International Jugglers' Association
Encyclopedia
The International Jugglers' Association or IJA is the oldest and largest organization of juggler
s. It is open to members worldwide.
, which was founded by the International Jugglers Association in the late 1970s.
The convention is held in a different city each year during mid-to-late July. Aside from the competitions, at the convention there are shows open to the public in which professional jugglers perform, and workshops are taught by advanced jugglers.
The organization maintains lists of IJA record-holders, and IJA competitors.
...
The IJA's Stage Championships are the formal world juggling championships that offers medals and prize money for juggling performances. These competitions are held during the week at the IJA's annual festival, held in the summer. There are three categories of IJA Stage Championships: Individuals (individual competitors), Teams (two or more people per team) and Juniors (individuals 17 years old or younger). First, second and third place winners in the Stage Championships are awarded medals and cash prizes.
The Numbers Championships awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to those who demonstrate that they can juggle the most balls, clubs
or rings for the highest number of catches. Competition occurs in three categories: Individuals, Duos and Trios. See the current IJA records. Starting at the 2006 convention, prize is given to each "numbers" winner, with an extra prize for anyone who breaks an existing International Jugglers' Association record.
Other competitions held at the IJA's annual festival include the Individual Prop Competitions, the Extreme Juggling Competitions, the World Joggling
Championships, as well as traditional (and more informal) juggling games and events.
In addition to print publications, the IJA also produces a monthly eNewsletter with IJA news, articles of interest, and news from the global juggling community.
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
s. It is open to members worldwide.
Benefits of Membership
- Special discounts from major prop vendors worldwide.
- Member prices in the IJA’s WebStore.
- Access to the IJA’s online forums.
- The right to attend the annual IJA festival.
- Discounted performers’ insurance.
Additional IJA Programs
- The Youth Educational Program, which brings certified juggling instructors to afterschool programs across the globe.
- The Video Tutorial Contest, an annual contest dedicated to the production of freely available, high quality, online educational materials.
- The Props2U program, a used-prop drive that benefits circus groups in developing countries.
- The IJA Mentorship Program, which pairs aspiring performers with professionals for guidance and artistic direction.
- The IJA Regional Competitions – IJA-style stage competitions held at regional festivals at national juggling festivals, with huge prizes for the winners.
Conventions and competitions
The International Jugglers' Association holds the largest week-long juggling festival in North America. The largest juggling festival in the world is the European Juggling ConventionEuropean Juggling Convention
The European Juggling Convention , is the largest juggling convention in the world, regularly attracting several thousand participants. It is held every year in a different European city. It is organized by changing local organization committees which are supported by the European Juggling...
, which was founded by the International Jugglers Association in the late 1970s.
The convention is held in a different city each year during mid-to-late July. Aside from the competitions, at the convention there are shows open to the public in which professional jugglers perform, and workshops are taught by advanced jugglers.
The organization maintains lists of IJA record-holders, and IJA competitors.
List of Host Convention Cities
- 2012 Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- 2011 Rochester, Minnesota
- 2010 Sparks, Nevada
- 2009 Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- 2008 Lexington, Kentucky
- 2007 Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- 2006 Portland, Oregon
- 2005 Davenport, Iowa
- 2004 Buffalo, New York
- 2003 Reno, Nevada
- 2002 Reading, Pennsylvania
- 2001 Madison, Wisconsin
- 2000 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 1999 Niagara Falls, New York
- 1998 Primm, Nevada
- 1997 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 1996 Rapid City, South Dakota
- 1995 Las Vegas, Nevada
- 1994 Burlington, Vermont
- 1993 Fargo, North Dakota
- 1992 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 1991 St. Louis, Missouri
- 1990 Los Angeles, California
- 1989 Baltimore, Maryland
- 1988 Denver, Colorado
- 1986 San Jose, California
...
- 1947 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The IJA's Stage Championships are the formal world juggling championships that offers medals and prize money for juggling performances. These competitions are held during the week at the IJA's annual festival, held in the summer. There are three categories of IJA Stage Championships: Individuals (individual competitors), Teams (two or more people per team) and Juniors (individuals 17 years old or younger). First, second and third place winners in the Stage Championships are awarded medals and cash prizes.
The Numbers Championships awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to those who demonstrate that they can juggle the most balls, clubs
Juggling club
Juggling clubs, or simply clubs are a prop used by jugglers, as are other props such as balls or rings. A typical club is in the range of long, weighs between , is slim at the "handle" end, and has its center of balance nearer the wider "body" end...
or rings for the highest number of catches. Competition occurs in three categories: Individuals, Duos and Trios. See the current IJA records. Starting at the 2006 convention, prize is given to each "numbers" winner, with an extra prize for anyone who breaks an existing International Jugglers' Association record.
Other competitions held at the IJA's annual festival include the Individual Prop Competitions, the Extreme Juggling Competitions, the World Joggling
Joggling
Joggling is a competitive sport that combines juggling and jogging. People who joggle are called jogglers.The most common objects used in joggling are juggling balls, or sometimes juggling clubs, but any set of three or more objects can be used. The juggling is usually done in a three-ball cascade...
Championships, as well as traditional (and more informal) juggling games and events.
History
The IJA has published Jugglers' World and JUGGLE magazine. 'JUGGLE' is the IJA's current print publication.In addition to print publications, the IJA also produces a monthly eNewsletter with IJA news, articles of interest, and news from the global juggling community.
Record holders and stage champions
- Jeff Civillico
- Thomas DietzThomas DietzThomas Dietz is a professional juggler from Regensburg, Germany. He is recognized as one of the greatest technical jugglers in the world. He holds various unofficial juggling records and also the five club juggling world record of 53 minutes and 21 seconds...
- Vova Galchenko
- Michael KarasMichael KarasMichael Karas is a German physical chemistry scientist and Professor, known for his researches on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization , a technique in mass spectrometry....
- Peter Kaseman
- Tsushi Kikyo
- Takashi Kikyo
- Jake LaSalle
- Martin LaSalle
- Robert Mosher III
- Christoph Mitasch
- Manuel Mitasch
- Wes Peden
- Doug Sayers
See also
- European Jugglers Association - One of the IJA's major contributions to the international juggling community.
- World Juggling FederationWorld Juggling FederationThe World Juggling Federation is the world's only organization devoted to the promotion and advancement of the sport of juggling.-History:...
- The World Juggling Federation is an offshoot of the IJA, founded by member Jason GarfieldJason GarfieldJason Garfield is a juggler and entertainer from Norfolk, Connecticut. He is the founder and president of the World Juggling Federation .-Sport Juggling:...
. - International Sport Juggling Federation - An organization started by Albert LucasAlbert LucasAlbert Lucas is an American juggler born in 1960 to Albert and Yvonne Moreira. He is notable for juggling while ice skating, setting numbers juggling records, and promoting sport juggling.- Career :...
that promotes jogglingJogglingJoggling is a competitive sport that combines juggling and jogging. People who joggle are called jogglers.The most common objects used in joggling are juggling balls, or sometimes juggling clubs, but any set of three or more objects can be used. The juggling is usually done in a three-ball cascade...
and sport juggling in general.