"The Cairo Flash"

hollywood1340 · Post by **hollywood1340** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:30 pm

Been going through old threads on this topic and I think it's worth a revisit. I've heard it described as an "X-Crack", which fits. From watching the scene over and over in slow motion, I see it as a Circus Crack, realignment to the rear, followed by a diagonal Forward Crack (Upper left to lower right) crossing the hand over the body for realignment then another diagonal Forward Crack (Upper left to lower right). Rinse and repeat.
This is a fun crack to work on to get all the cracks to work. Although getting my leg to cock like Harrison's is tough as it throws off my balance. We need a good dedicated video out there for this technique as IMO every single Indy fan worth his Winrich should be able to pull this off at the drop of an AdventureBuilt.

IndyFrench · Post by **IndyFrench** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:01 am

Hey Hollywood - Glad to see this coming up again. I used to call this the "Cairo X" when I posted about it some years ago - however, I was more referring to the deleted footage of Jones trying to ward off the swordsman, where the "X" is much more defined.

You are correct that the marketplace/haycart "flash" starts with a circus crack and then proceeds into what appear to be some rather (understandably) hurried forward throws in a general "X.'

hollywood1340 · Post by **hollywood1340** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:19 am

Yes, I was in fact mistaken. It's well...repeated Forward Cracks after the Circus.

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:50 am

I've heard it called the 'Australian cross'. This is a move I specialize in. I just put up some video the other day that may include what you're looking for. If need be, I could slow the throw down to make it easier to see.

I've actually got outtakes from the original 'swordsman' fight before Harrison Ford changed it---Where the two actually dueled. Harrison actually did this crack a lot more in that fight....But it all got scrapped!

I've really thought about putting together a bit of an instructional video of sorts on just the basic cracks---using several camera angles (including overhead) with slow motion. Might do some people some good.

Anyway, here's the link.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 0415096422

VP · Post by VP » Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:56 pm

Man, that 20 footer looks like a monster.

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:21 pm

Let's just put it this way, not only did it put me off of whipmaking for 6 years, it put me off of leather for even longer....! I'm definitely a nylon/roo person now...

Sure does hit like Tyson on PCP, though....It'll knock whole branches off when i'm tree-trimming...

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:24 pm

Actually, there's a guy in our Enthusiasts group who made a 40' nylon monster he calls 'Hot Chocolate'...try spinning that one over your head!

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:32 pm

IndyFrench wrote:Hey Hollywood - Glad to see this coming up again. I used to call this the "Cairo X" when I posted about it some years ago - however, I was more referring to the deleted footage of Jones trying to ward off the swordsman, where the "X" is much more defined.

Here..i found a link where someone posted that outtake. A Really well defined cross. I may need to replicate this in the backyard with slo-mo.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/raide ... 3139147910

hollywood1340 · Post by **hollywood1340** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:14 pm

Thanks all!

JMObi · Post by **JMObi** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:33 pm

I've found the crossover throw can be tricky - the deleted sword duel one where he does the X.

The first part is straightforward - a diagonal forward throw to the left and then follow through behind you (if RHanded). But then hand comes vertically upward, and throw to the right. The natural bias in the thong tends to want to whack you in the head. Tricky! Hard to get a loud crack on that second throw too.

hollywood1340 · Post by **hollywood1340** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:18 pm

I use a bit of body motion for the second, get my hips into it. Try that for the second crack and you'll get a bit more noise.

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:45 pm

FINE, I'll have video on Monday....*sigh*

hollywood1340 · Post by **hollywood1340** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:03 pm

We're...sorry?

:

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:23 am

Aeris_Canon wrote:Cairo Whip thing

Credit to: Texas Raider & Cooler King during an FL Summit discussion.[/

quote]

You got it, bro!

TR

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:21 am

VP wrote:Man, that 20 footer looks like a monster.

Heck yeah! That thing was ridiculous!

Post by **BullWhipBorton** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:04 am

PyramidBlaster great videos, Aeris you guys nailed that choreography.

For those of you having trouble with the second part of the X cross, Try to think of it as just a follow through too another diagonal crack. It’s not too difficult once you know how to do it

so first try practicing the diagonal forward throw like in the video, then align yourself to go directly into an overhead crack. Now I know that Indy doesn’t do the overhead in that scene; but the second crack is basically the same motion as the overhead, just at a different angle.

As you become more confident and proficient with pulling off these two cracks in succession, you can begin to angle your forearm with your elbow pointing downward at a slight slope. These small adjustment can have very profound results so as you crack the whip in that “overhead” style motion, you should find that it rolls out and hair pins in a more diagonal movement letting the whip cut down and across cracking just like in the video with Harrison Ford.

With anything new in whip cracking, Less is more, so work slowly and don’t worry about cracking the whip at first. Some people pick this up right away, others it takes a little longer to learn it so be patient with yourself and remember that the motion is essentially the same it just feels different because your not used to it yet.

Dan