This post is originally from the YoyoExpert Forums, and is republished here with permission from Cody (Pun1sh3R.)
It is posted here in its original format, with no editing from The Yoyo Archive Team.
As memtioned above, I purchased the ‘Merica Edition. I also opted for the “Delivery In Person”.
“The author will take a paperback copy of the book to the gun range, shoot a hole in, then take it to a burger joint where he will eat the largest burger on the menu with fries and get ketchup stains on the book to prove it happened.”
So after I purchased the book, Mr. Mark @popartmogul sent me a email asking for scheduling a meeting time for the delivery.
I purposed that I could “Aid” in ‘Mericanizing my order. He told me that that was a special edition and that he had not sold one. Then he realized he had, and I was the buyer.
After several emails, we set a meet up at a undisclossed Ranch in Southern California that is pro 2nd Ammendment.
Mr. Mark met my kids and we had some fun yoyo chat and trick sharing before the Shenanigans began.
We decided to also ‘Mericaize some yoyos.
This red one is my Son’s.
My daughters purple yoyo literally vaporized. We only found splinters of one half, the axel and some string. Mr. Bullseye Mark Mcbride hit dead center.
My kids and I signed a Yoyo for Mr. Mark also, prior to ‘Mericaization.
So neither of us really “Knew” what would happen with shooting a book. Neither of us had previous experience with this. But Mr. Mark came prepared with a ream of paper.
Once we completed our “For Science” experimentation, we chose our tool, made some practice shots, then Mr. Mark ‘Mericaed the Book.
One Shot – Bullseye into the center of the yoyo!
First stage of the special edition – Complete!
Next step – Burgers.
I had originally picked out a favorite burger joint, but on the way there, realized it was closed.
We shifted gears, found a new place and headed there.
We had an amazing dinner. Great conversation about yoyo and life.
Mr. Mark is amazing! Humble, Funny! It was an honor to meet and hang out with him!
So here is the final pictures of the ‘Merica Edition book and yoyos.
Here are some takeaways;
Dont hit in the center (Purple).
There were a total of 4 yoyos today that faced the firing squad.
Maybe Mr. Mark will share a picture of his Mericaized yoyo, we just barely grazed the edge. Precision Marksmanship!
On the last yoyo, the yoyo itself remained intact. Targeted only the cardstock.
@GnarlyCharlie Was Mark already a precision shooter or did you coach him a bit?
Mr. Mark had previous shooting experience, but we had to knock some rust off.
I would say I gave him a few tips and suggestions. “Coaching” seems excessive. This implies that I am qualified to do so…
I will say the equipment we used had a lot to do with it too.
I am still trying to rationalize this!
My kids and I got to hang out with a Yoyo Hall of Fame Legend and have an amazing experience.
In todays social climate; Mr. Mark said “Lets do it!” To a total stranger!
Sure, I’ll meet you in the middle of nowhere, no cell service and go shooting.
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
Like many kids, I received a Green Duncan Butterfly when I was eight. This was not the start. I was a too cool high school kid during the late 90’s Boom. Pokemon was way cooler than Yoyos. This was not the start. The year was 2008. I was at the Mall of America in Minnesota while visiting family. Ran across a toy store, Air Traffic, in the Mall of America and saw an employee playing with a Yoyo in a way I had never seen before. Curiosity peaked, I stopped in and ended up buying a Yoyo Jam Lynn Furry. This was the start for the next 4 years until Life happened. The continuation of the Journey can be found here: https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/beginners-journey/367145?u=pun1sh3r
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!
Quality time with the Family. Supporting my kids in their interests and efforts. Continue growing the Yoyo Boomer Club, helping them with events and fundraisers. Learning how to use a Lathe and making a Wood Fixie or two. Grow the business I run.
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
The Yoyo Boomer Club Workhorse. While I feel I may be obligated to say that, it was designed to be a true all-around throw. We wanted all the fun and capabilities from 0A style play, but the bearing and spin time to mess around with Responsive 1A. I really think the team nailed this on the head with this yoyo.
What trick are you working on currently?
I am currently working on two tricks; 1) Kick Flip – I have landed 6 in the last 14 months. Not that I am counting… My regens are pretty on point now from all the misses though. 2) Web Cartridge Reload – aka The Pun1sh3R. Mr. TryCatchThrow brought this trick into the Modern Responsive March line up. He renamed it The Pun1sh3R because I always use the “Rock and Roll” emoji on peoples comments in Discord. 🤘I am honored for the recognition, I need to be able to nail this trick. No luck yet. This one can be brutal on the knuckles.
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
Right now it is still the Kick Flip.
What’s your favorite trick?
