1st block 0:01 - 0:04 (120 fps video 0:01 - 0:12)
Pinky fxxk 34 ~ sonic 23-24-14 (sonic has total 1.0 rotations) ~ 14 pushed index fxxk aerial ~ curled b1b2 fl fxxk ~ pd fl ra 0.5 ~ pd fl ma to 24 (catch ring out)
The pinky fxxk ~ sonic 23-24-14 is not that hard, but uses fingerswitches/hybrid to condense several tricks into less rotations, and makes the 14 pushed index fxxk aerial more difficult.
Back in February, it took a total lucky try to do the 14 pushed index fxxk aerial ~ b1b2 fl fxxk once (I was not able to link it to pd fl around), and I was not able to do it again in the next few weeks.
b1b2 fl fxxk (pen does not go around any finger) is different from the curled index fxxk in R3 (pen goes around curled index). Very difficult to control the conic rotation.
Doing pd powerpass segment after curled b1b2 fl fxxk was also extremely tough to learn, because of the change in angle of rotation required after the earlier difficult material.
Collectively, this block is tied with the 3rd block (0:07-0:11) as the hardest linkages I’ve ever used.
2nd block 0:04 - 0:07 (120 fps video 0:13 - 0:24)
pd fl ma to 24 (catch ring out) ~ inverse side sonic rev (ring out to in) to 34 ~ ?vertical plane pd angled fl pa to 14 (catch mid in, ring out) ~ 14 pushed curled index-mid bust 14-b1 ~ fist bust fishing b1 ~ pd fl pa rev to 24 (catch ring out) - pd ma rev 1.5 24-b1b2
The ?vertical plane pd angled fl pa is intended to change direction of pen’s rotation without there being any obvious direction change. Using a different plane of rotation allows this to happen.
In late 2018 when I visited Japan, I remember discussing pd fl pa rev with ennis at a gathering. It’s been a while, but I’ve finally used it in a combo properly. To train for this linkage, I trained pd fl ia rev to x 10 to set foundation for doing pd fl pa rev cont, which I got up to x 5. Catching in 24 increases the difficulty significantly.
3rd block 0:07 - 0:11 (120 fps video 0:25 - 0:41)
b1b2 pushed ?ia release ~ pinky bust to 14 (catch mid in, ring out) ~ ?invisible direction change wiper 14 ~ neobak - curled pinkybak 1.5 - curled pinkybak 1.0
The b1b2 push for ia release required a bit of practice to do without breaking pace.
Not sure about the name of this type of wiper, it is probably a hybrid of 2 wipers. A bit like figure 8, but figure 8 does not have any direction change.
I had to train curled pinkybak 1.5 for a few months to get 1.5 x 4 - 1.0 as foundation for using it as ending in this way. The critical part is the fact that the ?wiper from 14 leading into the interrupted neobak makes doing curled pinkybak 1.5 extremely difficult, because the wiper has conic spin that moves in a different plane to neobak.
Combo commentary:
In difficulty, mechanics, density, and linkage planning, this combo is worlds above anything else I’ve ever made. I planned this combo mostly in Jan/Feb and was trying parts of it occasionally at that time. I started focusing on it around June, and it took until August with several remarkable jumps in skill and 28 times landing this combo in total (12 on cam) to get the chosen draft.
It used more time to get these 10.1 seconds for R5 than it did to do my entire 10 year solo. As a rough guide to difficulty - the average difficulty of each block described below is similar to my entire R2 combo. Pen spinning difficulty works exponentially, so R5 is R2 cubed. Similarly, I estimate R5 is approximately R3 squared.
Previous posts about R1-R4 combos say things like ‘this is hardest link I’ve shown’ or ‘this is hardest combo I’ve released so far’ - which are true, but a bit laughable when considering the significant gap between those videos and R5.
Aims when making this combo for maximum density and integration:
Every transition from one trick to the next one must be a hybrid with some difficult mechanic
You cannot use the same mechanic for any transitions more than once - e.g. if you use a side sonic, you cannot use side sonic variations again.
Extra requirement: you cannot reuse any mechanics used in previous WT19 combos unless substantial modification has been made, i.e. any similarity would have to be limited to a single transition with different mechanics before and after.
There are 3 instances in the combo which may not fulfill the above requirements -
fist bust fishing: a bit like R4 ending, but has different tricks before and after
pd fl pa rev to 24 - pd ma rev 1.5: maybe not a hybrid but has a difficult mechanic
curled pinkybak 1.5 - curled pinkybak 1.0: uses a similar mechanic twice
Additional thoughts:
Despite the excess arm motion, the actual technique of the tricks is satisfactory when considering the interaction of the pen with the fingers, and the pacing is generally sustained. I’m not sure how much arm motion can be reduced for these tricks, maybe I’ll try it again in a few years’ time. The border between good chaotic effect and bad chaotic effect is very subjective.
There were discussions in WC12 about fel2fram’s execution, with many judges giving him high exec in WC12 (4-5/5). However, he was penalised heavily in exec during WT13 R4. His exec definitely could be cleaner, but the effect he created with more chaotic exec contributed positively to me. There are detrimental mistakes at times, e.g. pen going offcam; but many of the flaws helped to give the combo a unique impression.
One of UPSB’s WT13 judges (nickname: casual, who was mainly an mx spinner) said something like ‘fel2fram’s R4 is very underrated, it is remarkable to be able to do that material at all’.
I first considered having a full hybrid combo fulfilling aim 1. back in late 2018 when I was filming clips after SCT and PSO. It took about a year to improve my physical and mental skill to actually do it.
10 year solo was the realisation of a sentimental dream - to create a video that I could look back on fondly no matter how much time passed. WT19 R5 is the realisation of a technical dream - to fulfill conditions 1. and 2. to maximise density, integration and 3. for creativity. I wanted to execute it better and there’s still a lot further to explore, but this combo is one I can be happy saying I poured my soul into. Creating this combo has more worth to me than any win or loss result.
The type of combo that WT encourages is different to the types of combos that themed competitions, solo or CV creates. A solo is aimed at displaying a large range of skill rather than having 1 or 2 combos outclass everything else, so it is more practical to produce many combos with 2-3 weeks’ effort each. Only in WT (or possibly CV with established release date and elaborate preparation like JapEn) will a combo taking several months of work be encouraged.*
I hope this video was able to leave an impression on you. I will keep waiting for the one who will surpass me.
NB: if you can’t do any of the linkages, your exec is automatically zero. Come back after you’ve accumulated 5 million more drops** of practice.
*of course, if you have the discipline, you can try making a 3-month-effort combo regardless of situation
**if you drop once every 3 seconds and spin 2 hours per day, that’s 876,000 drops in a year, so it will take a bit over 5 ½ years to get 5 million drops.
