Forums > Other Toys > Dai's Buugeng (S-Staffs) Impressions

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akgraphicsSILVER Member
member
133 posts
Location: Churchill College, Cambridge, United Kingdom


Posted:
I'm the happy owner of one of Dai's amazing Buugeng:

Where to buy them:
https://www.zaobab.com/buugeng_about.html

Home of Poi lessons:
https://www.homeofpoi.com/lessons_all/teach/Library-Staff-S-Staff-Buugeng-4_48_0

I received the smaller version, which, with shipping to UK, came to about £60. A fantastic birthday present smile And you get two of them with a really nice bag, so £30 each with bag isn't *so* bad. (I will note here that before buying them with my birthday money I tried to make my own out of plywood ... it was a disaster redface)

Some people have been asking me about the quality of them, whether it's worth buying them all the way from South Africa. I'll try and give my opinion of them here. I'm not gonna say anything about spinning the damn things, as the technique thread is here:

[Old link]

First of all, the wood-working quality is excellent, they have an excellent 'heft' to them. The colour is nice and shiny too. I can't describe just how good it feels to spin something that truly feels "crafted" rather than mass-produced, injection moulded, etc. I feel like I'm spinning something with value, rather something that could just be replaced with a quick click on a fire toys website.

A note about the mechanism. From Dai's tutorial videos you can see that they unfold out from a banana-shape. In the folded position, the curves are held in place by strong magnets - they require a strong flick of the wrist to unfold, and the motion is very smooth - the pivot works great, without any creaking. The only trouble I'll mention here is that if you keep 'unfolding' the buugeng in the same direction, you'll gradually unwind the pivot (which is a thread screw with a washer that bores itself into the wood). I guess just a little care will prevent this from becoming a major concern. Even if this pivot does work itself loose, once the buugeng 'snap' into position, the magnets make sure the prop stays steady. When I drop the staff in the 'unfolded' position, the buugeng does not fold up, it stays in its proper shape. These magnets are great - but they're not so strong such that it's difficult to close.

The weighting is a lot lighter than I imagined it would be - there is not any extra weight towards the tips of the S-curves, making keeping in plane extremely difficult (or more fun to learn, depending on how you look at it!).

I hope this has been clear, if you guys want any more info I'll try my best to answer. Though do give Dai a call through his website, that would be a better way of going about it. I even got a beautiful hand-written note with my buugeng. The attention to detail he's put into this props is stunning, and they were well worth the money. I wish everyone here would go out and get some, so we can all start thinking of new tricks to do with them!

Thanks Dai hug !

akgraphicsSILVER Member
member
133 posts
Location: Churchill College, Cambridge, United Kingdom


Posted:
I used mine in a cabaret glow-spinning show, and found that putting talcum powder on my hands beforehand really help the buugeng move inside my palms. Plus I smelt like a baby smile

Amusing names that my friends have called them ... boogies, boogers, buggers! I like to call my yellow buugeng my bananas though smile

SkattoGOLD Member
Walking on whims...
687 posts
Location: Eastbourne, UK


Posted:
^ Likewise with the bananas. biggrin

Skatto

"Fly like a mouse,
Run like a cushion,
Be the small bookcase."

For goodness sake, don't aggravate the otters!!!


akgraphicsSILVER Member
member
133 posts
Location: Churchill College, Cambridge, United Kingdom


Posted:
" Please tell me that's a fire boomerang "

Best reaction I've had to arriving at practice with them smile

SkattoGOLD Member
Walking on whims...
687 posts
Location: Eastbourne, UK


Posted:
Yeah, lost of people have picked them up and asked me if they're boomerangs... and I have quickly retrieved them from their graps before they have an opportunity to find out. tongue

Skatto

"Fly like a mouse,
Run like a cushion,
Be the small bookcase."

For goodness sake, don't aggravate the otters!!!


Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
hmmm i had no idea that these were available. Can't wait to score one - it would quite suit a martial arts style and would be much more extravagant to throw than a fan sword.

when's the restock happenin!?!? can't wait

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always


GnorBRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia


Posted:
Bender you would look so awesome with some!!!! biggrin hug

Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

Im in a lonely battle with the world with a fish to match the chip on my shoulder. Gnu in Binnu in a cnu


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
Could one please enlighten me on the Origins of Buugeng?

Michael Moschen himself is not returning with sufficient results as to satisfy my thirst.

smile

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
To me it's an influential video, simply by being so early in the evolution of 'freestyle' staff.
https://www.michaelmoschen.com/movies/player_curves.html

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
Beauty - thanks Bender smile

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


PeleBRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA


Posted:
I love that vid. It's what influenced us as well.
But then I think Michael Moschen has, for us at PM, offered the most influence in object manipulation.

Thanks Bender.

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK


RicheeBRONZE Member
HOP librarian
1,841 posts
Location: Prague, Czech. Republic


Posted:
 Written by

Firetom Could one please enlighten me on the Origins of Buugeng?




I think, it's quite simple, Dai's buugeng origin = Dai Murata.

winner of COL 2007,

:R

POI THEO(R)IST


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
 Written by : Pele

for us at PM



confused

Don't understand what you're referring to, Richee.

I might understand the origins of Dai's Buugeng better. Sweet design, sweet transformation of a Curved staff.

