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By Anna Valmero INQUIRER.net PASIG CITY, Philippines -- Want to be good in a sport that constantly innovates? Try playing the yo-yo. "Yo-yo is a sport that inspires endless ideas and innovation. It is a safe sport that can be played by everyone, plus it can be done almost everywhere," said Philip Rodriguez, a professional yo-yo player. "To start playing, all you need is the yo-yo, a small space to throw the gadget, patience and dedication to practice. Everyone can be good at it,” he said. Historically cited as a weapon used by early Filipino warriors, the yo-yo has evolve from being a pastime to a skill sport. Both here and abroad, yo-yo players compete under different categories to test their skills in performing tricks. In the country, there is a local community of yo-yo players called “Flipspin Komunidad.” To promote yo-yo as a sport for everyone, the group holds meetings and practice sessions open for everyone who wants to learn the new sport. From the humble wooden axle and string, the yo-yo has undergone several design changes. The wooden axle and string is dubbed the “old-school” yo-yo, which allows players to do 10 basic tricks. In 1960, the introduction of plastic gave yo-yos uniform weight. Today, high-end yo-yos are made of metal, such as aluminum, steel, titanium and rarely, magnesium and tungsten alloys. Exotic plastics, such as Delrin is also used for high-end yo-yos made of metal. Bearings are added at the end of each string in place of loopholes. "These modifications in design allowed for greater, more complex yo-yo tricks and string patterns," said Edmund San Antonio, president of Flipspin. "For example, using yo-yos with bearing enables a player to have faster spins. They also can increase tricks performance to a maximum of 12 minutes, unlike the 1 minute play you can get from wooden ones." This, however, does not mean that the “new school” players who use the new yo-yos don’t appreciate basic tricks. "Before we train or teach someone for advanced techniques, we let them know the basics first because that is the foundation for playing." Can someone earn income from playing yo-yo? "Sometimes, though not big, we get paid to perform in corporate functions," said San Antonio. He said they are drafting plans to form routines that their group can perform in social gatherings. Funds collected from the performances will constitute the budget of the group in organizing demo sessions and competitions. Recently, Filipino yo-yo players showcased their skills at the 2008 National Yo-yo Championships under six different categories at Shangri-La Plaza. Now on its fourth year, over 40 yo-yo players from Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and Pampanga joined the competition. "In this competition we held, you will see the drive of the players to earn a title -- it's not the typical competition when money is the goal but the recognition for their excellence," said San Antonio. "I have been trying to win in this competition for over four years and now that I actually won it, I am elated all those practice paid off," said Ernest Khan, an A1 competition champ. "Yo-yo is not a typical sport but what's great about it is that it encourages one to be creative in tricks."