| International Jugglers' Association | |
| Abbreviation: | IJA |
| Tax Id: | 16-1111652[1] |
| Status: | Nonprofit organization |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose: | To enhance the art of juggling globally. |
| Volunteers: | 75 |
| Volunteers Year: | 2019 |
| Revenue: | $211,458 |
| Revenue Year: | 2019 |
| Expenses: | $192,731 |
| Expenses Year: | 2019 |
| Leader Name: | Aslynne Howes[2] |
| Leader Title: | Chair |
The International Jugglers' Association or IJA is the world's oldest and largest nonprofit circus organization, and is open to members worldwide. It was founded in the United States in 1947,[3] with the goal of providing, "an organization for jugglers that would provide meetings at regular intervals in an atmosphere of mutual friendship."[4] Although its focus lies on juggling, its programs also support other circus disciplines.
The International Jugglers' Association runs the following programs and events:
The International Jugglers' Association holds the largest week-long juggling festival in North America. (The largest juggling festival in the world is the European Juggling Convention, started in 1978 and whose founders were members of the International Jugglers' Association).
The convention is held in a different city each year during mid-to-late July since 1948. There were also additional winter conventions in the 90s. Aside from the competitions, at the convention there are shows open to the public in which professional jugglers perform, and workshops are taught by jugglers of all skill levels.
The organization maintains lists of IJA record-holders,[5] and IJA competitors.[6]
The IJA's Stage Championships are the formal world juggling championships that offers medals and prize money for juggling performances. These competitions are held during the week at the IJA's annual festival, held in the summer. There are three categories of IJA Stage Championships: Individuals (individual competitors), Teams (two or more people per team) and Juniors (individuals 17 years old or younger). The first annual world juggling championships were held at the Sheraton West Hotel in Los Angeles in 1969.[7]
| Year | Individual | Teams | Juniors | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | George Zsilak | N/A | N/A | |
| 1970 | Danny Rees | N/A | N/A | |
| 1971 | Tommy Curtain | N/A | N/A | |
| 1972 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| 1973 | Jerry Greenberg | N/A | Martin Gray | |
| 1974 | N/A | N/A | Nate Stein | |
| 1975 | N/A | N/A | Peter Cuneen | |
| 1976 | N/A | N/A | Norm Johnson | |
| 1977 | N/A | N/A | Lenny Mazel | |
| 1978 | N/A | Fred Garbo, Allan Jacobs | Ben Decker | |
| 1979 | Edward Jackman Larry Vaksman Peter Davison | The Wimbledon Brothers (Dan Berg, Bruce Pfeffer) J. Held, B. Felker Locomotion Circus (Bounce, Cyrus, Flip) | Lindsey Morris Maria Alcarese Nguyen Phuc | |
| 1980 | Michael Kass Edward Jackman Larry Vaksman | Magnificent Material Movers ISU Gamma Phi Jugglers (Dan Berg, Pete Schulte, John Burns, Greg Grimstad) Les Foubrac | Kezia Tenenbaum Nick Newlin Jon Leffingwell | |
| 1981 | Tommy Curtin Edward Jackman Allan Jacobs | Gravity's Last Stand (Carville, Fry, Gagnepain) L.A. Juggling Company (Rosen, Jackman) Up In the Air Juggling Club (Boyer, Friedman) | Anthony Gatto Patrick Dempsey John Webster | |
| 1982 | Peter Davison Anthony Gatto Michael Marlin | Airjazz (Davison, Held, Tenenbaum) Gravity's Last Stand (Carvill, Jim Gagnepain, Matt Gagnepain) Not Awarded | Andrew Allen John Webster Christa Rypins | |
