How This Guy Mastered the Slinky | Obsessed | WIRED

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  • čas přidán 25. 01. 2023
  • Did you play with slinkys when you were younger? Josh Jacobs has taken a childhood toy and turned it into a visually stunning art form. Slinky manipulation is a fairly new practice, starting around 2010. Josh got into "slinking" eight years ago when watching an incredible Chinese performer do things he never thought possible with a slinky. Now, Josh is one of the best slinky manipulators in the world.
    Check out Josh's channel here: / @slinkyjosh
    To learn more about Josh's slinkys, check out: www.HyperSpringToys.com
    Director: Charlie Jordan
    Director of Photography: Colin Witherill
    Editor: Richard Trammell
    Talent: Joshua "Slinky Josh" Jacobs
    Producer: Wendi Jonassen
    Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
    Associate Producer: Melissa Cho
    Production Manager: Eric Martinez
    Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
    Audio: Ted Thacker
    Cam Op/Gaffer: Alex Witkowicz
    Production Assistant: Daniel Ellis
    Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
    Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
    Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
    Assistant Editor: Ben Harowitz
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  • Zábava

Komentáře • 1,3K

  • @jopo7996
    @jopo7996 Před rokem +7500

    No matter what time of year it is, it's always springtime for this guy.

  • @whatwilliwatch3405
    @whatwilliwatch3405 Před rokem +1509

    I love his enthusiasm. He sounds like he'd be willing to talk to someone for hours on the topic of "slinking." He also just has a really friendly, positive vibe. I can imagine a lot of people being inspired by him, just based on those things alone.

  • @MyFatherLooksLikeAPallasCat
    @MyFatherLooksLikeAPallasCat Před 7 měsíci +161

    He's exactly how I imagined a pro-slinker would be. A tad bit nerdy, enthusiastic, confident, eccentric, but just radiating pure happiness and joy! He's now one of my role models!

    • @teddy2577
      @teddy2577 Před 16 dny

      That's great 😁 it's really hard to find a role model these days 😔

  • @Wired4Life2
    @Wired4Life2 Před rokem +907

    "I wanna be a slinky man," he cried, "Make me a slinky man!"
    But the slinky master did not answer. He just kept on slinking!

  • @StevieCooper
    @StevieCooper Před rokem +2621

    He’s happy, talented and spreading joy. We should all be a bit more like this if possible. Good floor him 😊

    • @hxcadillac
      @hxcadillac Před rokem +113

      It's amazing ceiling him perform!

    • @zachnado69
      @zachnado69 Před rokem +29

      @@hxcadillac i can't think of any good wall jokes

    • @daniel9485
      @daniel9485 Před rokem +64

      @@zachnado69 wall I hope you can find a joke

    • @gef2
      @gef2 Před rokem

      lets the slinky hit the floor

    • @franxyt6424
      @franxyt6424 Před rokem

      Sure he is a kid grown

  • @ZergrushEddie
    @ZergrushEddie Před rokem +1160

    Of course most of the footage of him wowing people are festival goers. If I bumped into this guy at Burning Man I'd probably be convinced he was a wizard

    • @randall814
      @randall814 Před rokem +34

      Definitely recognize Electric Forest in some of that footage lol

    • @Michael-kp4bd
      @Michael-kp4bd Před rokem +5

      @@randall814 same! That place is forever unique

    • @kuyakris615
      @kuyakris615 Před rokem

      @@randall814that house at 2:07

    • @randall814
      @randall814 Před rokem +5

      @@kuyakris615 Yes indeed, good eye! The only other festival that even comes close is Shambhala but I've been to Forest enough times to recognize it instantly

    • @briondalion3696
      @briondalion3696 Před rokem +2

      @@randall814 I've never been and it's sold out this year. Maybe next year.

  • @alexpetrov13
    @alexpetrov13 Před rokem +350

    I love it how accurately he describes how to do the tricks. Not only is he great at slinking but also at explaining and teaching others about it

    • @karltrapson
      @karltrapson Před rokem +2

      That's because this isn't hard at all. Balisong tricks are way more difficult, but you see all kinds of people still doing them online.

    • @briandhamby
      @briandhamby Před 11 měsíci +9

      @@karltrapson They're commenting on how well he speaks about it. Of course there are things that are harder, that's completely irrelevant.

    • @MaxMckayful
      @MaxMckayful Před 10 měsíci

      Lots of performers ALSO practice that - it's a skill itself. Some natural talent and aptitude, some learned "how best to explain it" craft hones through years as a performance artist. Not required for acts, but a component many showfolk add.

