The Berkeley Juggling Club

Wankle Engine

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:57:56 GMT

Work in progress

A 4 person takeout pattern.

3 people stand in a triangle. 4th person (M) starts next to one of the triangle persons.

Start

A: two clubs (one each)

M: two clubs (flipped) (one each)

B, C: 3 clubs, 2 in their right hand, 1 in their left

Here is what the people do during a single rotation (3 beats):

M

Just walked (was at position A before), has two club and flips them (at the start, just start with two clubs flipped already). Then:

beat 1: hand or throw your right hand club to B
do a handacross
beat 2: steal a pelf from A (right to left through) with empty left hand and replace right hand club into A's left hand
do a handacross
beat 3: steal/catch pelf/pass from C and step out (to the right side of C)

The main action is in front of A, a steal and a replace, whereas beat 1 is just a no-spin pass and beat 3 is just a catch. It is important to be out of the way for the A<->B pass on beat 3 and also the B<->C pass on beat 2. To achieve this, one doesn't need to walk all the way to B on beat 1 and just throw the club to B instead of handing it over and then already stand a bit closer to C when doing beat 2.

A

Just walked out with 2 clubs

beat 1: catches a club (left hand) from B
beat 2: throws a right pelf that M steals
gets a club replaced from M (where the pelf would have landed)
beat 3: passes a right hand to 'B'

B

Does a 2 count feed to the right/left/right

beat 1: passes to A, gets a club from M
beat 2: passes to C, receives from C
beat 3: passes to A, receives from A

C

Only one pass on beat 2

beat 1: right self
beat 2: right pass to B, receives from B
beat 3: pelf that M catches. Easier for M if thrown somewhat into the middle of the pattern.

Rotation

M -> A -> B -> C

Full cycle for one person:

Starting with M walking in and the names as arranged in the diagram above.

M walks halfway towards B with 2 clubs (flipped)
throw right hand club to B's left hand, handacross, turn towards A
steal/replace pelf from A, turn towards C
grep pelf/pass from C, step out with 2 clubs and turn facing A
catch pass to A -> 3 clubs again
right pelf and getting a club replaces from new M
pass to A (start of a 4 pass 2-count sequence)
pass to B, pass to A, pass to B
self, pass to C (now taking the place of B), through pelf towards the middle for the new M (original B) to catch
flip remaining two clubs and walk halfway towards the middle

Star (4-count)

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:27:30 GMT

You stand in a circle and for the 5 person version always pass to the person two to your right and catch from the person two to your left.

Everyone starts with 2 clubs in their right hand.

Pattern Diagram

Position Diagram

Variations

There are lots of variations of this. You can do this in any count for example.

Similar patterns:

4 person walking version: Shooting Star

Shooting Star

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:19:53 GMT

A 4 person version of a star.

Depending on how fast you want this to be, you can do it as 2 count or 4 count and have the person with less clubs start with 0, 1, or 2 clubs.

You start in the same position as in a star, but one position of the star is left empty. The passing pattern is still the same as in the basic star pattern. That is, you always pass to the person two to your right and catch from the person two to your left (counting the empty position). The person who would pass to the empty spot is the one starting with less clubs. The person who would receive from the missing person walks to that spot when they are down to 0 (1 or 2) clubs.

Showing the version below where you walk with 2 clubs in your hand.

Pattern Diagram

Position Diagram

Similar patterns:

Shooting Y

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:14:13 GMT

The normal Y variation (you always pass and receive from the same people), but with only 3 people.

Two people start normal with 3 clubs (2 clubs in their right hand). One person starts with with 0 clubs (or 1 or 2 if you want to walk earlier and make the pattern faster).

One position of the Y is left empty. The person who would pass to the empty spot is the one starting with less clubs. The person who would receive from the missing person walks to that spot when they are down to 0 (1 or 2) clubs.

Below we are showing the 2 club variation.

Pattern Diagram

Position Diagram

Similar patterns:

Shooting Star

Chopabout

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:23:16 GMT

The Chopabout is similar to the Roundabout, but the (as the names says) chops are involved ;) You should be able to do the roundabout first, before trying this pattern.

Here is what to do when the pattern is running and you start at the same position in the patterns as in the Roundabout when person A and C each had two clubs and A normally walks in front of C to do a 'fast'.

In the Chopabout, A still faces C, hand their right hand club to C. Person A then does a hand-across and faces B.

B at this point already throw a 'half chop', i.e., a chop that the person in the middle can catch roughly at head height. Person A at the same time holds the club in the right hand at the bulb of the club behind him, so that C can just take it. B now throws a 'pelf', A does a hand-across, takes the 'pelf' and hands a clubs back to A's left hand.

Now, A turns around and C already threw the next 'pass' as a half-chop. This time A hands the other clubs to B. A turns around one more time, steals another 'pelf' from B, keeps rotating anti-clockwise and steps next to B.