Good job, well done, Dai

hug

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


NathanielEveristSILVER Member
enthusiast
315 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
To the best of my knowledge, Michael Moschen was the first to really bring the s-staves to the object manipulation stage. If this is true, knowing Moschen, he's going to be pissed when he finds out somebody else has started popularising and teaching it. lol.

Bender, please buy some...

PyrolificBRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia


Posted:
hehe - played with some at the solstice party on the weekend - very tricky to keep straight, but really really nice to work with once you can keep em (a bit) straight smile plus there are a lot of very interesting moves possible too.

watchout for your eyes! - I can see that that might be a big issue with these things given how easily they slip around in your hands if you arent used to them.

--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!


Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
awesome - i get a little more breathlessly excited when I hear about more impressions on this groovydelica toy! did u use the big buugengs, josh?
you're one of the taller short staff performers and you have a very inventive approach - if the universe were kind enough, we'll have a buugeng jam at Common Ground '08.
There will be great win.

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always


PyrolificBRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia


Posted:
mmm to be quite honest I wasnt that interested in them until I played with them so I didnt even know they came in two sizes! I thought it was just another gimmic spin on short doubles, but actually now I think they are only slightly related, and there are a lot of tricks possible with the openning closing-ness of them, as well as holding off-centre. The ones I used were about 1 metre across the longest length. The way they wrap around body parts is really interesting too. hmmm...I cant seem to find them in the HOP shop tho?

--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!


PyrolificBRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia


Posted:
k I just went to his site - I think I was using the larger ones. Not really a bad price really.

seems they are sold out.

--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!


Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
..yeah if only there were a place to line up, i'd camp there and play star wars themed 'Risk' board games until dai releases em

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always


DaGGOLD Member
Golf buggie driving instructor
156 posts
Location: Brisvegas, Australia


Posted:
The shop has been restocked!!!!

now with the color GREEN! woot




Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:

Non-Https Image Link

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willworkforfoodjnrSILVER Member
Hunting robot foxes
1,046 posts
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England (UK)


Posted:
Oh yes! Ordering myself some shiny new toys tonight I think!

biggrin

Working hard to be a wandering hippie layabout. Ten years down, five to go!


willworkforfoodjnrSILVER Member
Hunting robot foxes
1,046 posts
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England (UK)


Posted:
A set of big green'uns is on the way, hopefully should arrive in time for BOOM *Dances*

Working hard to be a wandering hippie layabout. Ten years down, five to go!


Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
Some initial thoughts:
The angles are hard to get accustomed to - I have to adjust my wrist angles / finger grips to employ doubles movements.
backwards is waaay too dangerous for me at the moment. certainly all throws are done forwards for the time being.
I am used to 1m doubles, so the shorter span is a benefit.
folding/closing moves are such a blessing. I really appreciate that innovation, dai!

thanks for doing all that prototyping work! the magnetic locking mechanism is so elegantly executed!

Definitely recommended if you're into short doubles.
Total cost and shipping of ~AU$130 is roughyl comparable to a standard set of doubles locally produced (Melb, AU)
Good to see producers keeping the prices of exotic toys reasonable.
b

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always


willworkforfoodjnrSILVER Member
Hunting robot foxes
1,046 posts
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England (UK)


Posted:
So, they've arrived.

They're on my desk.

Looking at me.

Its 4 hours till home-time.

I wanna PLAY!!!!!!!!!!

*sulks*

Working hard to be a wandering hippie layabout. Ten years down, five to go!


DaGGOLD Member
Golf buggie driving instructor
156 posts
Location: Brisvegas, Australia


Posted:
Arrrgggh!
I have been waiting for 22 days now and counting. damn living on the other underside of the world to South Africa.
I need to call customs and see if they had a problem with the wood.

I wish I could just look at them!




Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
huh? i thought dai was based in saffra? the return address is for south africa fo rme.... they must ship outta japan then.

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always


willworkforfoodjnrSILVER Member
Hunting robot foxes
1,046 posts
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England (UK)


Posted:
Right, I spent an hour playing around with them last night and, as everyone else has been saying, keeping them in plane can be really tricky! Its strange the tricks that are difficult - antispins happened fairly easily, while a 2b reel was really quite difficult.

I've mainly been playing around with 1b variations and one thing I LOVE about these props is that for every move you do with doublestaff there are 4 versions with buugeng. For a 1b butterfly there is points inwards, points outwards, points left and points right. (Looking at the top of the 'gengs in the vertcal position) Getting a smooth and fast twist of the buugeng in your hands to shift between these versions will be pretty important to creating lots of variation.

One other thing, isolations are HARD, I failed miserably at both long-staff and trammel isos.

Anyone who is thinking of getting some, stop thinking and get out your card wink

Working hard to be a wandering hippie layabout. Ten years down, five to go!


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
Yeah, somehow a pity that there are not too many online tut's about this... Will mention it to him.

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


MynciBRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom


Posted:
I did get out my card today but when I got to Dai's site it said "SOLD OUT" eek I waas gonna squeeze the money and survive how I could I worried now the money will be gone because stuff will come up when i move in 2 weeks that I need to spend out for frown

A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
??? Little bit of a cryptic post (to me), Mynci.

You bought the Buugeng? (despite it said "sold out"?) You're moving international?

Sorry, can't make too much sense of your post, but I would say that you can contact Dai (or his representative) and change the shipping address...

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


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