If you saw the tension-filled, unedited, almost 13-minute performance of Rigolo Swiss Nouveau Cirque artist Maedir Eugster on Japanese television a few weeks ago — and if you haven’t, you should — then this will look familiar: Balance is a short film by photographer/director Tobias Hutzler, inspired by Eugster’s performance. The edits remove some of the suspense of the act, but tell the story a bit more succinctly.

Watch more performances in the archives.

The 2012 Japanese Juggling Festival was held in Tokyo in early October, where contact juggler Yanazo wowed the audience with his incredible balance and speed control of just one ball for half the performance.

And then he juggles with two balls… then three. And then he won first prize. 

Interested in trying out a few contact juggling tricks? Check out Yanazo’s well-practiced skills more closely:

Thanks, @farleykj and @laniharmon.

Updated for video link.