Overcoming Tricking Shyness

beginner tricking

Avoidance strategies:


1. Trick in the privacy of your own backyard if you have one.


Jujimufu, tricking, backyard

2. Trick with a friend if you have one.


jujimufu, taegashi, tricking

3. Seek out empty fields and parks.


Jujimufu, tricking, park, grass tricking

Know when your favorite places will be clear or crowded. It will depend on factors such as time of day and year, purpose of the location, weather, etc.

Reducing tricking shyness:


4. Sign up for a tumbling class or a kicking oriented martial art.


jujimufu, taegashi, tricking, taekwondo

My friend Taegashi and I did Taekwondo before we discovered tricking. Taekwondo was awesome because it allowed us to get into tricking without being shy about it.

5. Find a gymnastics gym where tricking is appropriate.


Jujimufu, Atlanta, tricking, 2010

These places are great to improve both your tricking skills and confidence.

6. Create the appearance that you are doing "sports" or "fitness" when tricking at a public park.


Jujimufu, stretching, tricking, park

When you're at a public park, you look really awkward when you crash b-twists over and over again: So mix it up with other useful things. Static and dynamic stretches. Handstands and pushups. Pullups off of soccer goals. Shuttle sprints. Bounding exercises. Jumping exercises. This creates the appearance that you are an unassuming guy getting some exercise. And actually, that's all you are until you try some tricks!

7. Do a long warmup before throwing any trick.


I don't like people watching me when I begin tricking in a park by myself, I wait for them to pass by until I'm in the aggressive tricking zone. When I enter the aggressive tricking zone I usually time my tricks when people will see me, to scare them off!

8. Get buff or wear cool clothes.


jujimufu, flexing muscles, 2011

Since I became obsessed with strength training and became a buff trickster, I'm more confident about everything in life. I use my physique as a crutch for my self-esteem, which is awesome.

Jujimufu, pants, green pants, tricking

The next best thing to packing on some muscle is to wear clothes you think are cool. Your favorite tricking clothes! For me, I've always liked a certain breed of green pants.

9. Regularly commune with your online tricking friends.


jujimufu, friends, viking

During my early tricking years, my tricking hero was a guy nicknamed Logan. I looked up to him a lot. And I was fortunate to have made friends with him, we chatted online a lot the following years. Everytime I went to trick, I felt like he was there supporting me.

Over the years, I've continued to feel like I was not alone when I tricked. My heroes, friends, enemies and fans I've made through the tricking community over the years, were always there with me. I've never felt alone out there. You simply MUST get involved with the online tricking community and make tricking friends and enemies.

10. Get good at tricking.


Ultimately, the better you are at tricking, the less shy you will be about it.

Proof of when you've finally overcome tricking shyness:


11. When asked what you are doing, say "It's called Tricking."


Up until recently, whenever I was asked what I was doing, I usually told people I was "just doing a mix of martial arts and gymnastics" or "just some flips and stuff". I didn't realize this was a personal failure until my friend Dave C pointed it out.

You see, when you've finally overcome your tricking shyness, you will tell people "It's called tricking" and you will tell them to youtube it. "It's called tricking." Say you're tricking. Say that word: Tricking. You are tricking!




A positive note to depart on:


By default, I seem to suspect people are thinking not good thoughts about me when I'm out there tricking by myself. But over the past 12 years, I cannot recall even one time when I was mocked, laughed at, made fun of, or insulted about my tricking.

Instead, there have only been countless times I was surprised by cheering, from people on boats at the Marina I trick at, or drive-by-cheering from groups of teenagers in cars or municipal workers. Hundreds of times people have approached me in awe with questions, or to take a video with their camera phone.

If you believe you will be judged negatively for tricking, I'm just trying to give you some assurance that this is not the case: Because there is nothing to be shy about with your tricking. Be proud that you want to trick, and start tricking with some confidence!

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  • Chantel on

    Interesting that you mentioned how INTJ’s are shy till mid 20’s. I recently turned 23, I’m ENTJ-A (still in the Analysts category). Thought all my life I was an introvert, genuinely despised any social event, and even had a phobia of having my photo taken. Now all of a sudden I just CRAVE hanging out with others. Started going to free group fitness classes (even if their workout is just my warm up) just to get out and meet new people! Just randomly emerged out of my cocoon. Thought maybe it was simply because I have been busting my ass at the gym. But maybe its more then that. Do you have theories as to why this drastic change occurs around this age?

  • Remco on

    I’m not shy about the fact that I’m doing tricking but I always need to defend the fact my lack of talent with my age. I’m 38 and started doing tricking at 35.so my movements are at the novice level.

    I’m also very much in to BBC and a big fan of scooby Werkstatt as a fitness guide.

    Thanks for your article

    Greetz remco mendes

  • Jujimufu on

    That’s a good answer. :-)



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