How This Guy Mastered the Slinky | Obsessed | WIRED

Did you play with slinkys when you were younger? Josh Jacobs has taken a childhood toy and turned it into a visually stunning art form. Slinky manipulation is a fairly new practice, starting around 2010. Josh got into "slinking" eight years ago when watching an incredible Chinese performer do things he never thought possible with a slinky. Now, Josh is one of the best slinky manipulators in the world.
Check out Josh's channel here: / @slinkyjosh
To learn more about Josh's slinkys, check out: www.HyperSpringToys.com
Director: Charlie Jordan
Director of Photography: Colin Witherill
Editor: Richard Trammell
Talent: Joshua "Slinky Josh" Jacobs
Producer: Wendi Jonassen
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Melissa Cho
Production Manager: Eric Martinez
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Audio: Ted Thacker
Cam Op/Gaffer: Alex Witkowicz
Production Assistant: Daniel Ellis
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Ben Harowitz
Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on KZbin? ►► wrd.cm/15fP7B7
Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►► link.chtbl.com/wired-ytc-desc
Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►► subscribe.wired.com/subscribe...
Follow WIRED:
Instagram ►► / wired
Twitter ►► / wired
Facebook ►► / wired
Get more incredible stories on science and tech with our daily newsletter: wrd.cm/DailyYT
Also, check out the free WIRED channel on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
ABOUT WIRED
WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture.

[@jopo7996]

No matter what time of year it is, it's always springtime for this guy.

[@enyajungle]

Got him sprung

[@pianoguy5110]

Ha ha... That was a nice one

[@jamesforrest9837]

absolutely fire

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

Huh? it's always tornado, mosquito, wet and allergy season for this guy? sounds terrible

[@tonedblock1106]

He inspired LL Cool J’s song “HEAD SPRUNG”

[@whatwilliwatch3405]

I love his enthusiasm. He sounds like he'd be willing to talk to someone for hours on the topic of "slinking." He also just has a really friendly, positive vibe. I can imagine a lot of people being inspired by him, just based on those things alone.

[@chimkinNuggz]

Hey vsauce. Michael here.

[@ilovexu]

@@chimkinNuggz ☠️

[@DepressedVoidGuy]

he is doing that right now

[@MyFatherLooksLikeAPallasCat]

He's exactly how I imagined a pro-slinker would be. A tad bit nerdy, enthusiastic, confident, eccentric, but just radiating pure happiness and joy! He's now one of my role models!

[@teddy2577]

That's great 😁 it's really hard to find a role model these days 😔

[@Wired4Life2]

"I wanna be a slinky man," he cried, "Make me a slinky man!" But the slinky master did not answer. He just kept on slinking!

[@plainpotato6454]

😂😂

[@ShawnFumo]

Deep cuts here

[@blackvulture7999]

"TEACH ME YOUR WAYS, SLINKY MASTER!"

[@jeanxza5395]

To slink, or not to slink.

[@jellojiggler1693]

This was the very first thing I thought of when I saw the thumbnail.

[@StevieCooper]

He’s happy, talented and spreading joy. We should all be a bit more like this if possible. Good floor him 😊

[@hxcadillac]

It's amazing ceiling him perform!

[@zachnado69]

@@hxcadillac i can't think of any good wall jokes

[@daniel9485]

@@zachnado69 wall I hope you can find a joke

[@gef2]

lets the slinky hit the floor

[@franxyt6424]

Sure he is a kid grown

[@alexpetrov13]

I love it how accurately he describes how to do the tricks. Not only is he great at slinking but also at explaining and teaching others about it

[@karltrapson]

That's because this isn't hard at all. Balisong tricks are way more difficult, but you see all kinds of people still doing them online.

[@briandhamby]

@@karltrapson They're commenting on how well he speaks about it. Of course there are things that are harder, that's completely irrelevant.

[@MaxMckayful]

Lots of performers ALSO practice that - it's a skill itself. Some natural talent and aptitude, some learned "how best to explain it" craft hones through years as a performance artist. Not required for acts, but a component many showfolk add.

[@remoengels2085]

Naa he isnt only the basics with some skill u have them on lock within a week and then you have to figger it out your self..