| 1983 | Allan Jacobs Edward Jackman Anthony Gatto | Bryan Wendling, Scott Burton Jongleur Jugglers Raspyni Brothers | David Deeble Rick Coleman Patrick Cox | |
| 1984 | Albert Lucas Mark Nizer Dan Holzman | Raspyni Brothers (Dan Holzman, Barry Friedman) Young Gentlemen Jugglers (John Webster, Robert Stuverud) Circus Shmirkus (Steve Westren, Fred Stinson) | David Lee Dana Tison Robbie Weinstein | |
| 1985 | Andrew Head Dan Holzman Arsene | Benji Hill, Dana Tison Benji Marantz, Tom Murphy Live Aid | Ken Falk Robbie Weinstein Bogar Zuniga | |
| 1986 | Anthony Gatto Scott Burton Benji Hill | Jet Set Jugglers (Eastman Webber, Richard Chesbrough Raspyni Brothers (Dan Holzman, Barry Friedman) Jongleur Jugglers (John Creveling, Mike Stillwell, Yvonne Wetherell) | Robbie Weinstein OranCanfield Mark Bakalor | |
| 1987 | Benji Hill Jeff Mason Dana Tison | Manic Expressions (K.C. Canter, Tommy Gabriel, Mark Lippard) Raspyni Brothers (Barry Friedman, Dan Holzman) Doubble Troubble (Nick, Alex Karvounis) | Curt Bonnem David Cain Mark Faje | |
| 1988 | Jeff Mason Ryder Schwartz Benji Hill | Raspyni Brothers (Dan Holzman, Barry Friedman) Passing Zone (Owen Morse, Jon Wee) Philippine Pride Jugglers (Emily Cafina, Regina Tayko, Joyce Bonachita, Irlopal Macabinguil | Jason Garfield Matt Linnell Clarke Mcfarlane | |
| 1989 | Cindy Marvell Larry Vee Michael Menes | The Passing Zone (Owen Morse, Jon Wee) Doubble Troubble (Nick, Alex Kervounis) Clockwork (Jack Kalvan, Rick Rubenstein) | Jonathan Rosenberg Brian Patz Alfonso Guerra | |
| 1990 | Mark Nizer Carlos Rodriguez Dan Holzman | Darn, Good and Funny (Kevin Holman, Karen Phariss, Paul Phariss) Raspyni Brothers (Dan Holzman, Barry Friedman) Not Awarded | Chuck Gunter Joel Purcell Brian Patz | |
| 1991 | Not Awarded Andrew Head Jason Garfield, Dana Tison, Tuey Wilson | Not Awarded Doubble Troubble (Nick, Alex Karivounis) Clockwork (Rick Rubenstein, Jack Kalvan) | Pat McGuire Brian Patz Sean Mckinney | |
| 1992 | Not Awarded Miguel Herrera, Dan Holzman, Dimitri Mourkes France Robert, Larry Vee, Bob Whitcomb | Not Awarded Chuck Gunter, Benji Hill Dew Drop Jugglers (Jason LeMay, Michael Lunzer, Jeff Kasper) | Sean McKinney Ben Tolpin Brian Patz | |
| 1993 | Fritz Grobe Not Awarded Jill Westover, Eric Wenokor | Not Awarded Benji Hill, Chuck Gunter Not Awarded | Jay Gilligan Corey Hoelcker Jason Kariotis | |
| 1994 | Tony Duncan Brian Patz Martin Mall | Crash and Burn (David Cain, Jay Gilligan) Darn, Good and Funny (Kevin Holman, Paul Phariss, Cindy Marvell) Clockwork (Jack Kalvan, Rick Rubenstein) | Joey Cousin Artom Khomanko Casey Boehmer | |
| 1995 | Francoise Rochais Jay Gilligan Jochen Schell | Blink (Jay Gilligan, Fritz Grobe, Morty Hansen) Cousin Brothers (Dan, Joey Cousin) Trio One Over Par (Thomas Hinte, Daniel Megnet, Dirk Meyer) | Vladik Miagkostoupov Casey Boehmer Kevin Bylund | |
| 1996 | Greg Kennedy Jay Gilligan Brian Patz | Dew Drop Jugglers (Mick Lunzer, Jeff Kasper, Jason LeMay) Tripp and Fall (Dextre Tripp, Reid Belstock) Not Awarded | Casey Boehmer Mike Price Rick Friscia | |
| 1997 | Vladik Miagkostoupov Brian Patz Matt Henry | Mark, Charlie Peachock Flight Patterns (Todd Blair, Jimmy Robertson) Stoolies (Aaron Schettler, Reid Belstock) | Adam Kariotis Emil Carey Rick Friscia | |
| 1998 | Jason Garfield Dana Tison Brian Patz | Les Tourisks Raising Cain (Scott, David Cain) Redefining Gravity (Heather Hackett-Brinegar, Darrin Marriott) | Jeff Civillico Luke Jay Mike Roberts | |
