John Ando, or 'Ancho', is one of the best yo-yo players in the world, having won the US Nationals for four consecutive years between 2004 and 2007 in the 2A division, as well as winning the World Contest 1A Division in 2008. His favored yo-yo is the Protostar, his signature model produced by YoYoFactory.
John went to high school in Texas, and currently lives in Saitama, Japan, attending college in Tokyo. He was once sponsored by Yomega, but is currently with YoYoFactory. He is also a member of Guys of Liberty and FIST SALUD, as well as having been a member of Team High Performance during the 1990's yo-yo boom. He began seriously playing 1A when YoYoFactory offered to sponsor him. The company was impressed by the tricks Ando performed at the US Nationals during some of his off-stage practice. In 2008, Ando debuted in the 1A division, where he found immediate success in winning the East Japan Regional Contest. Later that year, in only his second freestyle as a 1A competitor, Ando won the 1A world championship. He is famous for the original style of tricks he created often referred to as "arm wraps" or "Ancho Caves," a style of tricks which heavily involve the player's body and spatial orientation. Since winning Worlds in 2008, his influence on modern competitive yo-yoing is easily recognized in the prevalence of string tricks which implement parts of the player's body other than the hands.
Achievements[]
2002[]
- 1st Place, AA division, US Nationals
2003[]
- 5th Place, AA division, US Nationals
2004[]
- 1st Place, AA Division, US Nationals
- 4th Place, AA Division, World Yo-Yo Contest
2005[]
- 1st Place, AA Division, US Nationals
2006[]
- 1st Place, AA Division, US Nationals
- 3rd Place, AA Division, World Yo-Yo Contest
2007[]
- 1st Place, AA Division, US Nationals
- 3rd Place, AA Division, World Yo-Yo Contest
2008[]
- 1st Place, A Division, Eastern Japan
- 1st Place, A Division, World Yo-Yo Contest
- 3rd Place, A Division, International Yo-Yo Open
- 3rd Place, A Division, US Nationals
- 2nd Place, AA Division, US Nationals
2010[]
- 1st Place, AP Division, World Yo-Yo Contest (part of SHAQLER)
2015[]
- Grand Prix & Entertainment Award, AP Division, World Yo-Yo Contest (part of SHAQLER)