or any part of the world that has been updated in this blog, you can just directly go to the search engine that has been prepared for you rather than opening another tab to search through google.

Booking.com

Where is the link ?
It is on the left side of the blog. You can't miss it. All you need to do is to key in your destination, set your dates, and the search engine would automatically search for the best deal for all the hotels available in that particular area. You could also search the type of hotels that you are looking for , for example, back packers, hostels, capsule hotel or high end hotels.

I have set up 2 search engine for you guys in order to make a price comparison and obtain the best accommodation price that they can offer.

The next big thing that will be taking place is in Tokyo, Japan. It might be a good idea to look for a place to stay before it is too late. I have some friends that booked their stay 6 months in advance. We hope this will help our readers in some way or another.

Till next time,

That's a wrap, folks.

2015-06-29T07:30:00.001+08:00

Hi readers,

AP2015 has officially ended yesterday. Congratulations to all of the champions for each of their respective division. Mad props to Iori Yamaki taking the title of champion for the Single A division. It was a really close battle between him and Ahmad Kharisma, which came in at second place and last but not least, 4 times world champion, Hiroyuki Suzuki (Mickey) is currently placed third for the Single A division.

If you have seen a different result , whereby Hiroyuki Suzuki is ranked 4th for AP, it has been noted in the official AP Facebook page that there was a miscalculation in the score sheets. Hence, as a rectification, he is currently ranked 3rd for AP2015. For more details, click here.

Too bad I wasn't able to make it for AP this year around but it definitely look like a fun, enjoyable and more relax event this year. Everybody had fun hanging out with each other. We have seen some new faces taking the stage to a whole new level this year. I hope that next year would be a much more exciting event.

What will happen now is that, the champions are seeded for World Yoyo Contest 2015 , that will be taking place in Tokyo, Japan, in August.

I'm sure you are eager to know the score sheets, so take a look below.

Single A Division

Double A Division

Triple A Division

Offstring Division

Counterweight Division

Till next time,

Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship - Day 2

2015-06-27T23:30:00.000+08:00

Hi readers,

I have just watched a few videos of AP 2015 and I must say this, I am really impress will all of the players that has made it to the final. We have yoyo baby , Kazuya Murata adoring people around him, we have Shu Takada, and not to forget , Kendama Pro Player , reprsenting KendamaUSA Dave Mateo is in the house !

Just an update, our Malaysia National , Zafran Aqil will be competing tomorrow in his single A division and guess what, we have another Malaysian finalist that will go head to head with Asia's best yoyo players and his name is Ho Swee Jim.

For the past 2 years, Ahmad Kharisma from Indonesia, representing Yoyorecreation has putting been up an amazing performance on the stage so far and I'm expecting crazy body binding, hand twisting and mind boggling combos again for this year. It will be an exciting event tomorrow and I am definitely pumped to see who is the champion for this year's Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship 2015.

As for yesterday, one of my favorite yoyo player has blown the minds of spectators in Bugis+. He is the 12 times world champion for double A division and he is from Japan. Could you guess who is he ? He is no other than Shinji Saito !!

I am always a big fan of his 2A performance and I'm always captivated by his performance. The fluid motion and the way he controls his yoyos is just spectacular. Another idol of mine is Rei Iwakura. For now, I have not seen any pictures of him posted anywhere related to AP2015 but I really hope that he will be competing this year again.

There was a time that he made it just in time to compete for the finals and he was the champ for that year. Anyways, if any of you that is reading this is in Singapore right now. You would not want to miss this opportunity to meet the biggest players of Asia Pacific in Bugis+.

Tomorrow will be the final day of AP2015. This would be the day where everything would be decided on who will be the champions in their respective divisions. As a consolation, here is a video of Shinji Saito tearing up the stage today ! Enjoy !

Insane tricks by Shinji Saito

Till next time,

AP 2015 first day

2015-06-26T13:00:00.000+08:00

Hi readers,

Today marks the first day of AP 2015 in Singapore, Bugis+ Mall. To those of you that is competing today , once again , GOODLUCK ! Especially to our Malaysia representatives.