Brain Fart – My Claim to Fame. This is a 0A Trick based on the Classic Brain Twister. You Stall the yoyo in a undermount, but you must also drop your throw hand on the stall. Making it so that your throw hand is under your non throw hand to enter the twister part. The rest of the trick is just like Brain Twister, 2 to 3 revolutions (Yoyo naturally unwinds giving you more string), Regen out and catch.
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
Short Answer – Spyy Flying V Long Answer/Story- During my journey of learning my preferred playing style, I discovered “Modern Responsive”. This took me down a long rabbit hole. There were opinions on what some thought a Modern Responsive was and others would disagree. I made it my personal mission to research and document this idea. Yoyo Acquisition Disorder was a big part of this journey. Some of the controversy was that Older Yoyos “Can” Play this way. The Spyy Flying V was purposefully designed with Mr. Ed Haponik to play this way in 2010. We didn’t see purposeful Modern Responsive designs again till about 2017 when the Alley Cat was released. This design has been slowly growing in popularity since, and we have had a lot of options and great yoyos.
This post has more detail: https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/modern-responsive/350888/283?u=pun1sh3r Plus a lot of other useful information in the thread. But the Spyy Flying V was my Grail for the longest time. Being a custodian of this piece of history 15 years later is a huge honor.
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
I have been blessed with gift yoyos from a lot of amazing people in this community. All have sentimental value to me. But to answer this question, my kids each bought me a yoyo for Christmas 2022 when we got back into yoyo, they are;Throwback Arcade and Recess Snack.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
Spending more time buying yoyos and chatting on the forums/discord than actually playing with them.
What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
It may be easier to list what kind of things I am not into outside of yoyo… I am a jack of all trades, master of none. I like to think of myself as a “Maker”. Woodworking, RC Cars/Helicopters, Cigar Box Guitars, Straight Razor Shaving, Bushcraft, 4 Wheeling, Arca Series NASCAR, Firearms, etc.
Movie – The Punisher – 2004 with John Travolta and Thomas Jane Book – Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?
Personal Enjoyment and Challenge.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby?
I have several; Starting the Yoyo Boomer Club as a joke initially to quiet down some forum trolls and to disband the Derogatory meaning of the phrase at the time. The Yoyo Boomer Club has been an amazing adventure. In the 18 months we have been active; Digital Club with 158 Members from all over the world. Hosted 8 Community Events; FAF24, MRM24, 2April 24, 5A May24, One July 24, Yovember, FAF25, MRM25. AYYC2 Sponsor. Toys for Tots Drive with Yoyo Expert 24 & 25. Partnership with G2 Yoyos: Two Workhorse Prototypes (Modern Responsive Yoyo), with Production Run landing now. Unresponsive Prototype – Operator Partnership with ThrowYo for Merchandise. My other big memory is meeting Mr. Mark McBride and the Yonomicon v.2. Crazy adventure that you can read about here. https://yoyoarchive.org/?s=Pun1sh3R
What’s your best advice for people to get better at yo-yoing?
Take your time. It is not a race. If frustrated, pause, come back. Don’t turn something of Joy into Work.
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
I have seen a few changes in the last two and a half years. The community seems less argumentative and more outgoing now. While the basis of our meeting is around a Hobby, I am seeing a lot more conversations around life and supporting each other outside of the hobby. “How does that make you feel”, “Weight Loss Journey”, and various other topics around life. Life is like a yoyo; It has its ups, downs and even axle knots. The people of this community have seemed to elevate to beyond just the “Thing” we came here for. I would love to see this grow, and if people behave, seeing some of the difficult discussions in life addressed in a positive manner.
What are you most proud of from your time in the hobby?
The Yoyo Boomer Club. My part in it was fairly easy. I only had to create an organic environment for something to grow. The people that have chosen to be Club Members and take personal ownership of the Club are amazing. To say I am proud is an understatement of what these people have accomplished in a short time span. Also; Yoyo Boomer is no longer a derogatory term. We have lead by example and redefined the term.
If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?
My wife would probably be happier without a wall of yoyos in the bedroom. I would probably get less eyerolls from her in public when I play and talk to people about yoyo. As an All or Nothing type of guy, I would probably be feet first into something else.
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?
Play your New Unresponsive till the bearing locks up. Thenlearn Responsive play. Your Welcome.
What do you want to tell the world?
Bringing back Joy with a simple toy. Approach life with Grace and then Understanding. Try not to jump to judgement or conclusions first.
Player Profiles is a series of articles/interviews dedicated to spotlighting the vibrant and diverse community of yo-yo enthusiasts. Each article delves into the unique stories of players from different backgrounds, showcasing their journeys, skills, and contributions to the yo-yo world. The series aims to highlight the passion and creativity that drive these individuals, offering readers an inside look at their personal experiences, favorite tricks, and the impact yo-yoing has had on their lives. Whether they’re seasoned competitors or inspiring newcomers, these profiles celebrate the people who make the yo-yo community so dynamic and inclusive.
