There’s a childhood game named ‘Johnny Whoop‘ that many of us has had the pleasure (or frustration) of experiencing growing up. The aim of the game is to ask a participant to copy a set of hand movements only to announce that they’re doing it wrong. This is after the person seemingly perfectly performs the requested instructions. The end result is participants getting hilarious flustered by not understanding the trick!
A popular childhood game, ‘Johnny Johnny Whoop’ is simply pressing each finger on your other hand from your pinkie finger to your index finger and then reversed. You also insert a ‘whoop’ by running your finger down your index to your thumb and repeat the process when going back. This results in you saying the phrase “Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Whoop, Johnny, Whoop, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny.”
![A diagram of a hand showing how to play Johnny Whoop game,](https://megasplain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Johnny-whoop.png)
Misdirection is the trick
The instructions are relatively simple on purpose. This is because the participant is expected to be able to follow them in order for the game to work. The true ‘trick’ of the game is to conceal an additional movement after finishing the Johnny Whoop sequence which the participant is also expected to perform. For example, crossing your hands after finishing the sequence. This means that if the participant doesn’t cross their hands afterwards, they’ve failed to follow instructions.
![The first actor of the Johnny Whoop game crosses their hand after performing the hand exercise to trick the subject.](https://megasplain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/hands-crossed.png)
Why is Johnny Whoop so popular?
Naturally, children benefit from improving their coordination skills. Having to repeat a set of instructions precisely can help them improve understanding of their senses and surroundings. It also helps to bond with people by taking part in a joke exercise. The practical nature and lack of complex language in the game has also led to the game being well understood across the world which translates well into viral popularity. You don’t need to understand English to understand the game.
If somebody has never played ‘Johnny Whoop’ before they are likely to fall victim to losing the game which can result in hysterical reactions ranging from bemusement to anger. Try it out on your friends! The best scenario is performing it in a large group to see who has past experience with the joke and who does not; The fun of the game is amplified as the group attempts to work out the trick, much to their much frustration!
TikTok is full of puzzling games and mysteries, for example Project 1356, a multi-year countdown project.