Juggling

In its general sense, juggling can refer to all forms of artful or skillful object manipulation. This includes most prop-based circus skills such as diabolo, devil sticks, cigar box manipulation, contact juggling, and hat manipulation.

Juggling World Records

Solo Records

Currently, juggling world records are tracked by the Juggling Information Service Committee on Numbers Juggling (JISCON). All the records listed on the JISCON page represent the longest runs with each number and prop that has been authenticated using video evidence. As of January 2005, the top records for each prop are:

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• Rings/Plates: 13 rings for 13 catches by Albert Lucas in 2002.
• Balls/Beanbags: 12 beanbags for 12 catches, first done by Bruce Sarafian in 1996.
• Clubs/Sticks: 9 sticks for 9 catches, first done by Bruce Tiemann in 1996.

Each of these records are what is known as a "flash", meaning each prop is thrown and caught only ONCE. Some jugglers, and some juggling competitions, do not consider a flash to be "real juggling" and use "qualifying juggle" (a term taken from the International Jugglers' Association's Numbers Competition) to denote a pattern where each prop is thrown and caught at least TWICE. The JISCON records for qualifying runs are:

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• Rings: 10 rings for 27 catches by Anthony Gatto in 2001.
• Balls: 10 beanbags for 23 catches by Bruce Sarafian in 2001.
• Clubs: 7 clubs for 2 minutes, 49 seconds by Anthony Gatto in 2005.

There are other jugglers who have equaled or bettered these records but have not submitted video evidence to the JISCON. These non-verified records stand at:

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• Rings: 14 rings for 14 catches by Albert Lucas.
• Balls: 12 beanbags for 13 catches and 11 for 18 catches by Peter Bone.
• Clubs: 7 clubs for over 3 minutes by Anthony Gatto.

One other solo (non-passing) record that must be mentioned is the bounce juggling record. This is tracked by the Bounce Juggling World Record page, which styles itself on the JISCON page, and also only lists records with video evidence. These records are:

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• Flash: 11 bounce balls for 11 catches by Tim Nolan in 1990.
• Qualify: 10 bounce balls for 23 catches by Eden Zak in 2005.

Passing Records

When passing, only the props thrown between two separate jugglers are counted. In some patterns (ultimates or one-count) all the throws are caught by the opposite juggler but in a few patterns each juggler makes some throws to themself. If these self throws were counted, two jugglers could make a single pass to their partner and then go on to juggle solo patterns for as long as they wanted.

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The JISCON page only tracks club passing records. The top records stand at:

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• Flash (each prop passed at least once but less than twice): 14 clubs for 14 passes be Peter Kaseman & Darin Marriott in 2004.
• Qualify (each prop passed at least twice):12 clubs for 54 passes by Vova Galchenko & Olga Galchenko in 2004. video on this page

The Bounce Page tracks bounce passing records. The top records stand at:

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• Flash: 18 balls for 25 catches by Dave Critchfield & John Jones in 2005. video on this page
• Qualify: 16 balls for 67 catches by Dave Critchfield & John Jones in 2005. videos on this page

Ball passing records are not officially tracked by any site. However, the top records currently stand at:

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• Flash: 18 balls for 18 catches by Ben Beever and Luke Burrage in 2002. video on this page
• Qualify: 15 balls for 27 catches Ben Beever and Luke Burrage in 2004.