Club Obi Wan

Only recently have I purchased my first bullwhip (thanks Pyroxene!). I really only got it to add to the whole Indy look but now I have it I would be quite interested in learning how to use it properly. any tips on the best beginners book to get or any other beginner videos (or DVd if they exist since I guess it may be hard to get the videos in UK PAL format). Thanks!

Ken

Learn the 4 basic cracks using Alex Green's Whip Cracking Made Easy.

http://www.westernstageprops.com/Cart15.Asp



It really helped me in keeping safe and not hurting myself while learning to crack. Then when you pick a more professional whip like a Joe Strain or David Morgan, you already know all the "safety rules" and all you have to concentrate on is learning how to crack the whip.

The video is in NTSC and PAL format according to their website.

Cheers,
Pyro.

Yep Ken, Pyro is right on. For a beginner this tape gets you cracking the fastest. It shows the 4 basic cracks. It's done in a format where Alex Green first shows how the crack is done is normal motion, then they show each crack in slow motion in several angles. Then the tape shows Alex teaching a student where he walks them through some pointers on why it didn't crack, to making the crack better, etc.

Excellent just the kind of help I was looking for. Well I guess my only problem now is finding a suitable place to practice. Thanks!

Ken

Ken,
I think most UK video players will also play the American format - NTSC - anyway, so if your video is newish, you should be OK.

Are you going to London at end of January?
if so...
Are you planning to bring your whip?
Are you planning to wear your gear?

Hi Indy Pip

Just sent you a private message.

Ken

Ken, parks are nice places to practice, if you don't have a suitable yard at your home to throw the whip. People may look at you funny, but oh well. Go on an adventure to your locale park, search for a nice quite/private place as possible and give her a throw. A word of advice, know your limitations, don't try something you know for sure you can't do yet, it could have painful consiquences!

As Sebastian from the Whip Enthusiasts says (no exact words): When there's one person at a park with a whip, you're looked at strangely but when there's 2, then it's okay, which was a motivation for him to form the Whip Enthusiasts.

True true, I wish I had some fellow whip enthusiasts around here to get together with, perhaps I should search them out!

I am not sure how using your whip in a public park would go down in the UK.

A lot of our parks are fairly small affairs, with a few playground things and a bit of grass.
I think we would be better off at a more remote place, which may make it less convenient and also less often that we can practice.

I worry as to how the police would view it too. Don't forget we Brits do not have the same attitude towards guns etc as you might have in the States.

My garden is just big enough for me to practice - so Ken you'll just have to get a bus down to Liverpool

Lol Indy Pip. Maybe I will take you up on that someday

But what you say is very true. In fact I am not even sure whether it is allowed or it breaches some kind of legislation about having weapons in public (when I come to that part in my law course I'll let you know). Not to mention the rain... However we really should find somewhere. I guess the mountains are always a possibility, just not that handy.

Ken

I asked the sheriff and he said as long as it's no louder than a lawnmower, it's permitted within city limits. You can't fire a gun in city limits though, and I hate to say, a bullwhips sounds much like a 12 gauge shotgun going off...

But anyway, I too purchased Whip Cracking Made easy, and I was cracking that day. I suggest having someone else learn it as well that way you can team up and watch each other's movements and get the kinks worked out. Alex Green is the way to go.

DrJones56 wrote:I asked the sheriff and he said as long as it's no louder than a lawnmower, it's permitted within city limits. You can't fire a gun in city limits though, and I hate to say, a bullwhips sounds much like a 12 gauge shotgun going off...

Hmm...

At least my neighbor can tell whether I'm cracking my 12 footer or shooting my 12 gauge...



Oh, on the record, I live on the countryside and the nearest neighbor lives some 500 yards from me.

Indiana Ken wrote:Not to mention the rain... However we really should find somewhere. I guess the mountains are always a possibility, just not that handy.

Ken,

You could always try a nylon whip for that inclement weather!

I.J.