| IJA | |
|---|---|
 International Jugglers' Association | |
|
Mission |
To educate and render assistance to fellow jugglers. |
|
Founded |
June 17, 1947 |
|
Founders |
George Barvinchak |
|
Chair |
Ross Berenson |
|
Websites |
www.juggle.org |
The International Jugglers' Association (IJA) is the oldest and largest organization of jugglers, founded in 1947.
The IJA holds the largest week-long juggling festival in North America, with competitions, workshops, and public shows. The festival is held in a different North American city each year, usually in the United States, during mid-to-late July.
The official publication of the IJA is eJuggle, an online magazine that replaced the printed JUGGLE magazine in 2011.
IJA competitions[]
The IJA's Stage Championships are competitions for juggling performances, held during the IJA's annual festival. There are three categories in the Stage Championships: Individuals (individual competitors), Teams (two or more people per team) and Juniors (individuals 17 years old or younger). First, second and third place winners in the Stage Championships are awarded medals and cash prizes.
In the Numbers Championships, the goal is to juggle (qualify) the most balls (there are competitions for both toss juggling and bounce juggling), rings or clubs for the highest number of catches. Each competitor is given two minutes to get their best run with each number/prop. There are three categories of numbers competitions: individuals, duos and trios. (The trios division only has competitions for club passing.) Starting at the 2006 convention, a prize is given to each Numbers winner, with an extra prize for anyone who breaks an IJA competition record.
Other competitions held at the IJA festival include the eXtreme Juggling Competitions and the World Joggling Championships, as well as traditional (and more informal) juggling Games, such as 5 ball endurance, 3 ball Simon says, combat, speed passing, and club gathering.
IJA champions[]
Stage championships[]
| Year | Individuals | Teams | Juniors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | George Zsilak (All Around Champion - won 3 Clubs, Club Passing, Object Manipulation), Danny Rees (3 Balls, Object Spinning), Ron Henon (Ball Manipulation, Auxiliary Equipment) | ||
| 1970 | Danny Rees (All Around Champion - won Club Passing, Object Spinning, Object Balancing), Gerald Greenberg (3 Balls), Stu Raynolds (3 Clubs), Bill Gnadt (Ball Manipulation), Ken Benge (Auxiliary Equipment) | ||
| 1971 | Tommy Curtin (All Around Champion - won 3 Balls, 4-5 Balls, 3 Clubs, 4 Clubs, Club Passing, Ball Spinning, Object Manipulation, Auxiliary Equipment) | ||
| 1972 | John McPeak (Balls), Stu Raynolds (Clubs), Jay Green (Manipulation, Auxiliary) | ||
| 1973 | Jay Green (All Around Champion - won Balls, Clubs, Manipulation, Auxilary) | Martin Gray | |
| 1974 | Jay Green (Balls, Clubs, Manipulation), Michael Moschen (Auxiliary) | Nate Stein | |
| 1975 | Michael Moschen (Balls), Pam Doyle (Object Manipulation), Dick Franco (Clubs), Jay Green (Auxiliary) | Peter Cuneen | |
| 1976 | John McPeak (Balls and Manipulation), Steve Mills (Clubs), Bob Bryant (Auxiliary) | Norm Johnson | |
| 1977 | Robert Morganti (Balls), Barrett Felker (Clubs), Mike Marlin (Manipulation), Claude Crumley (Auxiliary) | Lenny Mazel | |
