This is Willi’s stunning version of Tenyo’s highly sought after Paddle collection. Willi has reproduced each of the paddles in the original set but made them in wood and they are perfectly beautiful 🙂
Also included are the 19 page of instructions written by Phil Goldstein and illustrated by Teruhide Sonoda. This was not an official release from Willi (or even sanctioned by Tenyo), Willi just created a very few sets for friends. So although the original Tenyo versions are rare and in great demand this set is even rarer.
The paddles are housed in a custom designed wooden case and each paddle is perfectly safe and secure in it’s slot. By pushing lightly down on the end of a paddle the other end raises making it easy to remove the paddles from the box for performance.
These paddles are a Collector’s dream and you can’t help but love Willi for creating such a wonderful set 🙂
I have read through the clearly written and well illustrated instructions multiple times and attempted to perform each of the 11 effects presented and here are a few brief comments. When you first look at the ten paddles you think what a cute set of bar paddles, but each of the paddles has a very specific purpose and it is quite incredible how amazing some of the routines are thanks to the placement of gems in certain locations. Although none of the paddles has any sliding parts or items added or removed, if you bother to read through the routines I’m quite sure you will find some effects that appeal to you and are easy to perform.
Brief comments (see some effect details below):
- Warm-Up: Easy to do and short and sweet. (*)
- Solo: Easy to do and quite a step up from the warm-up. (*)
- Duet: More involved but with a little extra practice this is a very baffling and interesting routine. (*)
- Trio I: This one sounds very interesting and does not seem particularly difficult. I was able to do the basic moves but I am not convinced I could ever make this look good, spectators would want to see more of the paddle. For those with more talent maybe this would be amazing, but I would need to see it to be convinced. It relies on covering up one of 4 gems in the center of the paddle and I am uanble to do that without screaming: “What is under your thumb!” 🙁
- Trio II: This is very different from Trio I (using a different paddle) but I like it. Takes a little more practice but still possible and amazing how much they can get out of a single fixed paddle. (*)
- Trio III : This is based on Trio I and does not work for me for the same reason. I am not sure this would look convincing without seeing it.
- Quartet I: This is too tricky for me to do well. Done well I’m sure it is amazing but I don’t have the time to put in or possibly the ability to make it look good. 🙁
- Quartet II: This is certainly easier than Quartet I. It requires some fluid handing but is not difficult and with some practice you have a great little routine that is different. (*)
- Sextet: This is the popular Hot Rod effect with an improved force of the red spot. This is not a bad idea but it doesn’t do much for me.
- Canon: This is another effect that requires quite a lot of motion with the hands being in the right place at the right time. With effort probably looks good, but not for me.
- Concerto: This is probably the most involved effect I would (or could) perform and it is quite an amazing sequence of events for sure. (*)
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