Bullwhips are dangerous (picture proves it)

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 10:57 am

I got a little carried away this morning... Going for an underhand crack, then taking it into a forward crack, and got this:

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 11:07 am

Thank God I was wearing goggles, as the line stopped right where the goggles started. I could have lost an eye.

It didn't split the skin open. The largest spot looks like a chunk got scraped out of it.

It doesn't hurt, but it looks dreadful. I doubt it will scar, but who knows.

Let this be a lesson to all newbies with whips. Be sure you wear protective equipment!! And, be careful out there.

Whipcrack · Post by **Whipcrack** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 11:20 am

Man that is a shot, you are lucky you had the goggles on!

Bill

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 11:43 am

Don't feel bad Zohar. It's happens to all of us (except Dale of course), almost without exception when first starting out. Like I previously posted, when you are first starting out, you need to develop that 6th sense of where the whip is constantly. After awhile it becomes 2nd nature, where you abort out of a crack or just stop the whip, because you know you screwed up.

Below is a good picture from the Great Rankini at last years, DC Summit:

His healed over in about 2 days.

But I will tell you my story. I got a brand new 10 foot whip when I first started. Only having cracked 8 footers up to that time, I tried to do a "reverse horizontal" for the first time on the 10 footer. Snap, right into my left eye. I mean I couldn't even blink, it smacked right straight into my left eyeball. The blow from the whip knocked me down.

I got up after 5 minutes and opened both eyes. I could see, but I sensed that something about my left eye was wrong. I closed my right eye, and I could not see ANYTHING from my left. I could see that it was light out, but I couldn't see the blue from the sky or green on the grass. It was like someone spread a whole jar of vaseline right into my eye. What was worse after 10 more minutes of sitting on the ground, it wasn't getting any better. I got up, and very determinedly, cracked off the "reverse horizontal" and took the slow 10 minute hike back to my car.

I then had to drive 30 minutes on a busy highway to the closest ER. Making a left hand turn or merging left without any vision from your left eye is impossible. If you don't beleive me, close your left eye and try to merge left. I get to the ER and the nurse gives me an "EYE CHART" to read. I told her, you don't understand, I can't even see the wall that the "EYE CHART" is on. Well she called in the Opthamologist on call. My vision slowly started to come back after about 1 1/2 hours after the incident. The Opthamologist examines my eye and tells me, I have a BAD RETINAL BLEED. About 25% of my eyeball filled up with blood. The good news is that it shouldn't get higher than 25%. However, he wanted me to go home (with someone else driving of course) and have my wife monitor my blood level in my eye. If it went beyond a certain level in my eye, I needed to have surgery to repair the blood vessel leaking. More bad news.... He told me that I needed to take a whole week off from work and both eyes needed to be blindfolded so to minimize any eye movement from the left eye. Reason? In about 30% of the cases such as mine, the blood vessel BURSTS and we would then have a medical emergency. So his strict instructions were, complete and total bed rest with my eyes completely blind folded for an entire week.

Bottom line: 3 months after the injury, the same doctor examines my left eye for a complete check up. My vision was now a remarkable 20-15, it improved!!!!! I asked, "what's with that Doc?" He said, that I invented a new form of Lasix Eye Surgery. A new version that he will not even bother to publish.

) We laughed and he told me to always be carefull. Yeah, yeah... But I knew I dodged a bullet.

So the tale from above, I can not stress enough to everyone to minimally wear safety glasses, and a hat with a brim. Over time like I said, you develop a 6th sense. The cracks I do now when I practice have over hundreds of hours invested in them. However, whenever I am learning a new crack, on go the glasses and hat. In fact, if you ever get Mike Murphy tapes, you see him wearing the glasses and hat. And he has been cracking ever since he could walk!

Thanks Zohar for sharing. Every once in awhile this happens and it's a good reminder to be careful.

-Sergei

Paul_Stenhouse · Post by **Paul_Stenhouse** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 11:45 am

Dear Zohar,

I don't think that's covered in my video! Facial cuts always seem to bleed so much more since the face is highly vascularized. Use some Neosporin on it!

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 11:54 am

Hey Paul. Yeah, it's covered in neosporin right now. It hasn't really been bleeding profusely, but slowly leaking. I think I only got through my dermis, and not into underlying tissue.
You may want to add a first aid seminar to your video

All kidding aside, your video helped me a lot. I was able to change the fall last night without any trouble at all.

Wow Sergei. I am really glad I took everybody's advice to use goggles after reading that! Good thing you're okay now.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 12:11 pm

Wow Sergei, I don't know if I'll have the nerve to pick up my DM again!

That is of course, until the pesky neighborhood beagle breaks out again to terrorize my dogs through the fence.