| 1978 | Barret Felker (Balls and Clubs), Steve Mock (Manipulation), Edward Jackman (Auxiliary) | Fred Garbo & Allan Jacobs | Ben Decker |
| 1979 | Edward Jackman | Wimbledon Bros | Lindsey Morris |
| 1980 | Michael Kass | Magnificent Material Movers | Kezia Tenenbaum |
| 1981 | Tommy Curtin | Gravity's Last Stand | Anthony Gatto |
| 1982 | Peter Davison | Airjazz | Andrew Allen |
| 1983 | Allan Jacobs | Bryan Wendling & Scott Burton | David Deeble |
| 1984 | Albert Lucas | Raspyni Brothers | David Lee |
| 1985 | Andrew Head | Benji Hill & Dana Tison | Ken Falk |
| 1986 | Anthony Gatto | Jet Set Jugglers | Robbie Weinstein |
| 1987 | Benji Hill | Manic Expressions | Curt Bonnem |
| 1988 | Jeff Mason | Raspyni Brothers | Jason Garfield |
| 1989 | Cindy Marvell | The Passing Zone | Jonathan Rosenberg |
| 1990 | Mark Nizer | Darn, Good & Funny | Chuck Gunter |
| 1991 | Andrew Head | Doubble Troubble | Pat McGuire |
| 1992 | Miguel Herrera | Chuck Gunter & Benji Hill | Sean McKinney |
| 1993 | Fritz Grobe | Chuck Gunter & Benji Hill | Jay Gilligan |
| 1994 | Tony Duncan | Crash & Burn | Joey Cousin |
| 1995 | Françoise Rochais | Blink | Vladik Miagkostoupov |
| 1996 | Greg Kennedy | Dew Drop Jugglers | Casey Boehmer |
| 1997 | Vladik Miagkostoupov | Mark & Charlie Peachock | Adam Kariotis |
| 1998 | Jason Garfield | Les Tourisks | Jeff Civillico |
| 1999 | Adam Kariotis | The Mad Five | Peter Gerber |
| 2000 | Michael Price | Redefining Gravity | Chris Chiappini |
| 2001 | Matt Henry | The LaSalle Brothers | David DiMuzio |
| 2002 | Jason Garfield | Saccade | Ryo Yabe |
| 2003 | Bill Berry | Team Rootberry | Jon Brady |
| 2004 | Thomas Dietz | Olga & Vova Galchenko | Wes Peden |
| 2005 | Ryo Yabe | Jonglissimo | Kazuhiro Shindo |
| 2006 | Artem Khomanko | MHD | William Wei-Liang-Lin |
| 2007 | Thomas Dietz | Jonglissimo | Yoshiaki Nagatake |
| 2008 | Vova Galchenko | Sharpe Brothers | Takashi Kikyo |
| 2009 | Doug Sayers | The Jugheads | Liu-Wen Yeh |
| 2010 | Jorden Moir | Dream Team | Noah Malone |
| 2011 | Tony Pezzo | Showy Motion | David Ferman |
| 2012 | Satoshi Eto | Daniel Ledel & Dominik Harant | Kellin Quinn |
| 2013 | Kyle Driggs | The Pastels | Ashley Ellis |
| 2014 | Kota Hayashi | Institute of Jugglology | Jack Denger |
| 2015 | Yusaku Mochizuki | Kentokaito | Delaney Bayles |
| 2016 | Hiroki Kamei | Jonglissimo | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse |
| 2017 | Hayato Watanabe | New Style Crew | Bennett Santora |
| 2018 | Masayuki Furuya | Cosmic Cousins | Sho Kasuya |
| 2019 | Zak McAllister | Zak & Delaney | Christopher Haaser |
| 2020 | Hazel Bock | David Pavlove Cunsolo | |
| 2021 | Adam Dipert | Raising Cain | Nikolai Marshall |
| 2022 | Pun Ho Lam | Matthew Walmsley | |
| 2023 | Shih Rong Huang | Manuel Mitasch & Moritz Rosner | |
| 2024 | Delaney Bayles | Daniel & Julius | Stefan Hart |
OFFICIAL 2012 IJA Festival DVD Trailer
Individual Numbers championships[]
Until 1984, there were usually no more than two divisions in the Numbers Championships, one for 7 objects (balls or rings), and one for 5 clubs. Often there was just one Numbers competition, where competitors were allowed to use either 7 objects or 5 clubs.
