Who
and where the Diabolo was invented is a mystery as the only evidence available
was found by archaeologists in the form of Ancient Chinese literature describing
people using a 'Chinese Yo-yo.' The Diabolo has a history panning back around
three thousand years and was given many names, such as "Kouen-gen", which
means, "make the hollow bamboo stick whistle". In fact, in China Diabolos
are still made out of bamboo with openings on the sides that create a whistling
sound when spinning. The Diabolo was then brought to Europe by French and
English expeditionary when it was given the name "Diabollo" a word that
is thought to of come from Ancient Greek meaning throw across. Although,
it could also mean Devil as "Diabolo" also translates as Devil
in Greek. In France, the game had been well accepted and considered as an
equivalent of Tennis. Since 1810 clubs and competitions were created, it
had become a fashion in the upper class of Paris, at the time they were
made out of wood. In 1906 the Frenchman Gustavo Philippart invented a Diabolo
made of metal and rubber cut out from old tires. This design then went on
to become the modern day Diabolo. Its enormous popularity captivated France
and Great Britain, until sadly during World War 1  its
popularity declined. However in the 1980s when thanks to new materials and
machinery it began to rebuild its popularity. Modern day Diabolos are now
aerodynamically designed and manufactured with lightweight plastic or rubber.
Unlike the traditional Yo-yo the Chinese yo-yo is not attached to the string,
so that a talented and creative performer is able to execute an infinite
amount of tricks restricted only by the imagination. This enables performers
to captivate an audience for hours on end with various combinations of exciting
tricks and maneuvers. |