At this time B steps into the pattern and the pattern continues.

When starting the pattern, two people just do 4-count and whenever the person in the middle gives a sign, the person facing the one in the middle start the pattern by throwing the next normal pass as a half-chop.

The three positions do the following (positions taken from the above description:

Juggler A:

(just walking into the middle)
hands a club to left hand of the person they were standing next to (C)
faces A, catches a half-chop and hands a club behind him to C
hand-across extra club from left hand to right hand
does an exchange with B after a 'pelf'
turns anti-clockwise
catches another half-chop and hands the club behind him to B
turns anti-clockwise
takes a 'pelf' from B and steps outside
puts one club (holding it at the bulb) at their hip which B takes

Juggler B:

after A gave a clubs to C, throws a half-chop
throws a 'pelf'
takes a club that A is holding behind him
throws another 'pelf'
takes the club at the hip from A

Juggler C:

takes a club from A (when A is walking in)
takes another club from A (which A is holding behind them)
throws a half-chop
starts passing to A, who now steps out of the middle

Combinations

One can also combine this with Dropabout and Chopabout

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Similar patterns

More complex patterns with more people:

Scrambled B on Toast

Dropabout

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:23:02 GMT

The Dropabout is similar to the Roundabout, but the middle position involves a multiplex-dropback.

It's actually closer to the Chopabout.

In the Dropabout, A still faces C, hand their right hand club to C. Person A then does a hand-across and faces B.

B at this point throw a normal pass to A and A throws a dropback to C. B now throws an extra pass to the middle person (i.e., on a 2-count). Person A now gathers both clubs in their right hand and is getting ready for a multiplex backdrop at the same time A is turning anti-clockwise to face C. On the next normal 4-count pass, A catches the pass from C and throws the multiplex-dropback to B.

Before catching the multiplex, B throws the one club they have left to A in the middle (they had two and did a normal pass to C). Person A turns around and catches the pass from B. A keeps turning, steps next to B, puts one club at their hip that B takes while walking in.

Similar to the Chopabout, to start the pattern the outside people just do 4-count and at a signal from the middle, the person facing the one in the middle throws a pass to the middle, who throws a backdrop in respons. The outside person throwing that pass then throws the 2-count pass and the patterns continues.

The three positions do the following (positions taken from the above description:

Juggler A:

(just walking into the middle)
hands a club to left hand of the person they were standing next to (C)
faces A, catches a normal pass and throws a backdrop
catches an additional pass from the same outside person (B)
starts turning and organizing both clubs in a multiplex grip
turns anti-clockwise
throws a multiplex dropback and catches a club from C
turns anti-clockwise
catches the pass from B
keeps turning anti-clockwise, steps next to B
puts one club (holding it at the bulb) at their hip which B takes

Juggler B:

after A gave a clubs to C, throws a normal pass, but to the middle instead of C
throws another club to A in the middle on a 2-count
throws another pass to A (who is currently looking at C)
catches the multiplex
does a normal pass to C
takes the club at the hip from A

Juggler C:

takes a club from A (when A is walking in)
throws a normal pass shorter, so that A can catch it after throwing the multiplex
starts passing to A, who now steps out of the middle

Combinations

One can also combine this with Dropabout and Chopabout

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Similar patterns:

More complex patterns with more people:

Scrambled B on Toast

Scrambed B on Toast

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:22:44 GMT

Work in progress

A 5 person takeout pattern.

There are 5 positions:

The feeder
Two feedes: A and B
A person in the middle
A person starting on the outside

The feeder (F), A, and B are starting in a standard feed position where the feeder is doing 2-count and the feedees are doing 4-count.

M (middle person) is standing between the Feeder and A.

O (outside) is standing next to M, but outside the pattern.

To start the pattern, we do a slow start where we do 2 normal passes in a feed, i.e. F and A, exchange a d pass and F and B exchange a pass. In the slow start F, A, and B each have 3 clubs (2 in their right hand and 1 in their left). M and O each have a single club in their right hand. Our slow starts has the following beats: A, B, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, ...

This is different from when the pattern is running. At a transition from one feeder to another, in the running pattern, A and O would each have 2 clubs and do a 'fast'. The new M would also do an exchange/fast with the new feeder and each of them would have 2 clubs instead of starting with 3 for F and 1 for M.

The position rotation is M->F->O->A->B who will become M again.

The pattern repeats after 3 beats.

