From: BJ <job@nag.cs.colorado.edu> (now invalid) Subject: By the Way, Not the Name To: footbag@footbag.org Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 02:16:38 -0700 (MST)

Here's some food for thought... Feedback is welcome, particularly in regard to the names in the list. Try the "complete" list...

Benjamin Job

This paper presents a notation for describing footbag tricks and representing the relationships that exist between them. Additionally, it presents the means for generating a comprehensive list of possible variations.

Break a trick down. You get a series of movements preceeded by a set and followed by a catch (or kick). The set and catch options are few and easily listable. The series of movements, though allowing of more variation, are similarly listable. Represented as a formula, this information provides us with the means to logically generate trick variations. As the precision of the formula increases, that is, as more of the finite number of basic movements are incorperated into the formula, we approach the specification of every trick possible. Consider the following:

(toe | clip) > [(same | op)(in | out)dexterity]* > (same | op)(toe | clip)

The notation is as follows: "Same" and "op" are always relative to the leg previously refered to. "In" and "out" mean "inside" and "outside", respec- tively. "|" is equiv. to "choice" ("or"). "[ ]" means "enclosed dex is optional". ">" is equiv. to "followed by". "*" means the preceding term can occur/re-occur 0 or more times.

From this simple formula, most non-modified leg dexterities can be derived. Because of the structure of the formula, a "truth table" of moves can be gen- erated, leaving no move undiscovered (ex., see list).

Some examples:

• clip > op clip Clipper to Clipper
• toe > op in dex > op toe *clip > same in dex > op out dex > same toe Paradox Dbl Legover
• clip > op in dex > same in dex > op out dex > same toe Flurry

How far can we go? Only slight modifications are needed to account for other modifiers and their associated possibilities. For example, Pogo, Symposium, Spinning, ang Gyro moves can be formed by adding "(no plant while)" and "(forward | backward)spin". The formula,

(toe | clip) > [(no plant while)] [(same | op)(in | out)dexterity | (for | back)spin]* > (same | op)(toe | clip)

describes variations such as:

clip > (no plant while) op in dex > op in dex > (no plant while) op in dex > op toe Pogo Paradox Symposium Blur

The set and catch options can be filled in with all the choices: inside, outside, knee, the unsual surfaces. What elements that may comprise a trick have yet to be accounted for? Just a few: stomping ["(both legs plant)"], blind, hop-over, carry (Wrap), duck, dive, jumping/flying, Swirl/Twirl cross- body dex, swing (Pendulum, Rake). Not many other types of primitive movements exist. Since the acceptable tricks are just combinations of these primitives; and since each primitive may be easily implemented within the formula; the the possibility of a master formula for all tricks becomes complete.

• Note: "same", "op" and "no plant" are relative to the leg previously refered to.

Examples:

• clip > op in dex > op out dex > op clip Ripwalk
• toe > same out dex > same out dex > op clip Double Over Down
• toe > op out dex > op out dex > same toe Eggbeater
• toe > (no plant while) > op in dex > op toe Symposium Mirage
• toe > (no plant while) > op in dex > op clip Symposium Whirl
• clip > same in dex > op in dex > op toe Pdx Blur
• clip > same out dex > same out dex > op clip Barfly
• clip > op in dex > same in dex > same toe Double Pickup
• clip > op in dex > (no plant while) op out dex > op clip Dada Curve
• clip > (back)spin > same in dex > op out dex > op clip Gyro Ripwalk

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