The Workhorse is a collaboration between G Squared Yoyos and the Yoyo Boomers Club. Here’s a bit of info from Cody, head of the YYBC:
The original design team = MattC, Yodaddyo, Pun1sh3R, and Mr. Jake.
Truth be told, we didn’t have a lot of input to the design. Most of the conversation was about deciding which way we should lean on the design. G2 Respawn already leaned toward Responsive 1A. So the initial thought was making a 0A yoyo.
There was a concern about making a yoyo that was good at most things but not designed to be the best at one thing. So being good at both 1A responsive and 0A became its design goal. Counterintuitive to the way things have previously been done.
The other issue at the time: What does Modern Responsive Mean? There were a lot of theories and opinions. So, another goal of this design is to set an Example and Definition. A purposefully designed Ball ball-bearing yoyo that plays two different styles well. One yoyo that can seamlessly work in both areas.
Another part of the design was geared around the “Tinkerer”. Tunability was important. We gave a nod to old school with the ability to add weight rings. You can increase the spinning mass of the throw by adding 1 to 10 grams worth of weights with rings.
Response was also considered. Standard 5mm Bearing, 4mm Bearing, and finally the ability to run it as a “Post Modern Responsive” with a bearing blank.
Billpo provided the original Art Concepts. JSERR did a lot of the final tweaking of the digital designs.
This project was heavily supported and inspired by many members of the club. Ideas were thrown out, discussed, and implemented. A Club Community Project.
The biggest change between v.1 and v.2 was the Redistribution of weight. The size remained the same, but even taking some material out, where the material was shifted made a big impact.”
All the Workhorses are laid out for prep at G2 HQ
Workhorse Colorways
The Workhorse v1 Prototype came in green, while the v2 Prototype came in blue. The finally production run came in the following colorsways:
Founder’s Edition
Space Wagon (Unicorn)
Offroad
Gotham
Cherry Bomb
Prototype 1 & 2, followed by the Space Wagon and Gotham colorwaysFounder’s EditionSpace WagonOffroadCherry BombGothamFounder EditionCherry BombCherry Bomb, Offroad, Unicorn, and GothamUnicornGotham
Workhorse Founder’s Edition
The Founder’s Edition of the Workhorse was only offered to the Yoyo Boomers Club Charter members. Each one contains that member’s YoYoExpert Forums username. Only 15 of these were ordered and made.
Every Founder’s Edition made
Space Wagon and Offroad Colorways
The Space Wagon and Offroad colorways were only offered to YYBC members. 35 Space Wagon Workhorses were made, and 14 Offroads were made.
What Comes in the Box
Each Workhorse also came with a G2 Flag Sticker in a G2 envelope, a G2 Air Freshener, a pair of 3g weight rings, a Throw-Yo Elixir string & sticker, and a bag to hold the yo-yo.
Workhorse Strings
Each Workhorse came with a Throw-Yo Threads Elixir string made to match its colorway. The following lists each Workhorse and its string:
Founders Edition / Monobath Chroma
Space Wagon (Previously Unicorn) / Amalthea
Offroad / Woody Wagon Stain
Gotham / Booster
Cherry Bomb / Visco
Throw-Yo Threads founder, Rob, had this to say about the color choices:
Monobath Chroma
“The first-ever Throw-Yo string was a Monobath Potion, a white and black 100% spun poly string. Monobath Chroma pays homage to that string, but as a 100% trilobal poly Elixir made of black and silver threads. Perfect for the Founders Edition Workhorse.”
Amalthea
“Amalthea Elixirs, named after The Last Unicorn, will come with the Unicorn Workhorse. It’s a tricolor string with purple, pink, and black, with the purple coming through a bit heavier than the other two threads.”
Woody Wagon Stain
“How could we have a Workhorse without a Woody Wagon Stain string? The Workhorse V1 had 100% spun poly Woody Wagon Stain. The V2 has a spun/trilobal blend. The G2 Off-Road colorway will come with a 100% trilobal Woody Wagon Stain string.”
Booster
“Made for the G2 Gotham colorway, Booster Elixirs are blue and yellow, just like an annoying hero who shows up in Gotham from time to time. Skeets not included.”
Visco
“Visco Elixirs are a mix of green and steel, emulating a firework fuse. Very fitting for the Cherry Bomb colorway Workhorse. The closeup doesn’t do it justice. It looks like a fuse when you string up a yo-yo! It also kinda fits since this is a Yoyo BOOMERS Club throw.”
Everyone listed below has contributed to this site in one way or another. Whether that be in ideas, submitting photos, providing information or in some other way. Thank you all!