| 1999 | Adam Kariotis Sean McKinney Jay Gilligan | The Mad Five The Fling Kings Marty and Jake | Peter Gerber Emil Carey Christopher Chiappini | |
| 2000 | Michael Price Jason Garfield Patrick McGuire | Redefining Gravity (Heather Hackett, Darin Marriott) We're Not Clowns (Scott Parker, Kelly Anzalone, Andrew Pratt) Propellorheads (Dan Berman, Peter Frey) | Christopher Chiappini Nate Seefeldt Dorothy Finnigan | |
| 2001 | Matt Henry Nicolas Souren Jeffery Daymont | The LaSalle Brothers (Jake, Marty LaSalle) Team Rootberry (Jonathan Root, Bill Berry) Raising Cain (David, Scott Cain) | David DiMuzio Nate Seefeldt Josiah Jones | |
| 2002 | Jason Garfield Pat McGuire Rod Laver | Saccade (Greg Kennedy, Chris Ivey) Team Rootberry (Jonathan Root, Bill Berry) Stoolies (Reid Belstock, Aaron Schettler, Luke Jay) | Ryo Yabe Josiah the Bold (Josiah Jones) Stephen Caruso | |
| 2003 | Bill Berry Matt Hall Vova Galchenko | Team Rootberry (Jonathan Root, Bill Berry) Olga, Vova Galchenko Jugheads | Jonathan Brady Charles "C.J." Smith Jr. Leo James | |
| 2004 | Thomas Dietz Ivan Pecel Emile Carey | Olga, Vova Galchenko Stanford Juggling Research Institute (Martin Frost, Rick Rubenstein, Neil Fred Picciotto) The Jugheads | Wes Peden Leo James Edgar Mkrtchyan | |
| 2005 | Ryo Yabe Mark Kolbusz Cecile Poncet | Jonglissimo (Christoph, Manuel Mitasch) Kikyo Brothers (Atsushi, Takashi Kikyo Entropy (Tony Gonzalez, Will Oltman) | Kazuhiro Shindo Komei Aoki Takashi Kikyo | |
| 2006 | Artem Khomanko Yuki Kojima Michael Karas | MHD (William Wei-Liang Lin, Ting-Chin Hsu) Swatch Vanillatown | William Wei-Liang Lin Tony Pezzo Billy Watson | |
| 2007 | Thomas Dietz Wes Peden Vova Galchenko | Jonglissimo (Christoph, Manuel Mitasch) Kikyo Brothers (Atsushi, Takashi Kikyo Genetic Fallout (Scott, Amanda Richter) | Yoshiaki Nagatake Nate Martin Teruki Okamoto | |
| 2008 | Vova Galchenko Billy Watson Yoshihisa Suehiro | Sharpe Brothers (Jacob, Nate Sharpe) Kikyo Brothers (Atsushi, Takashi Kikyo) Taiwan Physical Education College (Ching-Ta Huang, Huang-Chin Lien | Takashi Kikyo Chu Chuan-Ho Ben Hestness | |
| 2009 | Doug Sayers Billy Watson Yusaku Mochiduki | The Jugheads (Rory Bade, Stefan Brancel, Sean Carney, Ricky Harr, Ben Hestness Jonny Langholz, Jack Levy, Colin Revere, Amanda Richter, Scott Schultz Joey Spicola, Hanna Stoehr, David Uhr, Silas Wallen-Friedman, Brenden Ying) Smirk (Ried Belstock, Warren Hammond) Poetic Motion Machine (Steven Dimon, Jeremiah Johnston, Jesse Johnston, Eli March | Liu-Wen Yeh David Ferman Jack Levy | |
| 2010 | Jordan Moir Yu Kondo Ivan Pecel | Dream Team (Doug Sayers, Josh Horton) Poetic Motion Machine (Steven Dimaon, Jeremiah, Jesse Johnston, Eli March) The Five of Clubs (Rory Bade, Sean Carney, Jack Levy, Scott Schultz, Brenden Ying | Noah Malone David Ferman Lauge Benjaminsen | |
| 2011 | Tony Pezzo Kitamura Shintarou Tomohiro Kobayashi | Showy Motion (Stefan Brancel, Ben Hestness) Smirk (Reid Belstock, Warren Hammond) The Jugheads (Rory Bade, Michael Barreto, Alex Behr, Daniel Burke, Sean Carney, Tom Gaasedelen, Joe Gould, Danny Gratzer, Conor Hussey, Reid Johnson, Griffin Kelley, Jonny Langholz, Jack Levy, Chris Lovdal, Mara Moettus, Chris Olson, Evan Peter, Scott Schultz, Joey Spicola, Brenden Ying) | David Ferman Jack Denger Patrick Fraser | |
| 2012 | Satoshi Eto Thom Wall David Ferman | Daniel, Dominik Institute of Jugglology (Galen Harp, Ellen Winters) Kikyo Brothers (Atsushi, Takashi Kikyo) | Kellin Quinn Jack Denger Ashley Ellis | |
| 2013 | Kyle Driggs Wes Peden Kellin Quinn | The Pastels Kikyo Brothers Mountain Motion | Ashley Ellis Yusuke Yokoyama Patrick Fraser | |
