I first learned of full loop yoyo after the 2017 world yoyo contest. My wife and I (along with many other people ) decided to visit the UK on our way back from Iceland. The London club organized a meet and we all hung out and yoyo’d in the park.
I met Luna Harran (@thesonicpineapple on instagram) at this time. She stood out because she was doing anything but 1a. At one point she pulled off a Brent stole. With her feet while sitting on a tree branch. I started learning a style called “Super Mobius” or SuMo from her. This style was created by Doctor Popular (reference http://yoyo.wikia.com/wiki/Styles_Of_Play) and involves taking the knot out of the yoyo string, completly untwisting it then tiring it together into a giant loop. It was named by Zammy
Quite from Zammy:
Full loop yoyoing is an evolution of the style known as "sumo- AKA Super Moebius".
Back in the hay day of thin gaps and responsive yoyos, people took a part string literally, untwist it. then tied it together to make one giant loop. It would make a super fucking huge loop and one would could 1a and 4a based tricks together and intermixed stuff. Since the string was untwisted, it was thin enough to go into the gap and not cause a jam and smash your knuckles. Still had the knock on the string so during tricks that had to be avoided, much like regular moebius style.
I coined the term "full loop" back in 2010 when I did the offibius video. I just took a regular string and tied it together. So the string wasnt untwisted, and the loop was a hell of a lot smaller for better control. But I'm not a 4a based person, so I don't have the potential to unlock what Full Loop yoyoing provides, thus I didn't play it and stuck to Moebius.
Luna sometime last year figured out a super near way to tie the loop together simplistically and has stuck to the style She started out experimenting with the Go-west style, so she then experimented with Sumo, then figured out the neat way to tie the string to make the full loop. Since the string isn't untwisted, one can handle tension better. and most yoyos have huge gaps (1a based yoyos) so one can do this style without worrying about the knot on the string getting in the way.
It’s a challenging style in part due to the length of the string but is open to a wide range of possibilities not available to other styles. I got excited about it, then got home and promptly didn’t follow up.
I got into full loop yoyo after watching Luna’s promo video for joining the Rain City team. It's similar to Sumo but uses a regular yoyo string with the loop replaced by a tiny knot that actually goes into the end of the string where the yoyo would usually go. This creates a single loop. (Video)
I got hooked immediately. I had been stuck on 4a having not created a new trick in a couple years. My 1a style kept getting stumped, trying to do things that just didn’t work. This was the answer. It allows for an interplay between 1a and 4a elements with the freedom of switching hands that you get from 5a.
Here are a few details to get you started. Luna and I have been working on a series of tutorials to get you going, you can find them on her Instagram (@thesonicpineapple) or either my instagram or youtube (@mryoyothrower on both).
1. String variations - Luna uses a single piece of regular Kitty string. I use 2 pieces of the slightly thinner R2FG regular string. I cut the 2nd piece in half. I then have 2 points where a knot goes through the yoyo loop in a string (video). I’ve also experimented with Mighty flea string which reduces the drag during multiple wrap tricks, but limits your whip tricks. I’ve got some string designed specifically for Full Loop available a Return Top Shop
2. Winding - You can’t wind it like a traditional yoyo without getting your loop twisted together. The best option is the traditional pull start (thumb or two fingers pulling down on the back of the yoyo to get it going) that allows you to then do a breakaway bind. I use a snap start which creates a frontstyle spin.
3. Bind/ Snap start variations - The bind is a challenge because you don’t have a fixed point on the bearing to create that pull you get from 1a or 4a. Luna uses a side style bind with the full loop open. I prefer to do a single extra wrap around the bearing before doing my bind. This isn’t mandatory, but allows for a much easier frontstyle bind which is important because I snap start instead of pull start.
4. String management - the first thing you are going to need to do is get used to being aware of which strings are closest to you and farthest away. If you bind with the added loop like I do it gives you different options on the throw, but you need to develop/practice tricks that give you a predictable wrap. Accept that in the beginning you will spend a fair amount of time removing loops from the bearing. This is no different than the time spent getting out of accidental triangles/knots in 1a or chasing your 4a/5a yoyo around when you got started.
Check out my Youtube Channel for the ‘Full Loop’ playlist for tutorials on how to setup, throw, bind and a range of stricks from easy (my stuff) to hard (Luna’s Magic). (Click any tutorial on Mryoyothrower.com or just search “Mryoyothrower” on Youtube)