Starting in 1984, the IJA has had numbers competitions with a separate division for each prop, where competitors can attempt to juggle higher numbers, and those who successfully juggle higher numbers are scored higher. This new competition format was initially called the Numbers Challenge. The Numbers competitions currently require a minimum of 8 balls, 8 rings, or 6 clubs. No bounce juggling was allowed in the Numbers competitions until a separate division for ball bouncing was added in 1993.
| Year | Balls | Rings | Clubs | Ball Bouncing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Danny Rees | George Zsilak | George Zsilak | |
| 1970 | Ken Benge | Albert Lucas | Stu Raynolds | |
| 1971 | Bill Gnadt (using 7 objects) | Stu Raynolds | ||
| 1972 | Eddie Tierney | |||
| 1973 | Stu Raynolds | |||
| 1974 | Ken Benge (using clubs) | |||
| 1975 | Steve Mills (using clubs) | |||
| 1976 | Steve Mills (using clubs) | |||
| 1977 | Barrett Felker (using clubs) | |||
| 1978 | Steve Mills (using clubs) | |||
| 1979 | Edward Jackman (using rings) | Mitch Kelly | ||
| 1980 | Edward Jackman | Peter Davison | ||
| 1981 | Rande Aronson | Daniel Rosen | ||
| 1982 | Tony Duncan (using balls) | Peter Davison | ||
| 1983 | Tony Duncan | Anthony Gatto | ||
| 1984 | Dan Bennett (won the ball Numbers Challenge) | Albert Lucas (won the ring Numbers Challenge and the 7 object endurance competition) | Albert Lucas (won the 5 club endurance competition) | |
| 1985 | Dan Bennett | Dan Bennett | ||
| 1986 | Anthony Gatto | Anthony Gatto | Anthony Gatto | |
| 1987 | Dana Tison | Dana Tison | Dana Tison | |
| 1988 | Frank Olivier | Bob Mendelsohn | ||
| 1989 | Anthony Gatto | Anthony Gatto | Anthony Gatto | |
| 1990 | Jason Garfield | Jason Garfield | Andrew Senske, Bruce Tiemann | |
| 1991 | Anthony Gatto | Anthony Gatto | Anthony Gatto | |
| 1992 | Barry Rosenberg | |||
| 1993 | Alan Morgan | Scott Sorensen | Corey Hoelker | Fritz Grobe |
| 1994 | Bruce Sarafian | Scott Sorensen | Jay Gilligan | Jay Gilligan |
| 1995 | Bruce Sarafian | Scott Sorensen | Françoise Rochais | Malkenthin Hannes |
| 1996 | Joey Cousin | Albert Lucas | Scott Sorensen | Ram Prasad |
| 1997 | Bruce Sarafian | Scott Sorensen | Darin Marriott | Ram Prasad |
| 1998 | Jason Garfield | Jason Garfield | Vladik Miagkostoupov | David Cain |
| 1999 | Peter Blanchard, Joey Cousin | Dana Tison | Scott Sorensen | Emile Carey |
| 2000 | Jason Garfield | Jason Garfield | Jason Garfield | Ben Jennings |
| 2001 | Peter Blanchard | Jason Garfield | Darin Marriott | Nate Seefeldt |
| 2002 | Sam Hartford | Albert Lucas | Peter Kaseman | Jonathan Root |
| 2003 | Anthony Peterson | Nicolas Souren, Sam Hartford | Peter Kaseman | John Jones |
| 2004 | Thomas Dietz | Dana Tison | Peter Kaseman | Christian Kloc |
| 2005 | Grysha Lovigin | Scott Sorensen | Manuel Mitasch | Christian Kloc |
| 2006 | Doug Sayers | Scott Sorensen | Doug Sayers | Frida Brinkmann |
| 2007 | Doug Sayers, Thomas Dietz | Sean Blue | Vova Galchenko | Robert Mosher III |
| 2008 | Daniel Eaker, Vova Galchenko | Scott Sorensen | Vova Galchenko | Robert Mosher III |
| 2009 | Daniel Eaker | Dana Tison | Daniel Eaker | Christian Kloc |
| 2010 | Doug Sayers | Doug Sayers | Doug Sayers | Doug Sayers |
| 2011 | Doug Sayers | Scott Sorensen | Ben Thompson | John Jones |
| 2012 | Doug Sayers | Pavel Evsukevich | Jack Denger | Doug Sayers |
| 2013 | Doug Sayers | Sam Malcolm, Manuel Mitasch | Jack Denger | Doug Sayers |