[@arushsharma6556]

What I find most interesting is not only he has mastered slinky, but also defined the terminologies around techniques, making it much easier to pass on the knowledge to others

[@coyotemoon722]

Yes, he is very adept at "terming"

[@searchandestroy69]

This guy is exactly what I’d imagine a “slinky manipulator” to look like

[@thanosianthemadtitanic]

you can manipulate my slinky anytime babygirl🤨😏

[@ZergrushEddie]

Of course most of the footage of him wowing people are festival goers. If I bumped into this guy at Burning Man I'd probably be convinced he was a wizard

[@randall814]

Definitely recognize Electric Forest in some of that footage lol

[@Michael-kp4bd]

@@randall814 same! That place is forever unique

[@kuyakris615]

@@randall814that house at 2:07

[@randall814]

@@kuyakris615 Yes indeed, good eye! The only other festival that even comes close is Shambhala but I've been to Forest enough times to recognize it instantly

[@briondalion3696]

@@randall814 I've never been and it's sold out this year. Maybe next year.

[@sabastiankilgore781]

There is almost nothing like the feeling of controlling pure momentum, and that moment of power over inertia. Manipulating momentum feels amazing

[@JGunit]

It's crazy how someone has mastered the art of every obscure action imaginable.

[@stanleykubik1778]

give yourself 2hours of practice and you ll be a master just like him, lol.

[@janajusimi269]

@@stanleykubik1778 2 hours is nowhere near enough -someone attempting to do this

[@celuler22]

​@@stanleykubik17781000 hours to be able to claim mastery of any given task

[@johngalactus4014]

So nice to see stuff like this, just a human enjoying his time and then sharing it to others.

[@Franic19]

I never really realized how fun those slinkies could be, let alone see what you could really do with them other than make them walk down some stairs. This looks crazy fun though and actually makes me want to pick one up to learn some :D

[@juancelop]

Love this comment!

[@KolmManison]

When I saw the stupid bottle rolling down stairs tiktok trend, my brain went "that's just dumber, more hazardous version of watching a slinky."

[@DOC_951]

With a name like “slinky Josh,” good thing he’s so into slinkies!

[@Tricke432_YT]

that's his artist name, not his real name haha

[@takoinche]

LMAO

[@PhilhellenicAgori]

@@Tricke432_YT that was the joke

[@JosiahWarren]

Great coimcidence

[@Sharkest44]

No way someone thinked that that it is his real name....☠️

[@ZZ-qy5mv]

I love how he’s not gatekeeping or claiming it as his idea, but is just excited to grow a community for a pretty new art form.

[@aldo9021]

I'm a long time yoyo player and absolutely love seeing videos like this! Just people having fun and living their best lives!

[@twostepRMX]

I’ve ran into this guy at electric forest! He bounced it right off my head and made my day

[@felipeandmichelle]

This is so wholesome that it almost feels like a mockumentary. I love it.

[@Resyektt]

Hahaha perfect way to put it,

[@SmokeyChipOatley]

This was me as a kid in a Mexican family whenever my mom would chuck a molten hot tortilla at me when having dinner. If only I’d known she was trying to prepare me for any potential career opportunities as a hippy-flipping slinky bending electro wizard performer at Burning Man slangin’ slinks in exchange for hits of acid-laced warhead candies.

[@philipm3173]

🙈

[@TheRolvaag]

Poetry

[@GaryGuerin]

great tricks ! Please introduce him to the slow-mo guys ! I would love to see the behaviour of the slinky at insane frame rates !

[@bikeny]

Great idea.

[@fuzzybanana0123]

"It's pretty unique to have a slinky this giant." Found my new Tinder opening line.

[@wishingonthemoon1]

Not only do I love his craft, I love his enthusiasm and joy and passion for sharing slinking and passing the knowledge down!

[@bugorchard]

I used to ask my friends to tangle up my plastic rainbow slinky in any way they wanted because I genuinely enjoy untangling them. That is, unfortunately, the only slinky skill I possess. This guy is incredible.

[@Moofy1]

That's incredible! I've gotten into penspinning, yoyoing, magic, cubing but everytime I had a slinky as a kid I always remember stretching it out weirdly and it wouldn't go back, then I'd break it 😂

[@artepjan]

Ace Ventura perfectly bouncing a slinky on a super long stairway until the very last step still makes me laugh until this very day XDD

[@CreativeSteve69]

I like this guys mantra practice makes perfect. This year I'm going to find time for myself to learn my unicycle no excuses. Thanks for the motivation Josh Jacobs.

[@talabarzkar785]

I love this guys so much! His enthusiasm for what he loves is infectious ❤

[@Aleedis226]

These intriguing Wired videos always give me timeline apprehension right before I show them to my kids, who COULD drop all plans & latch on to fun but random/niche jobs, finally making this the literal crazy house I joke about. 😄

[@j3nki541]

These toys already amazed me as a child just watching them run down some stairs. Stoked to see them again, glad people have found ways to make them cool again.

[@keithgreene79]

This is so cool. I was performing similar tricks in my room as a kid with the metal Slinkys - until they bent or became too entangled. Awesome of Josh to take this to the next level of performance and exposure.