To those of you that couldn't make it today , don't worry , there is a live stream going on right now and if you want to show your love and support, all you need to do is click here.

Till next time,

Yoyofficer are back in stock !

2015-06-25T12:54:00.003+08:00

Hi readers,

The most anticipated Hatchet 2 and Kilter 2 by Yoyofficer is now available at www.28spin.com. As an additional hype for you guys, whenever you purchase a Yoyofficer yoyo , you will be able to obtain a Rm10 rebate (discount) by keying in this code :

ILUVYOYOFFICER

(valid from 25/06/2015 to 30/06/2015)

What I have right now is a Kilter 1 and I have been playing with it for the past few weeks, the difference between Kilter 2 and the predecessor yoyo is the obvious shape. It is much rounder now compared to the previous Kilter and by the looks of it , they are still maintaining that cosy hold on the yoyo. So far , based on my experience, the Kilter plays similar to the feel that you can get from Yoyojam Next Level.

There is just something about the yoyo that has a very centered feeling to it. The side rims are not too thick and the inner part of the yoyo is thinner as usual. I will definitely recommend to get your very own Kilter from 28spin before stocks run out.

As for the Hatchet 2, I have not tried it hands-on at the moment , so I am just going to quote the description that I found on 28spin webstore.

"YOYOFFICER redesigned their popular Hatchet model to serve as their new flagship competition level yo-yo. It has always been a competition favorite among their team members and with the new design changes it is sure to be your favorite too! The Hatchet 2!The original Hatchet design was always popular so YOYOFFICER did not want to change it to drastically when designing the Hatchet 2. They kept the same dimensions but redistributed the weight to amp up performance. They cut down the center weight and pushed it out to the rims to give the Hatchet 2 improved stability and spin time while maintaining the perfect level of maneuverability. They also managed to reduce the weight a little which gives the new Hatchet 2 a slightly faster and even a little floatier feel on the string."

For more information in regards on the product , click here

Till next time,

Where to stay for Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship ?

2015-06-24T12:50:00.002+08:00

Hi readers ,

Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship is just 2 more days away (internally screaming) , ehem. Anyways, I know some of you are excited as I am and some of you could be more excited that me but have you figured out where to stay ? No ? Well, don't worry. Below are the list of hotels ranging from high-end hotels to budgeted back packer hotel that is near Bugis+ or near a MRT station for your convenient sake. Hopefully this will help you to budget for a proper hotel during your stay in Singapore.

High-end

The Sultan

Holiday Inn - Orchard

Orchard Hotel Singapore

Average

Hotel IBIS Singapore - Bencoolen

Fragrance Hotel - Bugis

Backpacker

Capsules @ The Little Red Dot

G4 Station Back Packer's hotel

The Pod - Boutique Capsules

You should be able to find the nearest MRT station from the hotel locations that I have indicated above. Otherwise, it will be a breeze walk for you from your hotel to the contest venue. Based on my experience, Singapore is a safe place to walk around during the day as well as night time. However , a precaution is always a good idea. Try not to walk alone after midnight hours but instead walk in pairs or in a group (but try not to block the road if you are walking in a huge group).

My personal choice would be "The Pod - Boutique Capsules" because it looks neat and fancy at an affordable price. Anyways, try and make new friends wherever you can, and if you are staying in a backpacker hostel/hotel, try to keep your voice down because there are other travellers getting their rest. Make sure your personal belongings is safely locked in the lockers provided or keep it close to you.

Till next time,

Ramadan 2015

2015-06-17T11:51:00.002+08:00

Hi readers,

Wyvern Strings would like to wish all of our muslim friends and customers a blessed Ramadan 2015. May your fasting period goes smoothly and any deeds performed during the Ramadan month will be 10th fold.

Ramadan 2015

As a precaution for all yoyo players that is fasting , make sure you are properly dehydrated after Maghrib and try to minimise the amount of practise during the day. Reschedule your training time to night time instead. I know most of you are eager to compete for Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship 2015 (AP2015) but your health comes first. Otherwise , your body will not be fit for the contest and this will affect your performance on the stage.

