User:V 0 1 D/Draft:Categorizing Hybrids

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Written by V 0 1 D

Introduction

A hybrid trick is a 'trick' that combines multiple existing tricks or hybrids merged together into a new combination, not to be confused with a linkage wherein the tricks remain separated and performed in sequence. The difference is that a hybrid transforms the constituent tricks in a way to make them appear like a single trick or motion. Hybrids in pen spinning have been studied and various techniques have been devised to discover and invent new hybrid tricks, but little has been done to categorize them and understand them on a deeper level. This text attempts to rectify that by defining categories and methods for analyzing hybrids.

Major Categories

Hybrids typically fall into three main categories, sequential, simultaneous and combinational.

Sequential Hybrids

A hybrid is sequential if it takes two tricks that would be done one after the other and then transforms them to occur in a manner that gives the appearance of a singular trick or motion. For example a Hai Tua consists of an extended thumbaround, a half pinky bust and half a fingerless thumbaround, performed one after the other, and combined into the hybrid where the order is retained. When notated sequential hybrids can be easily identified by spotting various '~' characters and no '+'.

Simultaneous Hybrids

On the other hand, simultaneous hybrids are where tricks occur at the same time, such as the twisted sonic. It consists of a pass and charge that are normally performed separately, and when both are done at the same time a new hybrid is created. They can be identified in notation by spotting '+' characters where more than one trick is performed at the same time.

Combinational Hybrids

Combining the two, a Combinational Hybrid is a hybrid that contains both sequential and simultaneous hybrids. More complex hybrids such as the flush sonic can be found here, with a charge happening simultaneously to the sequential fingerswitch and pass motions.

Minor categories

The minor categories may be more useful than the major categories, as they define some degree of rules that must be followed to match them, and applying those rules when experimented can help direct a search for new hybrid tricks. Listed are some example minor categories that contain hybrids.

Zwischenzug

Meaning 'Inbetween Move' in German, Zwischenzug comes from Chess, where it refers to having an intended move, performing an additional move, then completing the intended move afterwards. In the context of pen spinning, a Zwischenzug hybrid is a sequential or combinational hybrid that starts with an interruptible intended trick, interrupts into an intermediate trick, then continues to complete the second half of the intended trick. Practically a Zwischenzug hybrid starts and ends in the same slots as the intended trick, while adding thoughtful complexity. The rules for a Zwischenzug hybrid are:

• It must consists of two tricks or hybrids, and one of them must be interruptible. e.g. a Half Tap is not interruptible
• Half or close to half of an intended trick is to be performed, then interrupted with the intermediate trick, then lastly the second half of the intended trick is to be performed after the intermediate trick is finished.

It may be annotated 'zwz' to highlight its use in notation.

The benefit of Zwischenzug hybrids is their use in connecting tricks, where the goal is to find some connecting method between two links that start and end in different slots. A single trick e.g. sonic 12-34 could be used to transition, but it lacks depth, while a Zwischenzug hybrid offers a way to accomplish the original goal while adding an extra layer of complexity without much need for experimentation.

Extended Zwischenzug

A variant where both tricks are interruptible. A first half of an intermediate trick is performed, then the first half of the intended trick, then the second half of the intermediate trick and then finally the second half of the intended trick.

May be annotated 'zzwz' to highlight its use.

Repeatable

A hybrid is 'repeatable' when it starts and ends in the same slot. This allows the hybrid to be performed continuously. A Symbak would be considered non-repeatable, but a Hai Tua would be considered repeatable. A twisted sonic is not repeatable, but a flush sonic is repeatable.

Palindromic

Palindromes are words that are the same when the letters are reversed. A hybrid is palindromic when the breakdown is the same when performed in reverse. For example, Sonic Reverse 0.5 12-13 ~ Sonic Normal 0.5 13-12 is palindromic, as when reversed it remains the same. Palindromic hybrids are repeatable as they must always start and end in the same slot.