Feeder (F): slwo start: two extra passes to A and B (which are skipped during the running pattern). passes to the left feedee (A) on 1. The pass gets intercepted by M and carried over to A. Then F does a lofty pass to the position of feedee B, which also gets caught by M. Then a pass to A (caught by A). Then an extra pass (on the new beat 1) to M who is now took over the position of the feeder.
Middle (M): slow start: steals pass 1 from the feeder. during the running pattern: M was the previous B and the old M caught the lofty. At this point B becomes the new M and walks in front of the new F, does an exchange/fast with F and then carries pass 1 to A (same as in the slow start). After handing the pass to A M does a hand across, waits for B to pass to F, steps past B and catches the lofty pass 2 from F to B. Now M has two clubs, is standing next to B and will become the next feeder.
Feedee A: slow start: an extra pass to F (beat A). during the pattern: passes on 1 to F, passes on 3 to F (intercepted and carried over by the outside person), catches on 3 a pass from F, walks over and stands next to where O stands and becomes the new Back
Feedee B: slow start: extra pass to F (beat B). during the pattern: passes on 2 to F, but doesn't catch the incoming lofty one. flips both clubs, waits for M to catcht he lofty and stand next to B, then walks in front of M (becoming the next F) and does an exchange/fast and then carries the resulting 1 to the new A.
Outside O: slow start: waits for M to catch the lofty in front of B. Walks in facing to the outside of the pattern and carries pass 3 from A to F, turns anti-clockwise and stands next to F becoming the new A. Gets handing a club (beat 1) from the new M. during the pattern: O was the last feeder, who as the last pass of the feed, does still a pass on the new 1 to the new feeder and with that pass gets down to 2 clubs. then flips both clubs, walks in front of the new A, does and exchange/fast and caries the resulting pass 3 to F and stands then next to F (with one club) and gets handed a club from the new M.

The whole sequence from the point of M, including the slow start:

Stand between F and A. Wait for the slow start (beat A) to finish, steal beat 1 from F, hand a club to A, wait for pass 2 from B to F to go by, step through the pattern of B/F and catch the lofty toast (pass 2 from F to B). With 2 clubs, stand next to B, wait for B to walk in front of you (B will flip the clubs) and do an exchange/fast with you. You are now F and this is the beginning of the feed (pass 1). Pass 2 is the lofty toast to the new right feedee (B), incoming club from B, followed by a normal pass to A (left feedee). Incoming club will be handed to you from O on beat 3. O will stand next to you. On the next beat 1 you still do one pass to the new F, get down to 2 clubs. You are now O. Flip both clubs, wait for the new M to hand a club to the new A, then walk between the A and F, do an exchange/fast with A, carry pass 3 to F, stand next to F with 1 club. You are now A. the new M will hand you a second club, the new O will step in front of you and do an exchange with you on beat 2, carrying your club on beat 3 to the current F. You catch the incoming 3 from F and step next to the current O. You are now B. You do a pass on 2 to F, have M catching the incoming lofty toast. You are now M again, but instead of the slow start, you now have 2 clubs, you flip them both, walk in front of the new F (on your left), do an exchange/fast with F and carry beat 1 over to the new A, wait for B to pass on 2 and then catch the lofty toast...

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Roundabout

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:22:28 GMT

The Roundabout is a 3 person pattern where two people are passing (say person A and B) in a 4 count and the third person (C) is standing in the middle between them with one extra club.

In a single rotation of the pattern, the person in the middle (C) swaps with one of the outside person (say A).

The beginning of the pattern is slightly different then when you are running the pattern. In the following we describe how to start the pattern and then end with how it works while the pattern is running.

To start the patterns, C steals a pass from B with their left hand, hands the extra club they are holding in their right hand to A and does a hand-across of the new club from the left to right hand. Person A then immediately throws a 'pelf' (a combination of a self and a pass, i.e., a non-spinning self) from their right hand. Person C also steals this club and, turning clockwise, steps next to A. While spinning, C start holding the club in their right hand at the bulb at hip height. Person A does another pass to B, throws a left-to-right self and takes the club at the hip from C.

Now, we are almost done one rotation of the pattern. However, this is where things are a slightly different than when starting as above. A and C both have two clubs and B has three (whereas when we start the distribution is 3/3/1). Person A now steps in front of C and does what we call a 'fast' here in Berkeley, i.e., an extra exchange of clubs with C. To do this, A flips both clubs over, hands the right club to C's left hand who is forced in throwing a self. At this point A does a hand-across, C then throughs a pass from their right hand before catching the self. Person A intercepts the pass right away and carries this club over and gives it to B. This clubs is the same as the first steal in the above description, so B immediately throws the self, etc.

Pattern Diagram

Position Diagram

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Combinations

One can also combine this with Dropabout and Chopabout

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Similar Patterns

Simpler version of this:

California cool

More complex patterns with 3 people:

More complex patterns with more people:

Martin's Madness

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:35:55 GMT

Everyone starts normally (e.g., two clubs in your right hand, one in your left) and at the same time.

(work in progress, currently not correct)

Pattern Diagram

Position Diagram

8 club pass-pass-self

Berkeley Juggling Cooperative — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 16:39:07 GMT

Both jugglers start with 4 clubs each. Juggler A throughs PSP (all passes are crossings) and juggler B does PPS (all passes are straights).

B starts half a beat later.