Posted by Gentry Stein
on October 01, 2026
The World Yo-Yo Contest brings together some of the best players on the planet. So while I was in Japan, I decided to ask a simple question: who has the best DNA yo-yo trick?
Before this, I’d challenged players at Nationals to land the DNA and win a free yo-yo. But this time in Osaka, I wanted to take the challenge further by asking each player to show me their best DNA.
With world champions, content creators, and some of the most talented players around, I thought I knew what to expect. I thought I’d seen it all when it came to the DNA, but these players surprised me with some of the craziest variations I’d ever seen.
Watch the full challenge below, then keep scrolling for a breakdown of each player’s trick and tips for trying your own DNA variations.
Let’s break down each player’s trick and take a closer look at how they pulled it off. Let’s take a closer look at each player’s DNA variation. If you’ve watched yo-yo videos online, there’s a good chance you’ve seen our first player’s content.
Player #1: Brandon Vu
First up was Brandon Vu, a 3x Australian National Yo-Yo Champion with a YouTube audience of over a million subscribers.
For this challenge, Brandon moved his finger through a full circle while keeping the yo-yo spinning on it. Watching it go around, I kept expecting gravity to pull it off his finger. Somehow, it stayed locked on the entire time and he finished with the DNA.
The challenge was off to a strong start. But with Brandon’s friend and teammate Xavier right there, I wanted to see what a little friendly competition would bring out.
Player #2: Xavier Ng
Next was Xavier Ng, a multiple time Singapore National Yo-Yo Champion known for his flashy, original tricks.
His answer to the challenge? Something I didn't expect: the floor DNA.
Sitting on the ground, Xavier popped the yo-yo into the air and caught it on his finger underneath his leg before hitting the DNA.
Xavier showed just how creative players could get with the challenge. After all, nobody said you had to do the DNA standing up.
Player #3: Tony Sung
Then I met a guy named Tony. After watching him throw down some incredible tricks, I had to ask whether he had a DNA variation for me.
Tony took the floor idea even further. He got down on his back and somehow performed the DNA underneath his legs.
Moments like this are why I love yo-yo contests and the community around them. You can meet someone for the first time and immediately have a blast challenging each other, sharing tricks, and trying something new.
Player #4: Angel2up
Angel2up is known for going Godspeed on social media and has helped introduce yo-yoing to millions of people. For this challenge, he had something ambitious in mind.
His idea was to toss the yo-yo into the air, spin his body through a full 360, then catch it on his finger and hit the DNA.
The timing is what makes this so challenging. While the yo-yo is in midair, he has to complete the turn and get back into position for the fingerspin catch.
He came so close, but we ran out of time before he could land it. We’d have to save that one for another round.
That’s part of what makes these players so good: they’re always up for a challenge and willing to keep working on something difficult.
Want to see what happens when you challenge Angel2up again? Watch our Ultimate DNA Battle with Brandon Vu, then catch Angel2up and me going head to head in round two.
Player #5: Paul Kerbel
Paul Kerbel is a Mexican National Yo-Yo Champion known for creative, crowd pleasing tricks, so I had to see what he would bring to the DNA challenge.
Paul threw the yo-yo, did a cartwheel, then hit the DNA.
Most players have enough to think about just getting the yo-yo onto their finger. Paul added a whole acrobatic move between the throw and the trick.
Player #6: Betty Gallegos
Betty Gallegos is a Women’s Division World Yo-Yo Champion from Mexico and a popular online creator who shares her yo-yo skills with a huge audience.
For this challenge, she brought a different kind of control: DNA hops.
She popped the spinning yo-yo back and forth between her fingers, landing a series of fingerspin catches before finishing with the DNA.
Player #7: Rei Iwakura
Next up was Rei Iwakura, a 6x World Yo-Yo Champion in the offstring division, also known for his yo-yo performances that combine technical skill, music, and showmanship.
With that combination of control and creativity, I wanted to see what he would bring to the DNA challenge.
Rei added a behind the back toss to his variation, sending the spinning yo-yo behind him before bringing it back in front to hit the DNA.
