Club Obi Wan

Haven't had time to crack my bullwhip since Texas, so this weekend I got her out and away we went. Crack, crack, crack... And finally decided to try Sebastian's underhand crack. Well, I finally got it to work. I know it's not that easy with a ten footer, but she'll do it. It's not as loud as the other cracks, but it's fun! Now I just have to keep practicing it....
Thanks Sebastian!

Great! That's a fun crack. Now do it with the other hand. I ready to learn some new cracks. Sounds like a trip to FW is in order soon.

Pyroxene wrote:Great! That's a fun crack. Now do it with the other hand. I ready to learn some new cracks. Sounds like a trip to FW is in order soon.

You thinking of coming to the Whip Enthusiast group? Let me know. I think the next one is in 2 weeks (not 100% sure though). If my sprained thumb is healed up by then, I am wanting to make it out there.

Minnesota_Jones wrote:Haven't had time to crack my bullwhip since Texas, so this weekend I got her out and away we went. Crack, crack, crack... And finally decided to try Sebastian's underhand crack. Well, I finally got it to work. I know it's not that easy with a ten footer, but she'll do it. It's not as loud as the other cracks, but it's fun! Now I just have to keep practicing it....
Thanks Sebastian!

Actually Minnesota,
The under hand crack is easier with a 10 footer, I think because of the length, the whip actually cracks itself. I tried really hard to learn it because I wanted to get the Raiders Market cracking routine down, and I could not get it for a while with an 8 footer but then I tried once with a 10 footer and bang it worked.

Once you get the hang of it you gonna be like " What is all the fuss about this crack"
Good luck,
High regards,
Stefan

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:You thinking of coming to the Whip Enthusiast group? Let me know.

I will give you a heads up. I have scheduled fun activities for September because October is going to be all work.

Stefan Hills wrote:Once you get the hang of it you gonna be like "What is all the fuss about this crack"

I know what you mean. I was doing it some more last night (have to practice up for our Minnesota/Wisconsin mini summit this weekend...) and the more I did it, the easier it was. I don't even have to "force it" it just pops itself. Really a fun one. I've also been doing a horizontal (my favorite) by having the whip behind me on the right, swing it slowly up in front and up my left side and crack it right over top of me in front (12:00, not 2:00), without the swinging it overhead a couple of times first. It's sort of a "quick release" horizontal I suppose you could call it. I was doing it a bit at the Texas Summit, but I've mastered it lately. It's as loud as a regular horizontal, but without all the work beforehand, and fun too.

Minnesota_Jones wrote:

Stefan Hills wrote:Once you get the hang of it you gonna be like "What is all the fuss about this crack"

I know what you mean. I was doing it some more last night (have to practice up for our Minnesota/Wisconsin mini summit this weekend...) and the more I did it, the easier it was. I don't even have to "force it" it just pops itself. Really a fun one. I've also been doing a horizontal (my favorite) by having the whip behind me on the right, swing it slowly up in front and up my left side and crack it right over top of me in front (12:00, not 2:00), without the swinging it overhead a couple of times first. It's sort of a "quick release" horizontal I suppose you could call it. I was doing it a bit at the Texas Summit, but I've mastered it lately. It's as loud as a regular horizontal, but without all the work beforehand, and fun too.

Congrats, MJ on picking up the "S" crack. Especially on the 10 footer. In my opinion, it was easier to learn on the shorter whips. When I was first trying to learn this crack I did try on a 10 footer. I gave up and switched to the 6 footer to where it cracked with no problem. But from there I worked my self up to the 10's. And you are right, once you get it going, you say, what's the big deal.

Oh, on the horizontal's, it is neat to do them without the 2 revolutions. Try this, do the reverse horizontal first and then that sets you up for the horizontal. So there aren't any revolutions at all, it's a quick flash right in front with the reverse horizontal and then come right across with the horizontal.

Good luck....
-S

Sergei wrote:Oh, on the horizontal's, it is neat to do them without the 2 revolutions. Try this, do the reverse horizontal first and then that sets you up for the horizontal. So there aren't any revolutions at all, it's a quick flash right in front with the reverse horizontal and then come right across with the horizontal.

Good luck....
-S

Yup. That's one I've been doing for awhile, a "reverse" followed immediately with a horizontal. I've even done a forward/then reverse horizontal/horizontal for 3 cracks at once. Now I'm also trying a circus crack with a horizontal right after, similar to the reverse/horizontal but you start with the whip behind, instead of in front. Heck, they're all fun!

MJ

I know its a long dead post but I am interested if you are still reading this. I watched Pyro's Texas summit video - is it the crack where you kind of twist your arm at the elbow and the whip very very quickly cracks just by pushing itself out of the way?

I have tried this crack and had it crack a few times... is there a good technique or any pointers to doing this?

Cheers

Ken

Sergei wrote: Congrats, MJ on picking up the "S" crack. Especially on the 10 footer. In my opinion, it was easier to learn on the shorter whips. When I was first trying to learn this crack I did try on a 10 footer. I gave up and switched to the 6 footer to where it cracked with no problem. But from there I worked my self up to the 10's. And you are right, once you get it going, you say, what's the big deal.

Oh, on the horizontal's, it is neat to do them without the 2 revolutions. Try this, do the reverse horizontal first and then that sets you up for the horizontal. So there aren't any revolutions at all, it's a quick flash right in front with the reverse horizontal and then come right across with the horizontal.

