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We were moved to investigate the origins of the humble yo-yo after a five-minute investment in this amazing video of the reigning yo-yo world champion/ illustrious titleholder.   

It's difficult to define "design" but one of the aspects that hits the nail on the head is the pursuit of innovation. "Innovation" has become cloyingly overused. Banks use it to describe new services and approaches, consulting firms structure themselves around it and the term's ubiquitous deployment as an advertising buzzword triggers images of an endless parade of increasingly complex cell phones. Innovation's essence, however, is an engagement in renewal: asking new questions and going for it in order to generate ever-more useful applications. 

"Yo-yo" is a modern designation, trademarked in 1929 by the Duncan Company after it acquired the manufacturing rights from the Filipino entrepreneur Pedro Flores. He brought the idea for the toy from his native Philippines; "yo-yo" is Tagalog for "come-come." "Yo-yo" entered the lexicon as a generic term in the 1960s.

It is widely claimed - though not entirely verified - that the yo-yo in a different, larger guise was used as a weapon. Allegedly, Filipino tribesmen used to flick yo-yos from canopy hideouts to stun invading marauders. Sir Ian Fleming found this factoid inspirational and added a yo-yo killer to thwart James Bond in the film Octopussy. 

After the doll, yo-yos are claimed to be the world's second oldest toy. That's right folks - the accompanying image is not photoshopped. It's taken from a Greek vase dated to 440 BC. Since ancient history, the yo-yo has gone in and out of style until the contemporary period, cresting at one point in the 18th century in France and acquiring the name bandalore. 

In primitive yo-yos (hypothetically, the ancient Mediterranean variants), the string is tied to the axle using a knot. With this technique, the yo-yo just goes back-and-forth; it returns easily, but is harder to pause. 

In the Filipino design a continuous piece of string is twisted around itself to produce a loop at one end, which is fitted around the axle. This seemingly minor modification increases stability and suspension of movement during free spin, allowing the user greater control over maneuverability...and setting the stage for competitive showmanship centuries down the line. 

1970-1990 yielded the innovations that would enable the gentleman in the video and others like him to really strut their stuff. These included: 

- The Yomega Brain, a yo-yo with "centrifugal clutch transaxle technology." It has a free-spinning plastic sleeve linkage, spinning much longer than previous fixed-axle designs. In addition, the axle is weighed down with spring loads, facilitating the return of the yo-yo if speeds drop past a certain threshold.

- Ball bearings, which significantly reduce friction when the yo-yo is spinning (sleeping), enabling longer and more complex tricks. 

- The SB-2 yo-yo with both transaxle and ball bearings, ensuring extremely long spin times and effortless returns. Incidentally, this model received the inaugural prize for excellence awarded by the yo-yo industry.

- New materials, such as aluminum, the lightness of which helped with friction issues (string rubbing against axle); particularly effective when paired with grooved axle.

So there you have it. There's always a story behind every jaw-dropping Youtube video, more often than not guided by some obscure innovation.