Brendan Brolly Notation (or BN)
Credits: original idea by Brendan Brolly
Thanks to Tarim for clarifying some things for us on this matter in Rotterdam. Also, feel free to take a look at the articles posted on this subject at rec.juggling in 1994 (there's one in particular by Tarim that is interesting because it expands the theory to include other rhythms and feeds, which I will do here one day).
This theory, whose application lies essentially in 6- and 7-club ultimate, says the following:
To pass 6 (or 7) clubs in ultimate is somewhat like juggling 4 (or 5, respectively) alone, horizontally, from the point of view of one of the two jugglers.
Thus one could try to derive traditional siteswap figures using the following rules. The numbers can be written in BN (Brendan notation), since the pattern doesn't follow the classic rules of siteswap. With 4- and 5-ball solo patterns as a starting point, one may be inspired to find corresponding passing patterns.
|
BN number |
ultimate 6 |
ultimate 7 |
| 0 | empty hand | empty hand |
| 1 | handacross | handacross |
| 2 | hold | hold |
| 3 | single self | single self |
| 4 | single pass (straight across) | double self |
| 5 | double pass (crossing) | single pass (straight) |
| 6 | triple pass (straight) | double pass (crossing) |
| 7 | ...... (quadruple) | triple pass (straight) |
So that's from the passer's point of view.
For the one who's catching the passes, just one tip: throw only when you have to. To clarify, wait until a pass arrives (in the case of doubles and triples) to empty your hand (by throwing).
Classic examples in 6 ultimate
The corresponding passes are in red. Note that the top juggler, who receives the passes, waits each time until the last possible moment to throw, the pauses shown by blue arrows.
 |
BN : 53 siteswap : <3p 3p 2 3p 3p ...| 3p 4p 3 3p 3p ...> Written out : double-self |
 |
BN : 534 (continuous) siteswap : <3p 2 3p| 4p 3 3p> Written out : double, self, pass, double, self, pass,... Note : this becomes almost PPS |
|
BN : 552 siteswap : <3p 3p 2 3p 3p ...| 3p 4p 4p 2 3p...> Written out : double, double, pause |
|
BN : 5551 siteswap : <3p 3p 2 3p 3p 3p...| 3p 4p 4p 4p 1 3p...> Written out : double, double, double, hand-across |
|
BN : 55550 siteswap : <3p 3p 2 3p 3p 3p...| 3p 4p 4p 4p 4p 0 ...> written out : double, double, double, double, empty hand |
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BN : 633 siteswap : <3p 3p 2 2 3p ...| 3p 5p 3 3 3p...> Written out : triple, self, self |
Try also 6451, 64514 (continuous) and all siteswaps that come to
mind.
Classic examples in 7 ultimate
 |
BN : 64 Written out : double pass, double self |
 |
BN : 663 Written out : double pass, double pass, self |
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BN : 744 Written out : triple pass, self, self |