| 2014 | Brian Koenig, Vladik Miagkostoupov | Scott Sorensen | Jack Denger | John Jones |
| 2015 | Matan Presberg | Scott Sorensen | Kento Tanioka | Christian Kloc |
| 2016 | Matan Presberg | Scott Sorensen | Manuel Mitasch | John Jones |
| 2017 | Matan Presberg | Scott Sorensen | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse | Christian Kloc |
| 2018 | Matan Presberg | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse | Wes Peden | Christian Kloc |
| 2019 | Matan Presberg | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse | Nick Jamesson |
| 2021 | Tom Whitfield | Daniel Lysenko | Moritz Rosner | Christian Kloc |
| 2022 | Doug Sayers | Spencer Androli | Spencer Androli | Christian Kloc |
| 2023 | Tom Whitfield | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse | Manuel Mitasch | Christian Kloc |
| 2024 | Matan Presberg | Daniel Lysenko | Delaney Bayles | Christian Kloc |
Passing Numbers championships[]
| Year | Balls | Rings | Clubs | Ball Bouncing | Club Trios |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Barry Friedman & Frank Olivier | Bob Mendelsohn & Owen Morse | Barry Friedman & Frank Olivier | ||
| 1989 | Johnnie Scarcello & Andrew Senske | Johnnie Scarcello & Andrew Senske | Nick & Alex Karvounis | ||
| 1990 | Allen Knutson & Dave Morton | Bob Mendelsohn & Owen Morse | Owen Morse & Jon Wee | ||
| 1991 | Allen Knutson & Jack Boyce | Nick & Alex Karvounis | Nick & Alex Karvounis | ||
| 1992 | Owen Morse & Jon Wee | ||||
| 1993 | Allen Knutson & Morton Hansen | David Cain & Jay Gilligan | Owen Morse & Jon Wee | Fritz Grobe & Jay Gilligan | |
| 1994 | Allen Knutson & Greg Warrington | David Cain & Jay Gilligan | Jimmy Robertson & Todd Blair | Fritz Grobe & Jay Gilligan | Barry Rosenberg, Arthur Lewbel & Benjamin Elfant |
| 1995 | Joey Cousin & Bruce Sarafian | Nick & Alex Karvounis | Nick & Alex Karvounis | Fran Favorini & Fred Strempel | David Cain, Mark Peachock & Merry Spahr |
| 1996 | David & Scott Cain | David Cain & Scott Sorensen | Peter Kaseman & Randy Lyman | Fran Favorini & Fred Strempel | David & Scott Cain & Jack Kalvan |
| 1997 | Joey Cousin & Bruce Sarafian | Charlie & Mark Peachock | Heather Hackett & Darin Marriott | Morten Hansen & Ben Jennings | David & Scott Cain & Jack Kalvan |
| 1998 | David & Scott Cain | Brian Patz & Rob Weinstein | Heather Hackett & Darin Marriott | David & Scott Cain & Jack Kalvan | |
| 1999 | David Cain & Nathan Dorrell | Sean Gandini & Jay Gilligan | Heather Hackett & Darin Marriott | David Cain & Nathan Dorrell | Matt Jergens, Mark Nading & Marty LaSalle |
| 2000 | Peter Kaseman & Darin Marriott | David Cain & Darin Marriott | Todd Blair & Darin Marriott | Emile Carey & Ben Jennings | Heather Hackett, Peter Kaseman & Darin Marriott |
| 2001 | Sam Hartford & Josiah Jones | Darin Marriott & Scott Sorensen | Darin & Heather Marriott | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Darin & Heather Marriott & Peter Kaseman |
| 2002 | Peter Kaseman & Darin Marriott | Darin & Heather Mariott | Darin & Heather Mariott | Darin & Heather Marriott & Peter Kaseman | |
| 2003 | Peter Kaseman & Darin Marriott | Darin & Heather Mariott | Olga & Vova Galchenko | Morten Hansen & Ben Jennings | Darin & Heather Marriott & Peter Kaseman |
| 2004 | Nate Martin & Kelvin Ying | Darin & Heather Mariott | Peter Kaseman & Darin Marriott | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Darin & Heather Marriott & Peter Kaseman |