| 2014 | Kota Hayashi Yusaku Mochizuki Thom Wall | Institute of Jugglology (Galen Harp, Ellen Winters) Duck and Cover The Nine Hips | Jack Denger Patrick Fraser Delaney Bayles | |
| 2015 | Yusaku Mochizuki Yosuke Ubukata Kento Tanioka | Kentokaito The Jugheads The Bling Bros. | Delaney Bayles Max Poff Daniel Van Hoomissen | |
| 2016 | Hiroki Kamei Jorden Moir Scott Sorensen | Jonglissimo (Daniel Ledel, Dominik Harant, Manuel Mitasch) Totchees (Tetuya Tochikubo, Ayaka Tochikubo) Aki and Takeru | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse Christopher Haaser Bennett Santora | |
| 2017 | Hayato Watanabe Shinya Yamane Delaney Bayles | CAPT – New Style Crew (Thean Leong Hng, Pei-Chen Jung, Wei-Hsuan Chang, Meng-Ti Hsieh, Yu-Ping Chiang) CAPT (Yu Cheng Lu, Chin Yao Yang) Duo Octo (Peter Irish, Jordan Moir) | Bennett Santora Christopher Haaser Houston Odum | |
| 2018 | Masayuki Furuya Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse Makoto Hanada | Cosmic Cousins (Eli March, Nate Hughes) KK Staff (Keiichiro Kato, Takumi Ohkura) The LemonHeads (Isaac Cantor, Joshua Nelson | Sho Kasuya Grant Bishop Christopher Haaser | |
| 2019 | Zak McAllister Eric Jackson Elia Taylor | Zak and Delaney CBO Juggling Team Jugheads | Christopher Haaser Kyle Albrecht | |
| 2022 | Ho Lam Pun Kathryn Carr Futa Fujimoto | N/A | Matthew Walmsley LilyRuth Mamary Leona Barocas | |
| 2023 | Shih Rong Huang Michael Karas Matan Presberg | Manuel Mitasch & Moritz Rosner | N/A | |
| 2024 | Delaney Bayles Galen Harp Gideon Elson | Daniel & Julius Smile Group Canada | Stefan Hart Chu-Huan Wang Atticus Abraham |
In response to COVID-19, IJA created an annual event based on IJA Stage Championships normally held at the annual IJA Festival, but with some modifications to accommodate the circumstances. Instead of a live event, videos submissions judged by the entire attending IJA membership in five categories of Juggling Difficulty, Juggling Creativity, Juggling Execution, Entertainment Value, and Presentation.[8] [9]
| Year | Individual | Teams | Juniors | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Hazel Bock Kohei Itabashi | N/A | David Pavlove Cunsolo Zaila Avant-garde Thomas Whitaker | |
| 2021 | Adam Dipert Cinthia “La Flaka” Buitrón Keisuke Yamazaki | Raising Cain | Nikolai Marshall Ella Catanzaro Janice Chao |
The Numbers Championships awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to those who demonstrate that they can juggle the most balls, clubs or rings for the highest number of catches. Competition occurs in three categories: Individuals, Duos and Trios. See the current IJA records.[5] Starting at the 2006 convention, prize is given to each "numbers" winner, with an extra prize for anyone who breaks an existing International Jugglers' Association record.Other competitions held at the IJA's annual festival include the Individual Prop Competitions, the Extreme Juggling Competitions, the World Joggling Championships, as well as traditional (and more informal) juggling games and events.
The IJA has published Jugglers' World and JUGGLE magazine. In 2012, the IJA transitioned to an all-digital form of communications, halting publication of JUGGLE magazine. Today, members read juggling news through eJuggle, hosted on the IJA's website.
In addition to the online magazine, the IJA also produces a monthly eNewsletter with IJA news, articles of interest, and news from the global juggling community.
Presidents have included Ronald Graham, co-inventor of Mills Mess.