Yo-yo toy | Sleeping, Looping & Walking the dog

Girl playing yo-yo on a street corner, 1930s          Swedish boy performing a trick with his yo-yo, 1935

A yo-yo 

A toy which in its simplest form is an object consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a 

length of string looped around the axle, similar to a slender spool. It was first invented in ancient Greece. 

English historical names for the yo-yo include bandalore (from French) and quiz. French historical terms 

include bandalore, incroyable, de Coblenz, emigrette, and joujou de Normandie (joujou meaning little toy).

The Sleeper 

One of the most common yo-yo throws and is the basis for nearly all yo-yo throws other than looping. Keeping a 

yo-yo spinning while remaining at the end of its uncoiled string is known as sleeping. While the yo-yo is in the 

"sleeping" state at the end of the string, one can then execute other tricks like "walk the dog", "around the world", 

or the more complex "rock the baby".

Looping 

A yo-yo technique which emphasizes keeping the body of the yo-yo in constant motion, without sleeping.

Walk the dog 

Throwing a strong sleeper and allowing the yo-yo to roll across the floor, before tugging it back to the hand.

Boy playing with a terracotta yo-yo, Attic kylix, c. 440 BC