Culture and Tricking

What does it mean to me?

The older I get, and from seeing things from a worldly perspective ( probably the best insights we gain from travelling ), is we can deduce what are the fundamental similarities that exist cross-culturally when it comes to the sport of Tricking.

There are many Sub-Cultures that exist in the world of Tricking. Dependent on Region, and perpetuated by Clout, Sub-Cultures are introduced on a micro-scale. They may be interests or similarities that exist completely indifferently from Tricking ( example Kendama ), but because it is the Sub-Culture of a particular region, many trickers, seemingly in order just to fit in, will partake in this aspect of sub-culture.

But it is just that, Sub-Culture.

At it’s Core, Tricking can be boiled down to a few fundamental truths, culturally.

We know it’s a form of Movement Art that originated by gathering information from the internet, seeing other Movement Arts from various regions on the planet, taking and combining all of them until Tricking became it’s own distinct form of Art.

Culturally, Tricking took form on the Internet, through the freedom of shared information contributed globally.

Other means by which this information was shared was via Samplers and via Gatherings. Contributions made to the sport are recorded in history by these methods.

Tricking Battles, are also fundamentally an aspect of Tricking Culture as well.

These are the base templates of the Culture. The language, terminology, past-times, training methods, trick choices & style, etc are all regionally and clout oriented.

The Culture was about Sharing Information and Growing the Sport
For the Love of it. It isn’t necessarily identified by past times taking place when not tricking, and tricking in public just to gain public attention I personally do not consider much of a requirement, but it can be a bonus if represented positively.

As I continue to seek further the fundamental essence of Tricking, I personally prefer to pay homage to the most positive of sub-cultural influences, but prefer to express Tricking at the fundamental level.

Gatherings / Samplers / Battles / Tutorials

~ For the Love of the Sport ~

I do it regardless of Money to be made, I choose who I want to become regardless of Popularity. I am motivated purely for the relationship that exists between myself and Tricking.

No one else matters, really.

At the end of the day, there isn’t anything wrong with being part of any sub-cultures. They’re natural to form, but they aren’t necessary for the Sport itself. By definition, you do not have to be apart of any sub-cultures within Tricking. Mostly people do so because they feel the need to fit in.

The older I get, the less I understand the reason why fitting in matters so much,

Especially when there is more value to not being the same as the person infront, behind, to your left and right, but being 1/1 original, unique as fuck.

I’d say more people should think for themselves and distinguish themselves,
because originally, that’s what Tricking was mainly motivated by. All the Idols that existed back in the days were all trying to out-due their competition by being different, having a different attitude and personality, being Original.

Thats why when we started off, we fell inlove with whoever had the most interesting style that appealed to us. In Tricking, you don’t have to be cookie-cutter in style and performance as in sports like Gymnastics or Martial Arts.

You can be Unique.

There comes a point where we grow from there and become ourselves. Part of Tricking Culture means rebelling and finding your own, unique vision, and becoming it.

Or,

You can just be like everyone else.

I’d say definitely pick and choose whatever you like, but don’t get too brainwashed. Think for yourself and feel out what you think is right for you or not. Don’t just do something because people will try to tell you that you need to, definitely follow your heart.