Plan your route to the contest venue to avoid long walking distance from your hotel to the venue. This is to avoid fatigue from the amount of walking and to conserve your energy to compete.

Most important of all , have fun !!

Till next time,

Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship 2015

2015-06-15T12:58:00.000+08:00

Hi readers ,

I'm pretty sure that most of you had been hearing all the buzz that is going on Facebook and other yoyoing social network including other blogs, BUT if you have no idea what it is, Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship is 2 weeks away !

What is this championship all about ?

It is one of the of the most anticipated yoyoing contest in the Asia Pacific region and it has been constantly held in Singapore. For the next 3 days of the event , participants will be competing for the title of Asia Pacific champion and a ticket to participate in the World Yoyo Contest 2015, Tokyo, Japan.

Competitors from 13 difference country ( Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, Brunei, and not forgetting Singapore ) will gather at one spot to battle out for the title of Champion in their respective division in the Asia Pacific region.

The contest is a 3 days event starting on the 26th of June to the 28th of June in BUGIS + , Singapore. Early bird registration fees is S$50 for one division and additional division would be an additional S$10 each. As for regular registration, it would be S$60 for one division and any additional division, S$10 per division.

AP2014 video clip

For further information in regards of the event including rules & regulation and competitor list , CLICK HERE

Our Malaysia Yoyo Championship has just ended recently and the champions will be seeded into the finals. So show your support to our Malaysian players and let's give them the strength to bring back the champion title.

Malaysia Representative :

Ahmad Dhamiri Nur (Dimi)

Muhammad Shakeel Mohd Rose (Shakeel)

Ewin Ee

Fa'iq Farisan Bin Nik Mohd Azmi

Low Jia Cheng

Toh Zhen Jian

Chew Zi Hao

Ho Swee Jim

Yap Chun Hang

Zafran Aqil

(current list as of 15/06/2015)

If you are still planning on where to stay , maybe this will be helpful for you.

CLICK HERE

To our muslim friends, its the ramadhan season, so stay hydrate before the contest and goodluck to everyone !

Till next time,

Malaysia Yo-yo Championship 2015 (MYYC 2015)

2015-05-06T12:45:00.000+08:00

"Malaysian Yo-Yo Championship (MYYC) is an annual competition organized by the Malaysian Yo-Yo community since it was established back in 2005. This year, MYYC will be held on 30th May 2015 and 31st May 2015 at the Level 3 of Lot 10 shopping complex in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. MYYC serves as a platform in searching for the best national yoyo player in different divisions. The yo-yoing sport had evolved into 4 different types of division, which are 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A (Off-String) and 5A (Freehand) Division. Hence, the champion of each division will be automatically absorbed as seeded players and as the Malaysian Representatives at the upcoming Asia Pacific Yo-Yo Championship which will be held in Singapore and the World Yo-Yo Contest which will be held in Japan."

The Malaysia Yo-yo Association will be organising the Malaysia's National annual contest on the 30th of May to the 31st of May in the heart of Kuala Lumpur , Lot 10 Bukit Bintang , Level 3. Dear visitors , don't forget to jot down both of these dates in your busy schedule for this grand event of the year and to all contestants , practise hard ! You will be awarded with awesome prizes and there can only be one champion !

SPONSORS :
STUSSY KL
IQ Raub Technology
YoyoRanger
Dement Clothing Co
SHOWROOM
Vosun
Heartbeatyoyo
Magicyoyo
Yoyofficer
Yoyoskeel
Kedaiyoyo.com
28spin
Yoyojam
Yoyofactory

Who will be the next National Champion ? Who will be seeded representing Malaysia in the Asia Pacific yoyo contest 2015 ? Will it be you ? JOIN and compete for the title !!

For registration , CLICK HERE

For more details on the event , CLICK HERE or visit www.malaysiayoyochampionship.com

Till next time ,

Its a big NO NO !