    • @remoengels2085
      @remoengels2085 Před 2 měsíci

      Naa he isnt only the basics with some skill u have them on lock within a week and then you have to figger it out your self..

  • @arushsharma6556
    @arushsharma6556 Před rokem +182

    What I find most interesting is not only he has mastered slinky, but also defined the terminologies around techniques, making it much easier to pass on the knowledge to others

    • @coyotemoon722
      @coyotemoon722 Před 10 měsíci +9

      Yes, he is very adept at "terming"

  • @searchandestroy69
    @searchandestroy69 Před rokem +80

    This guy is exactly what I’d imagine a “slinky manipulator” to look like

  • @Franic19
    @Franic19 Před rokem +383

    I never really realized how fun those slinkies could be, let alone see what you could really do with them other than make them walk down some stairs. This looks crazy fun though and actually makes me want to pick one up to learn some :D

    • @juancelop
      @juancelop Před rokem +2

      Love this comment!

    • @KolmManison
      @KolmManison Před 6 měsíci +2

      When I saw the stupid bottle rolling down stairs tiktok trend, my brain went "that's just dumber, more hazardous version of watching a slinky."

  • @sabastiankilgore781
    @sabastiankilgore781 Před rokem +27

    There is almost nothing like the feeling of controlling pure momentum, and that moment of power over inertia. Manipulating momentum feels amazing

  • @JGunit
    @JGunit Před rokem +87

    It's crazy how someone has mastered the art of every obscure action imaginable.

    • @stanleykubik1778
      @stanleykubik1778 Před 11 měsíci +2

      give yourself 2hours of practice and you ll be a master just like him, lol.

    • @janajusimi269
      @janajusimi269 Před 9 měsíci +6

      @@stanleykubik1778 2 hours is nowhere near enough -someone attempting to do this

    • @celuler22
      @celuler22 Před 3 měsíci

      ​@@stanleykubik17781000 hours to be able to claim mastery of any given task

  • @DOC_951
    @DOC_951 Před rokem +208

    With a name like “slinky Josh,” good thing he’s so into slinkies!

  • @johngalactus4014
    @johngalactus4014 Před rokem +86

    So nice to see stuff like this, just a human enjoying his time and then sharing it to others.

  • @felipeandmichelle
    @felipeandmichelle Před rokem +60

    This is so wholesome that it almost feels like a mockumentary. I love it.

    • @Resyektt
      @Resyektt Před 8 měsíci

      Hahaha perfect way to put it,

  • @SmokeyChipOatley
    @SmokeyChipOatley Před rokem +91

    This was me as a kid in a Mexican family whenever my mom would chuck a molten hot tortilla at me when having dinner. If only I’d known she was trying to prepare me for any potential career opportunities as a hippy-flipping slinky bending electro wizard performer at Burning Man slangin’ slinks in exchange for hits of acid-laced warhead candies.

  • @twostepRMX
    @twostepRMX Před rokem +78

    I’ve ran into this guy at electric forest! He bounced it right off my head and made my day

  • @fuzzybanana0123
    @fuzzybanana0123 Před rokem +16

    "It's pretty unique to have a slinky this giant." Found my new Tinder opening line.

  • @ZZ-qy5mv
    @ZZ-qy5mv Před 7 měsíci +3

    I love how he’s not gatekeeping or claiming it as his idea, but is just excited to grow a community for a pretty new art form.

  • @aldo9021
    @aldo9021 Před 11 měsíci +8

    I'm a long time yoyo player and absolutely love seeing videos like this! Just people having fun and living their best lives!

  • @GaryGuerin
    @GaryGuerin Před rokem +60

    great tricks ! Please introduce him to the slow-mo guys ! I would love to see the behaviour of the slinky at insane frame rates !

  • @wishingonthemoon1
    @wishingonthemoon1 Před 10 měsíci +8

    Not only do I love his craft, I love his enthusiasm and joy and passion for sharing slinking and passing the knowledge down!

  • @Moofy
    @Moofy Před rokem +32

    That's incredible! I've gotten into penspinning, yoyoing, magic, cubing but everytime I had a slinky as a kid I always remember stretching it out weirdly and it wouldn't go back, then I'd break it 😂

  • @bugorchard
    @bugorchard Před rokem +14

    I used to ask my friends to tangle up my plastic rainbow slinky in any way they wanted because I genuinely enjoy untangling them. That is, unfortunately, the only slinky skill I possess. This guy is incredible.

  • @artepjan
    @artepjan Před rokem +14

    Ace Ventura perfectly bouncing a slinky on a super long stairway until the very last step still makes me laugh until this very day XDD

  • @CreativeSteve69
    @CreativeSteve69 Před rokem +21

    I like this guys mantra practice makes perfect. This year I'm going to find time for myself to learn my unicycle no excuses. Thanks for the motivation Josh Jacobs.

