Like vert kicking, twisting has an entire set of extensions, or suffixes known as variations.  In short, a variation is exactly what it sounds like, a method of doing a trick in a different way.  Each family of variation acts identically from twisting axis to twisting axis, creating a necessary uniformity.  In a sense, the only difference is that the takeoff has change.  For example, all shurikens (full-shuriken, cork-shuriken, btwist-shuriken, etc) are fundamentally the same, a large outside crescent or hook that is generally landed on in a complete stance.  Like vert kicking, many of these imply compound actions, such as the swipe-knife, snapu, and kyro suffixes.

Simple Variations:

  • -Round:  Often the first, and easiest variation to attach to any twist is the -round.  This variation allows the performer to open slightly early to perform a round kick on target, but is still considered a complete rotation and landing.
  • Shuriken:  Shurikens function similarly to the TKT vert kicking term, and actually precede it.  Shurikens are outside crescents or hooks that generally land in a complete stance.  Purists will argue that shurikens, regardless of axis, have a more or less vertical attack with the kick, and should not be confused with the more horizontal path of the illusion.
  • Illusion:  Similar to the shuriken in many ways, the outside kick of the illusion is said to travel horizontally across the target.  Many people model their understanding of illusions by the Illusion-Twist, which typically lands on both feet simultaneously, and never actually inverts, but instead dips as if a btwist is going to be performed, but instead a hyper pop 360 hook is performed.
  • Double Leg (dleg):  exactly as it sounds, -dleg variations create the dleg shape, and attack, similar to the gymnast’s pike position, except generally twisting sideways.
  • Crowd Awakener (CA):  A straddle position, or side split, generally performed with the performer’s chest and hips facing upward, and the legs extended to the sides.
  • Swipe:  A swipe is a round kick performed on the horizontal or inverted axis, generally with a high target, creating a mostly vertical path for the kick.  Swipes, by themselves, typically land on the kicking leg, creating a hyper landing position.
  • Late-:  Also known as Late-9, or Late-12 (depending on the number of twists), Late-Round, or Mega-Round, this variation rotates past the hyper landing, to mega, and performs a round kick on target.  This kick is often approximately 90 degrees of rotation short of a traditional -round variation, meaning that a “Late-9” is less twist and targeted slightly different than a double twist -round variation.  The assigned number following the “late” tag refers to the amount of twist equivalent in a backside vert kick using mainstream terminology.  This means that a “Late-9” has approximately 540 degrees of twist, which is the same as a “Backside 900”.
  • Mega-Round:  The technical term for the late-round variation.
  • Scissor:  A scissor is a twist-kick, or ‘inside round’ kick performed with the inside kicking leg.  This variation is usually performed on tricks with less than one full rotation, making them typically half twists into the twist-kicks that land mega.
  • Hyperhook (aka Cutter):  Hyperhooks are twists taken to the hyper landing with an added hook kick.  Some people choose to refer to these as “cutters”, a reference to the cork’s hyperhook, the boxcutter.


Complex Variations:

  • Fei Long:  Like the vert kick Fei Long, on the twisting axis this is a Shuriken-Round combination.
  • Swipe Knife:  Similar to the vert Jackknife, this variation uses a Swipe followed by a hook kick (Hyperhook).
  • Snapu:  A Swipe variation followed by another twist.
  • Kyro:  A Hyperhook followed by another twist, or gyro.
  • Double Leg Twist:  A double leg followed by another twist.
  • Pizzaboy/Helicoptero:  A flash or swipe followed by a mega-round or scissor.


Complex variations are actually just simple variations coupled together, or with an added twist.  More combinations are possible than are mentioned above, but are left out because of their somewhat obvious naming schemes.  For example, shuriken-hyperhook: a shuriken followed by a hyperhook.  The mentioned complex variations exist to more efficiently communicate common concepts quickly.  It should be noted that in the case of variations like snapu, the swipe is not mentioned.  A cork-swipe-twist is simply a cork-snapu.  Likewise, for the kyro suffix, the hyperhook is never mentioned, instead a full-hyperhook-twist is simply a full-kyro.  As mentioned, all of these variations are possible on any twisting axis, not just the examples given.


To learn more, visit the Invert Variations video series by clicking here!


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