What is Binary?

Binary is a system of counting which only uses two different numbers: 0 and 1. Normally we count using the decimal system, the name for which is derived from the Latin reference for "ten." We use ten digits: 1 through 9 and 0. In the decimal system counting up from 0 you'd get to 9 and run out of digits, at which point you'd bump the "tens" column from 0 to 1 and reset the "ones" to 0, counting up to 9. Every time you run out of digits in the current column, you'd bump the column to the left up. Binary works this way also, except instead of ten digits per column you only have two (0 and 1). There are some great resources out there if you're interested in learning more about the Binary system.

Is this the same as "Tricking Binary?"

No. "Tricking Binary" is what's known as a dictionary; key-value pairs where each number represents the number of twists in that flip, regardless of where it appears in the sequence. Typically the numbers range from 0-3, like '2023', and there is one flip/invert (it can be horizontal or fully inverted) corresponding to each number in the sequence. This example then would be a four-move combo starting as an invert with two twists, followed by an invert with zero twists, followed by another invert with two, and finishing with a triple-twisting invert like triple cork. This is not binary, because it uses more than two values and it is not a system for counting.

What is Vert?

Vert is the category of skills in martial arts tricking defined by having these three attributes:

• A takeoff from either or both legs
• Rotation performed exclusively while vertical* (see below)
• One or more kicks directed toward the same target between takeoff and landing

Vert can also be understood by what it is not; a vert kick should not have inversion, or very little depending on the actual form factor of the kick. Rotation with inversion greater than halfway toward the horizontal axis (45 degrees) becomes a horizontal twist, and anything with this much inversion or greater is an Invert.

What is Vert Binary?

Vert Binary is a system that uses binary to represent all possible vert kick variations (meaning vert kicks with up to one kick per alignment with the target at every 180 interval). To qualify the difference between a variation and a stylized version like doubleleg, think of a variation as "different only when a kick leg is included/excluded where previously it was the opposite, without affecting the rotation." This means that a pop hyper feilong for example can be stylized to become a (vert) pop doubleleg, but it wouldn't become a separate variation because no kicks were added or subtracted from the target at their respective rotations. A pop hyper feilong from the opposite stance would be a separate vert kick variation though, because it has different rotation by 180 degrees. By this definition, skills like wacknife, split kick ("crowd awakener"), parafuso, dleg, and grabs are all stylized versions of standard vert kick variations.

Why/For whom did you make this?

To answer this, start by asking yourself: how many vert multi (one or more)‑kick variations are possible at 720 in-air spin? At 900? Note: see the tab "About Vert Binary" for my definition of a vert kick variation, then try to answer. There's a hard number, it's not infinity or a trick question. The answer is, at any given rotation there are 2^{^n}-1 kicks x 2 stances x 3 takeoffs, where "n" is the number of kick opportunities or 180 increments of your total rotation. So 900/180 = 5, 2^{^5} = 32, minus 1 (because no kicks is just a vert spin, so you wouldn't count a value with all 0s) is 31, 31 x 6 is 186 vert kick variations. I needed a way of keeping track of all the possible skills to be learned within this category, and I landed on using binary as a representation to organize and track my progress. I know, like TKT most trickers will not use this. I did not make this for trickers; I made this for thinkers like myself who are curious to learn and could benefit from applying a sophisticated tool like Vert Binary.

What is Kick ID?

Kick ID is a new concept borne of the idea that binary allows you to associate a numerical correlation with skills, where each one can be thought of as having a unique index. With this in mind, I borrowed inspiration for syntax derived from the system used to index IP addresses and formulated a way to ID every skill in five or less characters. Kick ID goes one step further than TKT shorthand to identify spin direction as well as associate kick variations across category numerically, though it isn't intended to replace it. Currently its only use is that in the Command Line Sim you can enter a KID (with or without a colon) to load that demonstration and populate the binary value accordingly.

Version

Vert Binary Version 2 : November 2023

This version includes left and right sides pop only (no cheat or swing).