2015-04-24T08:13:00.000+08:00

Hi readers ,

I recently came across on a post in one of the kendama group on Facebook, whereby a boy was asking whether is there anyone that is willing to give / donate to him a Homegrown , SWEETS. Now , as to my understanding this Kendama is not that cheap, at the price of Rm361 or slightly higher depending on which wood it is made of.

Now, the issue is that this kid owns quite alot of other expensive kendamas and yet he is asking for another kendama for free with the reason that he really wants it. For obvious reasons, his request got rejected by the community in that group. Well buddy , tough luck.

I have never encountered such request for kendamas before but I did experience it with a yoyo. I understand that kids would like to try their luck by asking whether is there any kind soul that is willing to give a yoyo for free but there are reasons why a yoyo player would not give his yoyo to you when you request it.

So Im going to list down 3 reasons why a yoyo player would not give you a yoyo when you request for one.

Reason 1

They save up their own money to get their favourite yoyos ! Duh ! For me, personally , this is a very obvious reason. Some yoyo players may have the luxury of having their parents to buy high end yoyos for them whenever they want but some of them had to do extra chores around the house or have good grades in order for them to be rewarded with that yoyo or extra cash to purchase the yoyos.

You on the other hand , waltz in and ask them whether could they give you THAT yoyo. Come on kids. You are smart , think before you ask. You may think its funny and testing your luck by asking other yoyo players to give one of their yoyos.

However , there are occasions whereby a yoyo player would voluntary hand out their yoyo to another yoyo players. This will only takes place IF and ONLY IF that yoyo player has no other yoyo and the current yoyo is thrashed beyond measure or there is a giveaway contest going on.

Reason 2

Most of the yoyo players have been through so many events and competition with their favourite yoyo. It has sentimental value for that yoyo player. Its slightly difficult for them to be apart with that yoyo even though he may not used it any longer in the future.

My sentimental valued yoyo. Was given by my mother on my 18th and 21st birthday. (From left to right : 2008 888 & Spingear Golden Dragon 888 edition)

It could also be the very first yoyo that he got that made him start his journey in the yoyoing world and once again this is related to sentimental values.

Reason 3

He or she just doesn't like it. We as yoyo players are partially collectors too. We are totally annoyed whenever this question is raised by juniors or kids. You are making a big mistake by doing so. Some yoyos are really hard to get and we have been through hardship searching for that particular yoyos as part of our collection.

My advice is , you could try asking that yoyo player nicely when you meet him or her but this is only a 50/50 chance. Be considerate towards their feelings too. It is similar to the moment when you are trying to ask for extra pocket money from your parents. You will get it , but you will need to be extra hardworking and prove yourself worthy of such reward. Same goes for yoyos. If they think you can excel further in the future , they would not mind giving you one.

However, if you are half-hearted in doing what you are doing , showing no progress and no passion , you can kiss your luck goodbye and say your last farewell. Once again, I would like to remind all of you that not all yoyo players are generous because they know how much of effort they need to put in to get a yoyo. So be smart.

Till next time,

5 Do's and Don'ts in any yoyo event !

2015-04-09T16:59:00.000+08:00

Hi readers ,

I have attended various yo-yo events and its either here in Malaysia or in Singapore for Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship. It would be lucky if I can go for World Yoyo Contest someday. Anyways , that isn't the main point that I am trying to convey. What I am trying to say that there are certain rules that aren't written anywhere but it is a common courtesy for all us , as competitors and yo-yo players , to follow this rules.

No idea what is it ? Here are the 5 Do's and Don'ts in any yo-yo event :

THE DO'S

1. Always greet as many yo-yo players as you can the moment you arrive at the scene. This will not only break the ice between strangers, but you will also create a much friendly environment for everyone.

2. BE ON TIME !!! This really irks me like an itch under my skin that can never be scratched off. Contest registration is usually open at 10am or 11am, so please line up in order to smoothen the registration processing. It is so, so common in Malaysia. As the saying goes "Malaysian Timing". Please, don't ever practise this. It's either you be early or be punctual for the contest or loose your chance to compete.

