Strike
The heel becomes an active striking point.
THE TECHNIQUE FOR THE MASTERS
01 · THE TECHNOLOGY
A SECOND LEVER.
A NEW LANGUAGE
FOR THE FOOT.
VRUK is an auxiliary sprung heelboard attached to the conventional bass drum footboard. The heel can strike, rest and release—without choking the beater rebound.
VRK / 02
01 Secondary heelboard
02 Soft rubber spring
03 Footboard link
THE MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH
STROKE AND REST.
COMBINED.
The heel lands on a soft, responsive platform. Its energy travels through the link to the pedal, while the heel’s weight leaves the footboard free for immediate beater rebound.
Release
No residual weight chokes the footboard.
Control
Connection remains through the complete cycle.
TECHNOLOGY TRAILER
THE IDEA.
IN MOTION.
An introduction to the VRUK heelboard, the new striking point it creates and the movement it makes possible.
▶VRUK Grip
How the VRUK grip supports control between the heel, the heelboard and the pedal.
Watch the film ↗
▶Universal Pedal Compatibility
See how the VRUK system is designed to work as a universal tool across conventional drum pedals.
Watch the film ↗
▶The System in Motion
A direct demonstration of the relationship between the foot, the VRUK heelboard and the beater.
Watch the film ↗DETAILED EXAMINATION
EXPLORE THE SYSTEM
STEP BY STEP.
Six focused films examine the VRUK mechanism and its operation in greater detail.
02 · ROTATION TECHNIQUE
FOUR POINTS.
ONE FLOW.
Traditional techniques strike from the toes. VRUK Rotation Technique adds the heels, opening four controlled striking points across two pedals.
LEFT TOELT
RIGHT TOERT
LEFT HEELLH
RIGHT HEELRH
∞DIRECTION
WITHOUT LIMIT
WITHOUT LIMIT
EIGHT CORE RUDIMENTS
01
Parallel
RH · RT · LH · LT
↗02
Reversed Parallel
RT · RH · LT · LH
↗03
Left Side
RH · LH · RT · LT
↗04
Right Side
LH · RH · LT · RT
↗05
Left Cross
RH · LT · LH · RT
↗06
Right Cross
LH · RT · RH · LT
↗07
Circle
RH · LH · LT · RT
↗08
Reversed Circle
LH · RH · RT · LT
↗THE PRINCIPLE
Speed is not force.
It is time returned.
A stroke is defined not only by the beater’s impact, but by the time on either side of it. Conventional heel-toe motion often rushes heel-to-toe and slows toe-to-heel, producing flam-like groups. Rotation Technique makes both intervals equal—TBS = TAS—creating evenly spaced single strokes from heel to toe to heel.
TBSTime before stroke=TASTime after stroke=01Even single stroke
ROTATION TECHNIQUE · SINCE 1993
FLEXIBILITY FIRST.
SPEED FOLLOWS.
Introduced through its rudiments in 1993, Rotation Technique is the basic motion designed specifically to develop maximum ankle flexibility and ingrain the correct directions of movement. Every stroke must be played with a full rotation. Once the ankle is flexible and the motion is established, begin incorporating the natural bounce of the beater. Speed will then develop naturally as rotation and rebound work together.
Download the interactive book ↓Foundations
The established methods, their strengths, and the limitation VRUK was designed to solve.
▶Rocking Motion · Initial position
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶Rocking Motion · The stroke
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶Rocking Motion · Beater release
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶Rocking Motion · Second stroke
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶Sliding Heel · Introduction
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶Sliding Heel · Initial position
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶Sliding Heel · Heel stroke
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶Sliding Heel · Beater rebound
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶Sliding Heel · Toe stroke
Watch on YouTube ↗
▶The footboard deficiency
Watch on YouTube ↗04 · HERITAGE
THE FUTURE
STARTED IN 1974.
From an accidental heel strike to an entirely new system for bass drum technique.
The discovery
MR VRUK discovers Sliding Heel—Klizeca Peta—while searching for a usable heel stroke.
The drawing
After three years of development, the final concept for a dedicated secondary heelboard is completed.
VRUK becomes real
The first prototype is built in England; the first production examples follow, including a pair for Cozy Powell.
Frankfurt
VRUK is demonstrated on the DW stand. Jim Chapin describes the idea as ‘Moeller on foot’.
A new category
Modern Drummer introduces VRUK as a completely new product—not a shortcut, but a technique to be learned.
Recognition
Rhythm calls the system a ‘stroke of genius’; Modern Drummer recognises it in its Gear of the Year coverage.
Japan
A limited chrome edition and a national teaching tour introduce the system to more than 10,000 drummers.
The method continues
The book brings the technology, science, exercises and complete linked video course together.
“IN A WORLD OF CONFORMITY, WE NEED MORE MAVERICKS LIKE MR VRUK.”
RHYTHM MAGAZINE · 2003
05 · SUPPORT
SET UP.
ADJUST.
MASTER.
Begin with the support introduction, then continue through five practical video guides to installation, adjustment and everyday use.