Player #8: Yutaka Ito
After seeing so many creative variations, some friends pointed me toward Yutaka Ito to see his signature long DNA trick.
Yutaka looked like he’d been waiting all day for this moment. He came prepared with a special tool, which he placed on the floor to help him land the trick.
As he set it up and attempted it, a crowd started gathering. Then, after one more try, he landed it: one of the longest DNAs I’d ever seen.
Suddenly, the challenge had turned into a live show.
With Rei standing right beside him, I could sense a little friendly competition. He stepped in and hit the long DNA with one leg raised, adding his own twist to Yutaka’s challenge.
Naturally, I wanted to try it, too.
I’ve been on stage at the World Yo-Yo Contest plenty of times, but never to do the DNA with a string this long. Yutaka and Rei had just landed it, and now it was my turn with the whole crowd watching. Could I pull it off, too?
I landed it, and the crowd cheered. I started walking around, giving high fives and keeping the energy going. It felt like the perfect way to finish the challenge.
Then I ran into Rio.
And what happened next, nobody saw coming.
Player #9: Rio
This is Rio. With the crowd still gathered around us, he asked if he could try the long DNA.
The string was long even for the adults who’d just used it, but he was ready to give it a shot with everyone watching.
Of course, I had to see this.
He landed it on his first try, and the crowd went wild. That’s why I love moments like this. Rio saw a challenge, asked to join in, and went for it. A few seconds later, he had the whole crowd cheering.
So, Who Has the Best DNA Yo-Yo Trick?
I went to Japan wondering who had the best DNA. After watching everyone take on the challenge, picking a favorite was harder than I expected.
Everyone brought their own style. That’s what makes the DNA so special: the same trick can look completely different depending on who’s doing it. It’s become a global movement, with players of all ages and skill levels finding their own ways to take it further.
Ready to Learn or Level Up Your DNA Tricks?
Whether you’re new to yo-yoing or already landing advanced tricks, there’s always a way to take your DNA skills further. These tutorials and guides will help you land your first DNA, learn new variations, or find your next challenge.
- The Easiest Way to Do the DNA Yo-Yo Trick: Learn the basics and work toward your first DNA.
- How to Do the DNA on an Unresponsive Yo-Yo: Follow the step-by-step tutorial for the unresponsive version.
- 10 DNA Yo-Yo Tricks From Easy to Hard: Build your skills with progressively harder variations.
- 10 Extreme DNA Yo-Yo Challenges: Put your DNA skills to the test with crazy challenges from players around the world on social media.
If you’re ready to work on these tricks, having the right yo-yo can make a big difference. Here are the yo-yos and strings I recommend for learning your first DNA and taking it further.
The Best Yo-Yos for Learning and Mastering the DNA
The DNA trick technique changes depending on whether you’re using a responsive or unresponsive yo-yo. My team and I designed each of these models to help you at every stage in your journey, from learning your first DNA to mastering more advanced variations.
Learning your first DNA? Start with the Vyral. Its responsive setup and fingerspin hub help you build confidence with your throw and finger catch.
Ready for unresponsive DNA tricks? The DNA Yo-Yo combines an aluminum body with a polycarbonate fingerspin hub for stable spins as you learn new variations.
Ready to take your DNA tricks to the next level? The DNA King has a self-centering fingerspin hub and thumb-grind lip for more creative possibilities, plus the performance to handle advanced string tricks.
But your yo-yo is only part of what makes a great DNA. Your string can make a big difference, too.
The Best String for the DNA Trick
If you’ve ever tried doing the DNA trick, you’ve probably noticed your string twisting and bunching up after repeated attempts. Stopping to reset your string tension gets frustrating, especially when you just want to keep practicing.
That’s why we created DNA String. Its swivel system near the finger loop lets the string untwist while you perform the trick, reducing tension buildup so you can spend more time practicing and less time resetting your string.
Not sure which DNA yo-yo and string are right for you? Read my Best Yo-Yos for the DNA Trick guide to find the setup that fits your skill level.