[@Resyektt]

NO THIS CANT BE TRUE, ACCORDING TO THE VIDEO SLINKY ART DIDN’T EXIST UNTIL HE SAW A VIDEO OF A CHINESE DUDE DOING IT AND DECIDED TI CREATE IT HIMSELF SO THERES NO POSSIBLE WAY YOU JUST SOMEHOW DID THIS BEFOEE IT WAS EVEN A THING. You folks are ridiculous 😏😂 /s

[@keithgreene79]

😅🤣

[@sashajary]

Omg, one of the best video you did!

[@Digitalhunny]

Wendy, if you watch this video back to your practicing the 180 trick, really watch your active hand. When you go to flick it back you're flicking real hard. Try flicking the slinky softer, or more _feel the momentum_ of when it wants to return. You _absolutely_ CAN do it! You're just giving it a bit _too_ much juice.😉 When you do get it, you NEED to post a short to KZbin as an update!🤞

[@a2rhombus2]

Always excited to see new forms of juggling like this

[@azdaze227]

Made me super happy he mentioned yoyoers, my friend group and I all competed in yoyo contests and some of us messed around with slinkies and noticed tricks could be done with them but never took it this far, that's so cool

[@midwestmike613]

I can see him killing it at all the EDM shows!

[@elizabethgodwin7679]

What I love about this is that it's an incredibly new thing and an incredibly old thing at the same time

[@Fallub]

Those tricks look even more amazing in slow-mo. Cool guy.

[@tm82891]

I met josh in 2015 when he was roommates with my buddy. Congrats Josh! Great to see you make it this far

[@AnaRena1094]

He has such a fun and colorful job. I'm happy for him!

[@Frank7489]

I’m glad you put that trying to learn part in there cuz he really makes it look like something you could just pick up and do first try

[@rikii2034]

wow slinky winky

[@rhyshm9102]

Impressive

[@jugglerj0e]

As a juggler and doing some flow, this is so cool. I never realized you could do this with slinkies. I just think of them going down a staircase.

[@randomsandwichian]

This, juggling (assorted), yoyos, the diabolo kinds, etc, they're all just mesmerizing. Kudos to you too.

[@n0xure]

I think it's because slinky's are famously fragile. If you're the "juggler-type" and at one point owned a slinky as a kid, I'm 100% sure it didn't survive the first day. You got bored after seeing the slinky go down the stairs three times, so you tried to use your hands as steps and as a result it got tangled up and ruined after five minutes.

[@k03hl3r]

Cool to see this guy on Wired! The clips of him slinking at Electric Forest went kinda viral within the EDM/music community and I wondered who he was!

[@dave14647]

Love this guys energy

[@luxtempestas]

Man, I would give all I have to have ANYTHING in my life that I would look at it with the joy and enthusiasm he seems to have towards his Slinks! 😢

[@JV-ll1cu]

Video games

[@pentachronic]

Just goes to show how much joy an inanimate object can give when animated by a master craftsman! ❤

[@CapitainBarbaRoja]

The just simple happiness this brings him and the people involved is great.

[@jacobc874]

I know this fella, couldn't be a more kind and lovely soul.

[@karimjawhar5]

People like this make me realize you could really succeed doing anything if you really love it and stay consistent. He plays with slinkies for a living, don’t let anyone tell you what will and won’t succeed at.

[@SinisterShrink]

I wonder if he coined a lot of the terminology himself, or if other slinky artists did before him. I remember seeing the same video of the chinese guy doing it and I had the same reaction he did, I wanted to learn how to do it. Unfortunately I made the mistake of doing it with a metal slinky and, well, it ended up the same way the metal one in this video did.

[@SeriousGamer753]

This is SO much cooler and more visually pleasing that juggling! Dang!

[@captcoin9512]

Met this dude at a music festival, awesome to talk too and he bopped me on the noggin. Great dude

[@renees766]

I love slinkies! I'm old school, so the original metal is my fav, but those tricks w the plastic...WOW!

[@nahometesfay1112]

I used to do this kind of stuff with a metal slinky. There are some disadvantages, but you can still do all kinds of tricks.

[@GreenT_LoR]

What a cool guy. Josh's being just exudes joy.

[@Lucifer-hq5pe]

Yeah, the guy is a real slinker.

[@user-py6ou4ob2g]

you need yo do a video about skateboarding, some of the things people can do is absolutely insane and technical. I think its worth it

[@torpedex4600]

I didn't even know a slinky was something you could master

[@joaquincaceresguibovich3182]

I'd love to see a physicist explain why any of this happens

[@slishslash9202]

Im no physicist but he said in one of his videos that the wire of the slinky travels in sort of waves, like when you whip a rope up and down it travels all the way down slowly. So when he does that hand twist the twist eventually reaches the other end of the slinky when he does his next crazy move.

