About
The No Jive 3-in-1 is one of the most historically significant yo-yos ever made. Patented in 1978 (U.S. Patent #4,127,950), it was the world’s first take-apart modular wooden yo-yo, and a version of it has been in continuous production for nearly 50 years. The name came from a newsboy on Dr. Kuhn’s porch: “No jive, you made that?” The three configurations — Imperial (“Classic”), Butterfly (“Flying Camel”), and Pagoda — are achieved by reversing the two halves without any tools.
Made from Northern hard maple with a steel rod through a birch wood sleeve for the fixed axle. The body has been produced in natural maple, painted, laser-engraved, laminated (exotic wood cross-sections from 2001), and airbrushed versions across countless special editions over nearly five decades.
Notable Editions
San Francisco Woodies (1977): Earliest branded versions — Cliff House, Seal Rocks, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cable Car, Golden Gate Bridge, Maple Leaf.
Mandala series (1977+): Laser-carved geometric designs — Filigree, Snowflake, Starburst, Celtic Mandala (2000, designed by Matt Carter), Quatle Mandala (2002). The 1980 Smithsonian Jeweled Starburst Mandala, adorned by jeweler Sydney Mobell, sold for $10,000 and was donated to the Smithsonian Institution.
Flying Camel (1977–1998): Butterfly-orientation carved versions; last run 1998.
Celebrity/retail editions: Neiman Marcus No-Jive (c.1979), Abercrombie No-Jive (c.1987), Smothers Brothers “Smo Bro” (1980s, laser-carved signatures of Tommy and Dick Smothers; also Smothers Fine Wines edition), Olympic / Aspen No-Jive (1984), Datachecker/DTS.
Anniversary editions: 10th Anniversary Diamond No-Jive (1987), 15th Anniversary (1992), 20th Anniversary Painted No-Jives (1997), 25th Anniversary No-Jive (2003), Big Yo 25th No-Jive (2004, oversized), Batik (2007, Indonesian art-inspired), 50th Anniversary (2026, dual-sided laser engraving).
Current production (No Jive 3 body, 2007+): Maple Leaf, Mandala 6, and others. Available at tomkuhn.com and authorized retailers.