  • @talabarzkar785
    @talabarzkar785 Před rokem +17

    I love this guys so much! His enthusiasm for what he loves is infectious ❤

  • @Aleedis226
    @Aleedis226 Před rokem +8

    These intriguing Wired videos always give me timeline apprehension right before I show them to my kids, who COULD drop all plans & latch on to fun but random/niche jobs, finally making this the literal crazy house I joke about. 😄

  • @j3nki541
    @j3nki541 Před rokem +8

    These toys already amazed me as a child just watching them run down some stairs. Stoked to see them again, glad people have found ways to make them cool again.

  • @keithgreene79
    @keithgreene79 Před rokem +19

    This is so cool. I was performing similar tricks in my room as a kid with the metal Slinkys - until they bent or became too entangled. Awesome of Josh to take this to the next level of performance and exposure.

    • @Resyektt
      @Resyektt Před 8 měsíci

      NO THIS CANT BE TRUE, ACCORDING TO THE VIDEO SLINKY ART DIDN’T EXIST UNTIL HE SAW A VIDEO OF A CHINESE DUDE DOING IT AND DECIDED TI CREATE IT HIMSELF SO THERES NO POSSIBLE WAY YOU JUST SOMEHOW DID THIS BEFOEE IT WAS EVEN A THING.
      You folks are ridiculous
      😏😂
      /s

    • @keithgreene79
      @keithgreene79 Před 8 měsíci

      😅🤣

  • @Fallub
    @Fallub Před rokem +4

    Those tricks look even more amazing in slow-mo. Cool guy.

  • @midwestmike613
    @midwestmike613 Před rokem +6

    I can see him killing it at all the EDM shows!

  • @jugglerj0e
    @jugglerj0e Před rokem +38

    As a juggler and doing some flow, this is so cool. I never realized you could do this with slinkies. I just think of them going down a staircase.

    • @randomsandwichian
      @randomsandwichian Před rokem +1

      This, juggling (assorted), yoyos, the diabolo kinds, etc, they're all just mesmerizing. Kudos to you too.

    • @n0xure
      @n0xure Před rokem +4

      I think it's because slinky's are famously fragile. If you're the "juggler-type" and at one point owned a slinky as a kid, I'm 100% sure it didn't survive the first day. You got bored after seeing the slinky go down the stairs three times, so you tried to use your hands as steps and as a result it got tangled up and ruined after five minutes.

  • @AnaRena1094
    @AnaRena1094 Před rokem +2

    He has such a fun and colorful job. I'm happy for him!

  • @Frank7489
    @Frank7489 Před 4 měsíci

    I’m glad you put that trying to learn part in there cuz he really makes it look like something you could just pick up and do first try

  • @azdaze227
    @azdaze227 Před rokem +3

    Made me super happy he mentioned yoyoers, my friend group and I all competed in yoyo contests and some of us messed around with slinkies and noticed tricks could be done with them but never took it this far, that's so cool

  • @elizabethgodwin7679
    @elizabethgodwin7679 Před 11 měsíci +3

    What I love about this is that it's an incredibly new thing and an incredibly old thing at the same time

  • @a2rhombus2
    @a2rhombus2 Před rokem +3

    Always excited to see new forms of juggling like this

  • @sashajary
    @sashajary Před rokem

    Omg, one of the best video you did!

  • @luxtempestas
    @luxtempestas Před rokem +9

    Man, I would give all I have to have ANYTHING in my life that I would look at it with the joy and enthusiasm he seems to have towards his Slinks! 😢

  • @rikii2034
    @rikii2034 Před rokem +36

    wow slinky winky

  • @tm82891
    @tm82891 Před rokem +3

    I met josh in 2015 when he was roommates with my buddy. Congrats Josh! Great to see you make it this far

  • @CapitainBarbaRoja
    @CapitainBarbaRoja Před rokem +1

    The just simple happiness this brings him and the people involved is great.

  • @user-py6ou4ob2g
    @user-py6ou4ob2g Před rokem +1

    you need yo do a video about skateboarding, some of the things people can do is absolutely insane and technical. I think its worth it

  • @Digitalhunny
    @Digitalhunny Před rokem +9

    Wendy, if you watch this video back to your practicing the 180 trick, really watch your active hand. When you go to flick it back you're flicking real hard. Try flicking the slinky softer, or more _feel the momentum_ of when it wants to return. You _absolutely_ CAN do it! You're just giving it a bit _too_ much juice.😉 When you do get it, you NEED to post a short to CZcams as an update!🤞

  • @pentachronic
    @pentachronic Před rokem +5

    Just goes to show how much joy an inanimate object can give when animated by a master craftsman! ❤

  • @k03hl3r
    @k03hl3r Před rokem +1

    Cool to see this guy on Wired! The clips of him slinking at Electric Forest went kinda viral within the EDM/music community and I wondered who he was!

