When my almost-six-year-old grandson, Evan, told me he was into Beyblades, I thought he said Bay Blades. I pictured large knives wielded by men who hung out at the Bay. Soon, though, I learned the truth: Evan’s Beyblades are spinning tops that were pitted together in a whirling fight to the death in our plastic shoebox. As the spinning tops hit each other, they hasten each other’s demise. Usually, one champion top remains spinning at the end. In the case of a tie, they stop spinning at the same time. What makes the top spin is the skill with which its human master pulls the ripcord. The ripcord is a serrated plastic line inserted into the launcher, upon which the Beyblade is “screwed” on. When the cord is pulled, the holder yells, “Let it rip!” The harder the pull, the faster the top spins.

My grandson increased his yield of Beyblades from 2 to 12 while he was here visiting. At nine dollars apiece, every aunt, uncle, and cousin, along with his grandparents and mom, met his one birthday wish. An aunt bought Evan a plastic “Beystadium” in which the spinning tops collide often since the center fighting-circle is slightly slanted toward the middle, like a cone. Thus, the Beyblades spin toward each other more often than in the flat shoebox.

Beyblade comes from the Japanese “Bakuten Shuto Beiburedo,” meaning “Explosive Shoot Beyblade.” This was a Japanese series written in 2000 in order to sell Beyblades. “Beyblade,” an English language 51-episode animated TV series aired in Japan in 2001. Adaptations were released in 2002 and 2003. The show, popularized in the U.S. by the Cartoon Network, was criticized for being one long commercial. The Beyblade toy was first released in 2000. It has been popular in many countries. Tournaments have been held around the world. Hasbro produces the line in the U.S. Beyblade.com is my grandson’s favorite website, superseding last year’s Lego Ninjago. At the Beyblade website you can battle online, watch Beyblade videos on YouTube or play games with 15 levels and “survive the Metal Madness challenge and be declared champion.” Now there is a new Beyblades mobile app.

Yes, I enjoyed saying, “Let it rip!” as I pulled my ripcord and watched my multicolored Beyblade spin and move from side to side, occasionally bumping into Evan’s Beyblade. As the Beyblades were slowing down, I felt the excitement of wondering which Beyblade would survive, continuing to spin.
Hey, it’s a lot better than playing with large knives by the bay.

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com