3. For those that registered online, a music submission is required but as a precaution, have a back up in a form of MP3 format stored in your Thumbdrive or burned into a disc. Due to human errors, there could be some technical errors that the file could go missing or mistakenly was not downloaded , we apologise for that. No handphones as your backup freestyle song please. It is impractical and you would not want to have your song cut off due to a phone call during your freestyle on the stage.

4. There are practise areas made available for yo-yo players to practise. So please make full use of that place in-order to avoid the yo-yo hitting passerby.

5. Once the contest is over, you had your fun, please clean the contest area and keep it free from any litters. By litters , I mean your used strings, water bottles, tissues, or food wrappings. Some shopping malls have strict policies towards littering. So you would not want them to forbid the organisers from conducting another yo-yo contest in the future, wouldn't ya ?

THE DON'TS

1. Please do not wander off too far during the contest. It is a common practise for the emcee to announce the next 5 or 10 contestant after the first 5 or 10 freestyle is over. If your name has been called out so many times, you need to be there to respond and be ready to go up on the stage. If you were to wander off somewhere too far, you will cause delays in the event schedule. In worst case scenario, it is assumed that you are absent and therefore disqualified.

If you need to eat or drink, please get something light at the moment till your turn ends and if you need to go to the washroom, please notify any one of your friends or the emcee that you need to go to the washroom urgently. Atleast we know where you are going to and how long to expect you to be back on the stage.

2. Cheering for your friends or your teammates is awesome ! However, cheering too loud can be slightly annoying, especially for the judges and for the other spectators. You are not baboons. You are a group of professional yo-yo players, competing to be the best in your country for National contest, and representing your country in Asia Pacific Yoyo Contest or Worlds Yoyo Contest. Cheering is good but no excessively. Judges need to have full concentration during scoring a freestyle and your loud cheer might distract them.

3. Please do not wear white shirts or bright coloured outfit. You should realise it by now that most yo-yo players wear black or darker shirt during their freestyle on the stage. This is because your strings are bright enough and with a brighter background, the judges might have difficulties looking at the string's movement. It is not compulsory but it is advisable to wear a darker shade clothing.

4. Do not ever, ever, stand behind the judges during the score is being tabulated. This is to ensure that the scores are not disclosed publicly before the contest is over. Please bare in mind that you are prohibited from looking at untabulated scores before the contest is over. If you are caught taking a peek at the scores without the permission of the judges, you will be disqualified immediately without prior notice nor further notification despite what are your scores.

"You have been warn"

5. Do not distract the emcee and do not stand in-front of the media's cameras. Emcee will announce your name from time to time and he will remind the contestants when is their turn to be up on the stage. So do not go up to them every 10 minutes asking when is your turn. The organising committee will stick a list of names of the contestants and the emcee will be calling out the contestants name according to the same copy of the list unless there are some changes, which will be announced publicly.

Their duty is to make the coordinate the event in line with the event schedule , to announce the contestants name , and to give time for the judges to tabulate the score by entertaining the spectators till they are ready. It is your duty to check on the namelist by yourself. The emcees are not your name list.

As for the medias, im sure you have seen them. They are always located behind the judge with a camera on a tripod. Some team records the whole contest freestyle and it is to be uploaded immediately online. Some of the cameras are streaming live through the internet. If your head or body blocks the camera, please move to the side and pay attention to your surroundings. Be thoughtful for those yo-yo players that could not make it to your contest because they would like to watch the freestyle without any disturbance.

That's about it from me. I am sorry if some of the sentences that I've blurted out are harsh or strict but this is for your own good. Organisers or organising committee are too nice sometimes by not mentioning this to you but as a group of professional yo-yo players, its each and everyone's responsibility to be thoughtful and be professional.

Why do I keep mentioning the word 'professional' ? This is to remind all of you to keep your reputations reputable. This is what divides you between mediocre and an upper class of yo-yo players / demonstrator. You want respect, this is how you work for it.

Till next time ,

Do you have a yoyo that spins really long ?