  • @fractiousfauxpas1368
    @fractiousfauxpas1368 Před rokem +2

    Straight away my brain went to flow arts at raves, but I see you've already done it. Seems a little more accessible than a some of the other flow art equipment I've seen, more intuitive at least 👌

  • @GreenT_LoR
    @GreenT_LoR Před rokem +5

    What a cool guy. Josh's being just exudes joy.

  • @karimjawhar5
    @karimjawhar5 Před rokem +17

    People like this make me realize you could really succeed doing anything if you really love it and stay consistent. He plays with slinkies for a living, don’t let anyone tell you what will and won’t succeed at.

  • @SeriousGamer753
    @SeriousGamer753 Před rokem

    This is SO much cooler and more visually pleasing that juggling! Dang!

  • @albcod90
    @albcod90 Před rokem

    men i was looking for activities to feel my time and this was so cool! this inspires me a lot. thanks guys for the video

  • @renees766
    @renees766 Před rokem +5

    I love slinkies! I'm old school, so the original metal is my fav, but those tricks w the plastic...WOW!

    • @nahometesfay1112
      @nahometesfay1112 Před rokem

      I used to do this kind of stuff with a metal slinky. There are some disadvantages, but you can still do all kinds of tricks.

  • @SinisterShrink
    @SinisterShrink Před rokem +14

    I wonder if he coined a lot of the terminology himself, or if other slinky artists did before him. I remember seeing the same video of the chinese guy doing it and I had the same reaction he did, I wanted to learn how to do it. Unfortunately I made the mistake of doing it with a metal slinky and, well, it ended up the same way the metal one in this video did.

  • @nemlicklee
    @nemlicklee Před 11 měsíci +1

    Ive met him a couple times at shows, it's so cool watching him live and a very very nice guy

  • @dave14647
    @dave14647 Před rokem +1

    Love this guys energy

  • @GuyWithAnAmazingHat
    @GuyWithAnAmazingHat Před rokem +4

    I remember watching that very clip of the Chinese slinky performance, pretty cool to see one of the origins of an artform.

  • @torpedex4600
    @torpedex4600 Před rokem +6

    I didn't even know a slinky was something you could master

  • @jacobc874
    @jacobc874 Před rokem

    I know this fella, couldn't be a more kind and lovely soul.

  • @captcoin9512
    @captcoin9512 Před rokem +2

    Met this dude at a music festival, awesome to talk too and he bopped me on the noggin. Great dude

  • @dbzcollector9963
    @dbzcollector9963 Před rokem +4

    This sorta reminds of yo-yos how everyone has probably owned one at some point but the most exciting thing we’ve done is making it go down like 12 sets of stairs. Then they’d end up tangled and in the trash within a week. 😂😂😂 I never would of imagined something like this so props to him for doing it and doing it well.

  • @JourneyStand
    @JourneyStand Před rokem +11

    GREAT! Now I have to buy a Slinky

  • @Vroxius
    @Vroxius Před rokem

    I actually started watching his videos a couple weeks ago glad hes on here now

  • @ItIsYouAreNotYour
    @ItIsYouAreNotYour Před rokem +3

    Every slinky I have ever owned ends up in knots and broken.

  • @amicaaranearum
    @amicaaranearum Před rokem +6

    Next week on House Hunters:
    HUSBAND: I’m a professional slinky manipulator.
    WIFE: I’m a world yo-yo champion.
    HUSBAND: Our budget is $875K.

  • @avantikaarvind4725
    @avantikaarvind4725 Před 11 měsíci

    This is literally so awesome

  • @hillpunk92
    @hillpunk92 Před 8 měsíci

    wild! ive been juggling for a long time and thats very unique and interesting. many more variations than i would have thought.

  • @joaquincaceresguibovich3182

    I'd love to see a physicist explain why any of this happens

    • @slishslash9202
      @slishslash9202 Před 3 měsíci +2

      Im no physicist but he said in one of his videos that the wire of the slinky travels in sort of waves, like when you whip a rope up and down it travels all the way down slowly. So when he does that hand twist the twist eventually reaches the other end of the slinky when he does his next crazy move.

  • @bruno3
    @bruno3 Před rokem +9

    If we had to fight aliens for the future of our civilisation and slinkies were somehow involved, this guy would be in the room. A true expert.

