What is a martial arts or gymnastics trickster?

Answer 1

A Trickster is one that practices the discipline of "Tricking", and Tricking is defined as a combination of kicks, flips and twists in an aesthetically stunning array.

"Tricking" moves are derived from a myriad of different sports and martial-arts styles ie: TaeKwonDo, Karate, Capoeira, Gymnastics, B-Boying, Ice Skating, Ballet, as well as owing many original moves to Arcade Fighting Games like "Tekken" and "Street Fighter" and the like...

It is also noteworthy that "Tricking" itself and a person is called a "Trickster" only take on their meaning when the techniques are combined or chained into a string of techniques. One cannot be a "Trickster" or claim to be able to "Trick" if they can only perform individual techniques but cannot chain them together into a combo.

Tricking itself is not a Martial Art, as the purpose of the movements are not meant to be offensive or defensive in any way, and the movement in themselves are too technical to be used for combat, though this is a matter of debate. Moves that are practiced within 'Tricking' that have been borrowed from various styles of Martial Arts can be used for combat, but since "Tricking" is never taught as a martial art, the application of moves never transfers into the realm of combat.

Most Tricksters in the US and South Korea come from a Martial Arts background, hence their focus on clean kicking technique which can be used for combat application.

Most "Backyard Tricksters" or self-taught Tricksters who have progressed up the rank in the Tricking realm have less clean kicking technique as they never had formal training, hence they cannot fight if their life depended on it, and their kicks usually look a lot more butchered during their first few years.

Tricking is not a form of dance, as Tricking is not usually performed to a beat or with a specific rhythm in mind, though it certainly is possible, many of the individual movements cannot be landed in time to a beat.

Many Tricksters in North Europe and the US come from a B-boying background and incorporate Tricking moves into their routine, but it is very rare to see a a chain of Trick-specific moves, as it usually disrupts the rhythm of the overall choreography, so moves like a "Corkscrew" might come out of the 'Flairs', or a "Gainer" after a hip-hop routine. A Notable example of this is Steve Terada.

There are also "Tricking" specific moves like the "Terada Swipe" or "E-Flip" which don't exist in any art outside of Tricking.

Tricking is NOT the British discipline of 'Free-running' or the French discipline of 'Parkour'. Tricking is done or performed on a designated area, usually in a Gymnasium on plyrometric floor, on Grass, in some cases on the Dance Floor, and sometimes at the most random locations... shopping malls, etc.

One might say Parkour + Tricking = Free Running

Parkour is running from point A to B as quickly and efficiently as possible, but as if you are being pursued.

Tricking is a performing art but not done while running.

Free-running is essentially Parkour but making use of the urban environment to 'perform' flips, rolls and acts of super-human balance and precision without a real goal in mind... it is "running in a manner to be seen"

"Tricking" like Gymnastics and many high maneuver sports requires and develops a keen sense of "Proprioception" or what many amount to "The sixth sense". It is the ability to know where your body and limbs are while your sense of sight, sound, and touch are temporarily disorientated due to your feet not being on the ground to establish your balance, your ears not pointing in a set direction to establish a sense of direction and balance, and your vision blurred by spinning so you cannot see a horizon on which to focus your attention and regain a sense of balance. All the external senses required to feel gravity are disorientated. All humans possess a measure of proprioception, but Tricksters, Martial Artists and many other athletes have a little bit more.

A Trickster with superhuman proprioception could probably do a "Gainer Full-Twist" (A backflip off one foot by swinging the other foot up & over with a full-turn twist then landing on the same foot) and land on exactly the same spot as his supporting foot left the ground.

Notable people with a high level of proprioception include: Jackie Chan, Donny Yen, Jet Lee, Tony Jaa, David Belle, Oleg Vorslav, Anis Cheurfa, Daniel Graham, Steve Terada, Chris DeVera, Scott Skelton, Phil Gibbs, Hakan Manav, Jono Tai Wong, Morgan Flook and James Geems Daly.