Don Hodgkinson has recently won first place in the U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest's 3A division, bringing the title home to Brooklyn. He has been competing professionally for 13 years and sees yo-yoing as a blend of art and athleticism. His championship routine was meticulously crafted, incorporating feedback from others and disciplined tracking of practice. The absence of long-time champion Alex Hattori allowed a unique opportunity for Hodgkinson. His preparation included physical rehearsals, a tailored playlist, meditation techniques, and advice from his musician mother.
"I feel really proud to bring it back to Brooklyn," Hodgkinson told Brooklyn Paper. "Brooklyn's been my home for almost eight years, so it means a lot - not only sharing the victory with myself, but the place I call home now."
"It's much more ephemeral, creative outlet, other than 'I learned this thing and I learned this other thing.' It's more like painting and dancing than learning a list of tricks."
"I spent a lot more time working on my routine, showing it to other people to get feedback, filming myself, taking notes and tracking my practice a lot more in depth. I definitely stepped up my approach."
"I definitely stepped up my approach. Preparation included physical rehearsals and mental focus. Hodgkinson carefully created a playlist to get in the zone, practiced meditation techniques to manage nerves."
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