Play Myachi

Myachi (mee-ah-chee) is skill toy that combines the fluid motions of martial arts with the old-school fun of foot-bag by utilizing every part of the body except the palm of the hands; this exception provides for a lot of the fun! There are thousands of tricks to master and dozens of games you can play.

Steps

1. Choose the right Myachi for you. Myachis come in a variety of different fabrics, with some fabrics being a bit easier for beginners than others. Most beginners prefer a Wash Corduroy or micro-suede material when they first start, as these fabrics break in (soften up) quickly and have excellent grip.
   • Check that you have some finger knugz as well. These little fabric bands come with most Myachis and are intended to slip onto your fingers. They improve your grip and provide traction for the Myachi.
2. Break in a Hacky Sack or a Myachi. You can jam with a Myachi right away, but it will be a bit stiff when it comes out of the package. To counteract that, rub the Myachi in your hands or twist it vigorously for a few minutes.
   • Many dedicated Myachi players break in their new sacks by wetting them or washing them with Make Foaming Hand Soap. Read Break in a Hacky Sack or a Myachi for more details.
3. Learn the basic back handed catch. The only rule in Myachi is "No Palms Allowed", so nearly every part of the body will be used, but most often, you'll be catching on the back of your hand. Start by simply tossing the sack from one backhand to the other.
   • Maintain the proper hand position the whole time. Keep your fingers spread with about an inch (2.5cm) of space between each finger and, most importantly, keep your thumb up. This will broaden your hand and give you more surface area on which to catch the Myachi.
   • Remember to give with it, absorbing the Myachi instead of hitting or batting it. Aim for a light catch on the back of the hand.
4. Learn some basic tricks. It's a good idea to use videos to teach you the basic Myachi tricks because written instructions are not as clear as visual demonstrations. Do a search on YouTube for the official Myachi channel, or check out videos made by Myachi enthusiasts.
   • Read Jam and Play With a Myachi for a start.
   • Learn the "360". This is the one of the most basic tricks with the Myachi. Start with a single rotation, then add a second rotation. Once you're confident, try a third rotation.
   • Learn the "Cold Fusion". Keep practicing until you have the feel for the timing that is essential to getting Cold Fusion right.
   • Try the "Under the Leg". This move is more advanced and you'll need to be both flexible and good at judging the leg space or the Myachi risks hitting the underside of your leg.
   • Keep learning new moves, including the "Half pipe ", the "Behind the Back", the "Trampoline", the "Daredevil", and the "Flying Clipper".
5. Practice often. The beauty of Myachi is that it can be played almost anywhere because it takes very little room. This means you can practice with your Myachi when you're in a waiting room, in your bedroom, standing in line, watching TV, or waiting for your turn on the XBox. Continue to practice moves even after you've learned them, to increase your speed and consistency.
6. Push yourself. Try to learn harder variations of the tricks you've already mastered. For example, if you've perfected the 360, it's time to start working on the 720.
7. Practice transitions and combos. Myachi tricks are fun, but a full-on shred with a number of tricks is a thing of beauty. To shred like the pros, you'll need to learn to combine your tricks together and move from one to another fluidly and that only comes with practice. Try practicing a series of five or six moves in the same order until you can flow between them.
8. Get creative! Half the fun of the game is that you can create your own tricks and combos. Just remember the only rule that applies is "No Palms Allowed".
   • Teach your friends. Like most games, Myachi is more fun when you play with someone.

Tips

• Seek advice from the experts. The web is filled with myachi forums and newsgroups, so search around a bit.
• Persevere! Remember that dropping is a sign of learning. Don't let the tougher tricks discourage you; keep trying until you master it.
• Learn the tricks in a logical order. You're going to have a lot of trouble learning an Instep 360 if you haven't already mastered an Instep Stall, a Toe 360 and a Gui, so if a trick is driving you nuts, pull back and learn each trick one piece at a time.
• If you end up pinching the Myachi between your fingers, move it to the back of your hand as smoothly as possible.

Warnings

• Myachi can be addictive.
• Some of the tricks might challenge your balance or flexibility. Use your own best judgement when trying a trick for the first time.

Things You'll Need

• Myachi
• Finger Knugz (optional)

Related Articles

• Break in a Hacky Sack or a Myachi
• Jam With the Myachi
• Play Hacky Sack
• Play Hacky Sack in a Group
• Toe Stall a Foot Bag

Sources and Citations

See also

• Play Hacky Sack
• Make a Hacky Sack
• Build a Bean Bag Game