| 2005 | Nate Martin & Kelvin Ying | Peter Blanchard & Scott Sorensen | Vova Galchenko & Peter Kaseman | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Peter & Laura Kaseman & Jimmy Robertson |
| 2006 | Nate Martin & Kelvin Ying | Peter Blanchard & Scott Sorensen | Tsushi & Takashi Kikyo | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | |
| 2007 | Bruce Bailey & Doug Sayers | Christoph & Manuel Mitasch | Vova Galchenko & Peter Kaseman | Tsushi & Takashi Kikyo & Vova Galchenko | |
| 2008 | Stefan Brancel & Ben Hestness | Vova Galchenko & Peter Kaseman | Christian Kloc & Robert Mosher III, Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Alan Thompson, Carey Wagoner & Thom Wall | |
| 2009 | Bruce Bailey & Doug Sayers | Stefan Brancel & Ben Hestness | Doug Sayers & Peter Kaseman | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Ben Hestness, Stefan Brancel & Sean Carney |
| 2010 | Andrew & Chris Hodge | Doug Sayers & Josh Horton | Doug Sayers & Peter Kaseman | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Doug Sayers, Peter Kaseman & Thom Wall |
| 2011 | Andrew & Chris Hodge | Doug Sayers & Tony Pezzo | Doug Sayers & Peter Kaseman | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Ben Hestness, Stefan Brancel & Sean Carney |
| 2012 | Doug Sayers & Stefan Brancel | Doug Sayers & Stefan Brancel | Daniel Ledel & Dominik Harant | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Daniel Ledel, Dominik Harant & Florian Canaval |
| 2013 | Doug Sayers & Peter Kaseman | Daniel Ledel & Dominik Harant | Daniel Ledel & Dominik Harant | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Dominik Harant, Daniel Ledel & Manuel Mitasch |
| 2014 | Ben Thompson & Peter Kaseman | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse & Noah Schmeissner | Stefan Brancel & Peter Kaseman | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | Warren Hammond, Stefan Brancel & Peter Kaseman |
| 2015 | Peter Kaseman & Stefan Brancel | Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse & Stefan Brancel | Stefan Brancel & Peter Kaseman | Dave Critchfield & John Jones | |
| 2016 | Daniel Ledel & Dominik Harant | Dominik Harant & Manual Mitasch | Manuel Mitasch & Daniel Ledel | David Critchfield & John Jones | Dominik Harant, Daniel Ledel & Manuel Mitasch |
| 2017 | Peter Kaseman & Doug Sayers | Noah Schmeissner & Jonah Botvinik-Greenhouse | Stefan Brancel & Peter Kaseman | Doug Sayers & Christian Kloc, David Critchfield & John Jones | Nicholas Aikens, Peter Kaseman & Stefan Brancel |
| 2018 | Noah Schmeissner & Jonah Botvinik-Greenhouse | Jonah Botvinik-Greenhouse & Noah Schmeissner | Tony Kaseman & Peter Kaseman | David Critchfield & John Jones | Jack Levy, Sean Carney, and Brenden Ying |
| 2019 | Tom Whitfield & Mark Pender-Bare | Zak McAllister & Delaney Bayles | Jack Levy and Ben Hestness | David Critchfield & John Jones | Ben Hestness, Chris Lovdal, & Jack Levy |
| 2022 | Doug Sayers & Peter Kaseman | Noah Schmeissner & Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse | Peter Kaseman & Stefan Brancel | John Jones & Dave Critchfield | Tony Kaseman, Peter Kaseman, & Stefan Brancel |
| 2023 | Doug Sayers & Noah Schmeissner | Noah Schmeissner & Doug Sayers | Mortiz Rosner & Manuel Mitasch | Christian Kloc & Adrian Goldwaser | |
| 2024 | Chris Hodge & Kayla Malmgren | Chris Hodge & Noah Schmeissner | Christian Kloc & Chris Hodge | Christian Kloc & Suzanne Zaccour | Sean Carney, Jack Levy, Ben Hestness |