... not to worry everyone, I just crack it and he takes off. I'm an dog lover and would never hurt one... but after months of hassling my dogs, I resorted to a good crack every now and then. A little more stress relieving than just calling animal control.

... and Zohar, I'm glad it wasn't as serious as it looked.

Mike

IndyMo · Post by **IndyMo** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 12:16 pm

Neosporin(Hmm) - Maybe Pecards should offer that with their other products. While your treating your whip after a long day of cracking, you can treat those cuts and bruises.

Paul_Stenhouse · Post by **Paul_Stenhouse** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 12:19 pm

Dear Zohar,

Glad you were able to change your fall. It is worth it to know how to do all that simple repair work.

See, I warned you about wearing that stuff in the video. There's always a reason for my madness. I am glad that you were wearing goggles and it isn't too serious. Don't let it get the best of you, either. Try it again, but as slowly as you can when you feel up to it. In other words, get back on that horse and teach it who's boss.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

The_Edge · Post by **The_Edge** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 12:26 pm

Hurry, run inside crying and tell your mom that an icicle fell off the roof!

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 12:35 pm

Haha!

I could have done that to my wife, but I would have faced her wrath

I came in, she was on the internet. I said, "I'm bleeding, but I'm not hurt...badly... so don't freak out."

She said it only made her nauseated

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 12:38 pm

Wife's are great. I was absolutely expecting the worse. I proactively hid my whips. My wife knew how badly I loved the sport. She just was very supportive and made sure my whip bag was always stocked with safety glasses.

The_Edge · Post by **The_Edge** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 12:52 pm

I never wear goggles. I haven't hit myself (besides the fingers) in years. Knock on wood. Although I do end up with the whip wrapped around my head or knocking my hat off every now and then while practicing.

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 12:53 pm

It happens to all of us (except Dale of course), almost without exception, when first starting out.

LOL Thanks Serge. I know I make it look easy sometimes, but I, too, have hit myself on occasion. Once, very early in my whipcracking days, I left a superficial lash mark across my back, and another time the tip of the fall grazed my left eye, which I couldn't open for about five minutes. I was experimenting with a new crack. Fortunately, I was practicing in slow motion, as everyone should do when attempting a new maneuver with a whip. As a practicing whip enthusiast, I cannot stress the use of protective eyewear enough: If you're a whip student, wear glasses. It just may may save your vision.

-Dale

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 1:06 pm

zohar, I hope that you didn't hurt your whip with your face

. Just kidding. That wound will heal quickly and I would wager without leaving a scar. Sergei's story is one that I heard right after it happened. A few monthes after the incident he was cracking like a real pro. It was really quite remarkable. Cheers

Post by **Mike** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 2:47 pm

Zohar, Zohar...

Shame on you, you did it all wrong...

You were supposed to aim for the chin!

(sorry hunger's going to my head... Gotta go eat now.)

Mike

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 6:08 pm

Man, I think we need to make zohar the poster guy for Whip Cracking section of Indygear. Yowsers!

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 7:00 pm

Yes, that certainly looks like a "badge of honor". It reminds of the story of the 18th century sons of the German aristocrats who would purposely get facial scars during their fencing practices. It was a mark of manhood to have a correctly placed scar about where Zohar's is placed.

Just curious, Zohar. Do you really wish it heals over without a scar? It actually looks cool.

)

-Sergei
p.s. Maybe that is a service we should offer on the decks of the QM this year.

)

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 8:34 pm

I won't be upset if it does scar, but if it doesn't I won't be terribly upset either.

Que sera sera?

Dr._J · Post by **Dr._J** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 8:50 pm

I won't be upset if it does scar, but if it doesn't I won't be terribly upset either.

Yeah, it just gives you that rugged adventurer look!

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 12:49 am

I know if I ever get a scar on my face, I'd want it from a bullwhip. Why you ask?

Some Random Cute Guy: What happened to your face?
ITG: Oh this? (pointing to long facial scar)
Some Random Cute Guy: Yeah that! How'd you get it?
ITG: Well, I was cracking my bullwhip and...
Some Random Cute Guy: (interrupts): Your bullwhip?
ITG: Yeah, my bullwhip. Anyway, ...
Random Person: What were you doing with a whip?
ITG: Cracking it...
Random Person: Why would you want to crack it?
ITG: to break the sound barrier. (giggle). and it's fun.
Random Person: It's fun? But you give yourself scars.
ITG: No, it's just a flesh wound. (feel free to insert a Monty Python joke here)
Random Person: Did it hurt?
ITG: Nah, not really. Stung a little. But fortunately I had on eye protection.
Some Random Cute Guy: Well, maybe you can teach me how to crack a whip sometime over dinner.
ITG (blushing): You got it. By the way, what's your name?
Some Random Cute Guy: Ford, Harrison Ford.