[@fractiousfauxpas1368]

Straight away my brain went to flow arts at raves, but I see you've already done it. Seems a little more accessible than a some of the other flow art equipment I've seen, more intuitive at least 👌

[@DeadEye364]

That man and his slinky are both magic. The way he manipulates the slinky while it miraculously turns into a rainbow with it only being three colors is insane.

[@GuyWithAnAmazingHat]

I remember watching that very clip of the Chinese slinky performance, pretty cool to see one of the origins of an artform.

[@helder1340]

^

[@citrusblast4372]

Someone should ask THAT guy where he learned that lol

[@dbzcollector9963]

This sorta reminds of yo-yos how everyone has probably owned one at some point but the most exciting thing we’ve done is making it go down like 12 sets of stairs. Then they’d end up tangled and in the trash within a week. 😂😂😂 I never would of imagined something like this so props to him for doing it and doing it well.

[@xiongpaolee]

Awesome, keep it up bruh! 👏👏👏

[@albcod90]

men i was looking for activities to feel my time and this was so cool! this inspires me a lot. thanks guys for the video

[@amicaaranearum]

Next week on House Hunters: HUSBAND: I’m a professional slinky manipulator. WIFE: I’m a world yo-yo champion. HUSBAND: Our budget is $875K.

[@bruno3]

If we had to fight aliens for the future of our civilisation and slinkies were somehow involved, this guy would be in the room. A true expert.

[@johnchristian4821]

Wow. That's an amazing Slinky Bending! Ang will be very proud!

[@hillpunk92]

wild! ive been juggling for a long time and thats very unique and interesting. many more variations than i would have thought.

[@ItIsYouAreNotYour]

Every slinky I have ever owned ends up in knots and broken.

[@JourneyStand]

GREAT! Now I have to buy a Slinky

[@PacoOtis]

Very enjoyable! Thanks for sharing!

[@nemlicklee]

Ive met him a couple times at shows, it's so cool watching him live and a very very nice guy

[@Business_Facts_Daily]

walter white if he never met jesse

[@roofus282]

This is some avengers-level super power 💀

[@avantikaarvind4725]

This is literally so awesome

[@Defooriginal]

What an accomplishment. Now he's on KZbin! He made it!

[@stphndrn]

There's definitely Phisics in this art form...Im glad we live in a day and age... that someone can live off slinking manipulation! And he's happy so cool!

[@t.n.k-willy6684]

bro looks like water white

[@insectbah]

I love people getting really good at stuff!

[@gabriel.cashez]

man... the vibes of this dude are crazy, he is just happy all the time, what a nice pal

[@MoGimp.]

Dean Pelton before Greendale.

[@torpedex4600]

Slinky Master is such a wild job title

[@Vroxius]

I actually started watching his videos a couple weeks ago glad hes on here now

[@montysaints4750]

He's mastered skills beyond our realm.

[@radry100]

Literally every asian street vendor who sells slinkies can do that.

[@SilentStudioExplores]

think i saw you at a festival before. i always see all the poi and wisps and hoops. seeing the slinky caught my eye. really cool!

[@galaxythedragonshifter]

I didn't even know this was a thing! This is so cool!😭

[@danielamaro4554]

Art form? I don't think so

[@abruoon]

slinking manipulation community

[@kaonashi3D]

My buddy and I met this guy like five years ago at a fest he's come so far. So great.

[@Trund27]

I love this!! What talent!!!😮😮😮😮

[@penname8441]

So a white guy got famous for doing something he saw an Asian guy do, why didn't wired try to go find the original Asian guy josh says inspired him?

[@clentonium]

...

[@zindamor2629]

I see this video and now I must learn how to do this too.. Thank you for my newest hobby Josh!

[@ezzatisaid]

Honestly a World Slinky Showdown would be a cool event lol

[@andyd8370]

As someone who was mesmerized by poi-spinning and just HAD to learn, this resonates with me. Hope to see you in THE FORREST

[@maddieb.4282]

“Burgeoning slinky manipulation community” is an excellent phrase

[@Bettinasisrg]

We used to try stuff like this in the 1970s but all the slinkys were metal so I think that's why it's taken until the plastic ones came out to catch on, also yes the bends! So cool!

[@beachthor1]

I am genuinely impressed.

[@element74]

Protect this man at all cost!

[@juancelop]

Man, his aura is amazing! 🥹 Now i miss my childhood slinky that only went down the stairs 😭

[@bennit]

Crazy that they recorded the interview all the way back in 2018