2015-04-01T07:24:00.001+08:00

Hi readers,

I was browsing through my Facebook and I came across a status from a friend from Brunei ( HI STUART !!) , ehem. Anyways , he got asked a couple of times from first timer spinners or beginner level yoyo players :

"Do you have a yo-yo that spins really long ?"

I have encountered such question before whenever I am doing a yo-yo demo or during a yo-yo meet and to me , it is really common. Kids, you do have a valid question and I do not mind letting you know that YES , we all have yo-yos that spins really long but this is because of the modern technology that is installed in the yo-yo.

This modern technology is not some rocket science that makes the yo-yo spins really long , but instead it is just an ordinary Ball Bearing which was installed in most modern yo-yos.

What are modern yo-yos ?
This are the yo-yos that are currently available in the market that does not use the traditional wooden axle as their spinning mechanism.

However, the spin time of a yo-yo does not solely depend on the type of bearing used, but instead , your throw down plays a role too. If you throw it harder, the faster it will spin. You will definitely get a longer spin time compared to softer throws. Do keep in mind that , the harder you throw , the chances for your string to snap is greater.

Now, in our perspective , and by "our" , I am referring to all senior yo-yo players especially to those that competes , do not need a yo-yo that spins too long.

WHY ?

It is because of the combos that we do. When the yo-yo is moving around during combos is performed, there will be more friction between the yo-yo's wall with the string, which will decrease the spin time of the yo-yo. The longer your combination of tricks, the yo-yo spin time will be slower. This is common and we need to catch the yo-yo to complete the combo. To start a new combo, a new throw must be performed. So there is no need for a long spinning yo-yo for us.

The only reason that you would want a yo-yo that spins really long is for a "Long Sleeper" contest. Then yes, you might need to throw the yoyo harder to make it spin faster. Another factor is the yo-yo's weights. I have explain the concept of weight rings and here is the link for your reference :
"Weight Rings & Side Effects"

My advice is that you do not need a yo-yo that spins too long because you will be doing a more intricate combos when you have reached the level of a pro. Just learn how to throw a Long Sleeper and a Breakaway properly. Its the basics that will determine your throw.

If you have further enquiries , do not hesitate to drop us a comment here or send me a message at wyvernstrings@gmail.com

Till next time ,

Ding ! Ding ! Ding !!!!!

2015-03-30T12:06:00.003+08:00

Hi readers ,

DING !!!!!

Worst sound for any yo-yo player in the whole wide world (well unless you are sponsored and gets free yo-yos everyday) . Ladies and gentleman , readers, kids , kittens , aliens ..... that is the sound of a yo-yo hitting on a hard surface. As a prize, there is a huge scratch mark on your yo-yo.

So what do you do ?

Simple

Just perform a rim repair on the yo-yo. How ? I have attached a video that shows you how to do a rim repair step by step.

The main idea of rim repair is to grind down the rim where the scratch mark is, till it reaches a smooth surface again. Unfortunately, you will need to do the same for the other half of the yo-yo too but on the upper side, you will have both shiny rims of raw surface. In order to do this, you will need a semi-coarse sand paper and you can this from any hardware store nearby your housing areas.

After you have smoothen out the scars that is on the rims using the semi-coarse sand paper, next you will need a much smoother sand paper for the fine resurfacing of the rim.. This is to grind the excess metal scraps away from the rims in-order to create a much smoother surface on the rims.

"How long do I need to do this ?"

It depends on you actually. Touch the surface and if you find it smooth enough , then just stop and not to continue grinding the surface.

As the finishing touch, apply a metal polisher cream onto the raw part of the rim and while using a soft cloth, buff the raw part till it is shiny. My own preference is to use Autosol. If you don't know how it looks like , here is an image of it :

Now you will have an old yo-yo looking brand new with that shiny raw rims ! I performed a rim repair on my 888 a few years back and I have to say, it looks really good ~~ Give it a try, send us a picture at our email wyvernstrings@gmail.com , and we will post it here to show how good your yo-yo looks like !

Other tips for your yoyo :

Till next time,