Blue Coyote · Post by **Blue Coyote** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 1:38 am

ITG wouldnt that be sweet. i've got a scar a bit like Fords, in the same place too, only its going the other way, and its way smaller. ha! when i was a kid i thought that was so cool cause i had a scar like Indy's.
i dont even remember how i got it... probably head butted a coffee table when i was learning to walk

I'm still whip shopping, but cant wait to get my own battle scars and be able to tell my own stories.
Zohar, you're one lucky guy too, i bet getting popped in the eye would hurt like hades!!! getting an eyelash in your eye is bad enough... dont even wanna think of a whip lash!

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 3:01 am

Man, if you guys keep this up, I will offer a free clinic on the QM on getting a scar. Michaelson, I am sure (we will supply the guns), will offer to shoot a hole through the left arm of the jacket.

)

-S

Rixter · Post by **Rixter** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 3:37 am

Whew, I don't know much about whip cracking, but I know a little about tattoos. Not to make light of your injury, but I was just thinking a Mike Tyson facial tattoo might cover that up nicely.

Ok, it is a little extreme, a scar would likely look a whole lot better.

BTW: I've had many a cut that looked bad at the time, and a few broken bones, when I was a bit younger and racing dirt bikes, they all healed up well enough. You're probably more likely to get a scar if you had gotten stitches. You can count yourself lucky you did have goggles though.

Indiana Joe · Post by **Indiana Joe** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 6:02 am

Paul_Stenhouse wrote:Don't let it get the best of you, either. Try it again, but as slowly as you can when you feel up to it. In other words, get back on that horse and teach it who's boss.

Ah, wisdom. Sergei determinedly cracked off the reverse horizontal before making the 10 minute hike back to his car and heading off to the E.R. They also do that in baseball if you get hit with a pitch--get right back in the batter's box so the incident doesn't create a fear that will get the best of you.

Zohar, have you gotten back out there and cracked a few?

I.J.

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 7:40 am

Yep. I did just that a few hours after it happened yesterday.

Gotta get back on the horse

sab04 · Post by **sab04** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 12:59 am

I just got back from a week long vacation to St. kitts and I had an accident myself. Me and my dad went on an ATV tour with one of the natives. We drove around the whole island and had a blast. When we started to go back the guide must have thought we were more experienced riders because he veered off the trail to go up a very steep hill with a 8' bank on one side. I started to go up th hill and made it half way when my atv stalled and I started rolling backwards. Before I could react I went over backwards off the 8' bank. I landed on my back with the atv ontop of me. It knocked me out cold and I didn't wake up till I was in the hospitol. I don't remenber much since I got a nasty blow to my head, and a big gash, but I remember looking at my blood coverd hands and not remembering anything that had happened in the past week.
When I fully regained consciousness I was very confused and in an immense amount of pain. I got a huge gash up the side on my cheek, all the skin had been ripped off my left knee, and my back was all shredded up. I aslo bruised muscles in my neck and back so sitting down or turning to look left or right caused great pain. The doctors told me that because of the way the atv landed on me that it was a miracle that I didn't brake my spine or neck. It was a very scary event that I will never forget. I feel much better now almost a week later but I can't get over how lucky I was to escape such more serious injury. I feel much better now that I've told you this story since you're all the 1st people I've told. I really missed this forum the past week. Oh, I did get a cut on my chin so I'm hoping it will turn out to look like indy's

My advice to everyone is to stay away from atv's!

I hope everyone had a better week than I did!
take care
Scott

Rixter · Post by **Rixter** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 2:03 am

I don’t know a single soul that hasn’t had some kind of spill with an ATV or motorcycle that rides one with any frequency, I guess it comes with the territory. Sometimes dealing with the pain isn’t near as bad as the odd feeling of being temporarily confused, or not able to remember anything, or even unable to recognize people for a time. Head and spinal injuries certainly rank up there as the worst. But I would say you need to get back on it AT LEAST one more time after you recuperate. Glad to hear your injuries did not cause anything more permenant.

sab04 · Post by **sab04** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 9:35 am

Oh I will definatly get back on one because I own one.........I just won't go up any steep hills........
-Scott

Indiana Cojones · Post by **Indiana Cojones** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 10:34 am

Apparently ATV's have some of the highest injury rates of any gas-powered vehicle.

I also note that SUVs are some of the most dangerous vehicles to travel on the roads (to occupants and to others). Does anyone else think it's interesting that the more we "mature" as a society, the more we seem to put profits in front of safety (or anything else, for that matter)?