Good luck....
-S

That is the crack I was attempting when this happened.


So far, I have been able to successfully do it only once. I think it takes having a very well broken in whip. My new Strain seems to be too stiff to do it yet.

zohar wrote:

OWWWWWWW....

On another note...I just cannot seem to get how to do the reverse horizontal. I'm also having problems with the forward--is is harder to do that one with a shorter whip? I would think it wouldn't be...There are many hours of practice with those 2 in my future. My circus crack is decent at this point, and I can do a killer horizontal (that's my favorite one to do while I'm on campus, since it's soooo loud!) I had a horrible time with that one at first, but one day, it just clicked, and I'm sure that's how it'll be for the others...I just need to figure out how first! I did get my Stenhouse DVD, but have been unable to watch it--it doesn't work on either of our DVD players (old pieces of junk.) So I sent it back to exchange it for a video. I really can't wait--I think that'll help me a lot.
Regards--Maryon

Indiana Ken wrote:MJ

I know its a long dead post but I am interested if you are still reading this. I watched Pyro's Texas summit video - is it the crack where you kind of twist your arm at the elbow and the whip very very quickly cracks just by pushing itself out of the way?

I have tried this crack and had it crack a few times... is there a good technique or any pointers to doing this?

Cheers

Ken

I can't remember the name of that crack, still have a hard time with it. I know ITG and Rob-DFW have mastered that one... The underhand is where it's on the ground behind you, and you bring it forward "underhand" style, stop, and the whip basically cracks itself in front of you. Kinda an upside down forward throw....

Wow Zohar: it really points out the fact that there are real risks involved in developing whip skills! Did you scar from the incident. If so, at least its got that look of something that came from a sabre or foil accident. Hope not though!
It also makes me more safety conscious as we are hoping to some whip cracking at our Toronto summit. It will be very interesting to see how Indy gator handles the whips he's bringing. It will also be interesting to see how the local constabulary reacts to a short display in the park.

Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout
Formerly known as Rob Kilgour

Nope, no scar. I eat a LOT of protein, so I heal up really quickly.

You can see where my goggles stopped the cracker from hitting my eye. If you do a search for "dangerous" here in the bullwhip forum, you'll see my post detailing how it happened.

We can see how I handle a whip too, rob (If i don't take your eyes out )

I just got mine from LontreeTack today

Minnesota_Jones wrote:
I can't remember the name of that crack, still have a hard time with it. I know ITG and Rob-DFW have mastered that one...

I'm not that great with the names of the cracks, but I think it's the overhead. I call it the helicopter (but I made that one up). Sergei told me at about the 2:00 on a watch is where you change the direction of the whip. If you're right handed, the whip first goes counter clockwise over your head a few turns and then at the 2:00 position on a watch you totally change the direction to go clockwise for the crack.

If that's the one that goes around your head, then that's actually the first one I learned. I tried the Circus crack (?) but I've lost the technique. I'll have to work on that one.

zohar wrote:Nope, no scar. I eat a LOT of protein, so I heal up really quickly.

You can see where my goggles stopped the cracker from hitting my eye. If you do a search for "dangerous" here in the bullwhip forum, you'll see my post detailing how it happened.

Yessir, those whips will "kiss" you at times when you least expect it. I've knocked cigarettes from my lips, unintentionally but it really surprises you.

Peter Jack told of a fella in New Zealand who having just done a "coachman's crack" grabbed the side of his head. Someone in the group told him he was bleeding, and when he took away his hand, it was discovered that he had taken the top half of his ear off. Then to make matters worse, they couldn't find the missing piece. Peter said he wears a prosthetic piece for an ear now. The first coachman's that I did actually went off close enough that I could feel the puff of air against my ear when the cracker went off! That was the end of that whip session. I was nervous enough that I couldn't swing the whip in any direction.

Wide brimmed hats and eye protection are the order of the day when cracking whips and especially when learning new cracks that involve changing planes and directions.

Keep it safe and keep it fun.

Jerry R

I think this thread has convinced me once and for all that I need to get goggles--my sunglasses just aren't going to cut it. Or maybe I should just get out one of our airsoft masks. That'd do the trick nicely (but it gets so hot in those things...)
Regards--Maryon

Minnesota_Jones wrote:I've also been doing a horizontal (my favorite) by having the whip behind me on the right, swing it slowly up in front and up my left side and crack it right over top of me in front (12:00, not 2:00), without the swinging it overhead a couple of times first. It's sort of a "quick release" horizontal I suppose you could call it. I was doing it a bit at the Texas Summit, but I've mastered it lately. It's as loud as a regular horizontal, but without all the work beforehand, and fun too.

Minnesota:

I've been playing with a similar "quick release" horizontal, bringing the whip handle down behind me on the right, exchanging the whip to my left hand, then doing a "quick release" horizontal with the left hand. It's a great workout (leaves your shoulders just singing after a while ), and just looks downright cool! Of course, you've probably been doing this for longer than Renderking has had the best fedora he's ever owned in over 20 years!

Regards,

Henry Jones, Sr.

P.S.: Zohar:

OUCH! That is not a good way to get your screen accurate scar (on the chin or anywhere else!)... .

HJS