Diabolos

Diabolo: a circus arts discipline

Diabolo is a key discipline in circus arts, accessible to both beginners and experienced artists. Composed of a rotating coil on a string stretched between two sticks, it offers an infinite number of tricks and creative possibilities.✨

It is an ancient practice , born in China more than 2,000 years ago under the name of kongzhu, often made of bamboo and sometimes resonant. It crossed the centuries to Europe in the 19th century thanks to British trade. In France, at the beginning of the 20th century, the manufacturer Gustave Philippart renamed it “diabolo” (from the Greek diabolos — “to throw across”), inserting it into the modernity of European toys.🌍

Six stacked colored plastic diabolos, ranging from green to red, on a white surface.

Technical evolution of the diabolo

Technically , the object has evolved a lot: Modern materials: bamboo has given way to plastic, rubber or metal, for greater solidity and maneuverability

Two mechanisms:

  • Fixed axis : classic rotation, perfect for dynamic figures.
  • Free Axle (Ball Bearing): Extended rotation, ideal for grinds or sophisticated combos.🌀

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Emblematic figures

  • Grind — spinning the diabolo on a stick.
  • Suicide — dropping a stick while keeping the diabolo spinning.
  • Cascade (throw and catch) — juggling the diabolo in the air while handling the string.🤹

Notable performances & contemporary records

On March 22, 2019, Guillaume Karpowicz published a spectacular video where he manipulates six diabolos at the same time.

According to data available on the Guinness World Records website, here are some unusual and impressive records:

  1. Maximum grind length — 1 min 42 s, performed by Naoki on May 31, 2025.
  2. Number of revolutions of the diabolo around the arm in one minute — 183 revolutions, performed by Lauri Koskinen (Finland), in Helsinki, on September 21, 2020.
  3. 4-Diabolo Endurance — 1 min 21 s, by Peng Zhan .
  4. Maximum height (with reception) — 24 meters, approximately an 8-story building, by Carlos Mir , July 9, 2015.
  5. Largest diabolo — 1.3 meters in diameter, made by Wang Yueqiu (China), September 20, 2007.🏆
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