  • @SilentStudioExplores
    @SilentStudioExplores Před 11 měsíci

    think i saw you at a festival before. i always see all the poi and wisps and hoops. seeing the slinky caught my eye. really cool!

  • @johnchristian4821
    @johnchristian4821 Před rokem

    Wow. That's an amazing Slinky Bending! Ang will be very proud!

  • @roofus282
    @roofus282 Před rokem +4

    This is some avengers-level super power 💀

  • @stphndrn
    @stphndrn Před rokem +4

    There's definitely Phisics in this art form...Im glad we live in a day and age... that someone can live off slinking manipulation! And he's happy so cool!

  • @gabriel.cashez
    @gabriel.cashez Před rokem

    man... the vibes of this dude are crazy, he is just happy all the time, what a nice pal

  • @kaonashi3D
    @kaonashi3D Před rokem +1

    My buddy and I met this guy like five years ago at a fest he's come so far. So great.

  • @radry100
    @radry100 Před rokem +7

    Literally every asian street vendor who sells slinkies can do that.

  • @t.n.k-willy6684
    @t.n.k-willy6684 Před rokem +3

    bro looks like water white

  • @Bettinasisrg
    @Bettinasisrg Před rokem +2

    We used to try stuff like this in the 1970s but all the slinkys were metal so I think that's why it's taken until the plastic ones came out to catch on, also yes the bends! So cool!

  • @PacoOtis
    @PacoOtis Před 19 dny

    Very enjoyable! Thanks for sharing!

  • @Business_Facts_Daily
    @Business_Facts_Daily Před 11 měsíci +4

    walter white if he never met jesse

  • @torpedex4600
    @torpedex4600 Před rokem +3

    Slinky Master is such a wild job title

  • @galaxythedragonshifter
    @galaxythedragonshifter Před 11 měsíci

    I didn't even know this was a thing! This is so cool!😭

  • @montysaints4750
    @montysaints4750 Před 11 měsíci +2

    He's mastered skills beyond our realm.

  • @MoGimp.
    @MoGimp. Před rokem +3

    Dean Pelton before Greendale.

  • @realbrickbread
    @realbrickbread Před rokem

    I had one of these as a kid and always managed to tangle them up in some way

  • @zindamor2629
    @zindamor2629 Před 4 měsíci

    I see this video and now I must learn how to do this too..
    Thank you for my newest hobby Josh!

  • @abruoon
    @abruoon Před rokem +3

    slinking manipulation community

  • @Defooriginal
    @Defooriginal Před 11 měsíci

    What an accomplishment.
    Now he's on CZcams!
    He made it!

  • @drakechernichenko4957
    @drakechernichenko4957 Před rokem +1

    It's cool how this is a starting sport(?)
    When I see this I think of skateboarding and how over 30 years have changed and developed so much. It's cool to think where this will end up in 10 years.

  • @danielamaro4554
    @danielamaro4554 Před rokem +3

    Art form? I don't think so

  • @penname8441
    @penname8441 Před rokem +3

    So a white guy got famous for doing something he saw an Asian guy do, why didn't wired try to go find the original Asian guy josh says inspired him?

  • @tripalongbrasil
    @tripalongbrasil Před rokem +2

    Wow, didn't know Babish played with slinkies as a side hustle! Very cool.

  • @insectbah
    @insectbah Před 11 měsíci +1

    I love people getting really good at stuff!

  • @juancelop
    @juancelop Před rokem +1

    Man, his aura is amazing! 🥹 Now i miss my childhood slinky that only went down the stairs 😭

  • @DeadEye364
    @DeadEye364 Před 8 měsíci

    That man and his slinky are both magic. The way he manipulates the slinky while it miraculously turns into a rainbow with it only being three colors is insane.

  • @samuelbrown434
    @samuelbrown434 Před 5 měsíci

    it is possible to learn with (enough thoughtful, methodic, consistent and persistent) practice.

  • @pixelchu
    @pixelchu Před rokem +2

    There’s cardistry, yo-yos, kendamas, bottle flipping, and now this I discovered.
    I wonder what’s the next toy to be taken to the next level. It didn’t occur to me much how cool slinkys can be.

  • @nahmastay3300
    @nahmastay3300 Před rokem

    It’s such a simple fricken toy and this guy makes it SO COOL TO WATCH

  • @xiongpaolee
    @xiongpaolee Před 8 měsíci

    Awesome, keep it up bruh! 👏👏👏

  • @andyd8370
    @andyd8370 Před rokem +1

    As someone who was mesmerized by poi-spinning and just HAD to learn, this resonates with me.
    Hope to see you in THE FORREST