Club Obi Wan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNKPIOelTgA

For those of you who have gotten past the three basic cracks, you can have a look at this video and see some other ways to crack a whip.

I think the last crack, called the Singleton Special, is the only one I haven't seen on any of the popular instructional tapes out there.

Let me know which crack is your favorite!

-Adam

Awesome. I'm the first person. I'm gonna post 5 stars and ask a question no doubt.

WOW ADAM !! Its FUN to watch you crack your whips ... you make your cracks look so effortless and fluid ...... How many HOURS/YEARS have you been practicing to reach your skill level ..?? You are a natural performer to, so it is a pleasure to watch and learn from your vid's ..... I like the volleys .. the last two were awesome but i'll have to slow down the video to see for sure how you did them .....watching your vid's is really encouraging for us fairly new crackers ( 6 months ) .........THANX for sharing .... Davey

I'm glad you guys like the video! Anybody like the snowy hill in the background?

I already have a request to explain the Singleton Special, so I'll work on that video tomorrow.

Davey,

I've been messing around with whips since I was 9, and I'm 26 now. Since I graduated college in 2004 I've been doing a lot more cracking, sometimes 2 hours a day, I try to shoot for at least an hour a day. It wouldn't take that much time or training to learn the one-handed cracks, but doing two-handed whipcracking is a lot more demanding, and that's what I spend most of my time on.

-Adam

Adam, that was amazing. Thanks for posting it. I love to watch you crack your whips.

I want to see that Tazmanian cutback, please!! That's frickin awesome!!! Brilliant... You've inspired me to try dangerous things with my bullwhip. Also, the coachman's crack is helpful to see being done. I had been doing it before, but off of reading about it in the New Bullwhip Book. It's good to see it - but it's still scary for me to do it. I'm a little afraid of losing my ear.

Shane

Adam,

Great stuff, as always....And I like that whip you're using ....Keep up the good work, man....

Highest Regards,
- Chris

Hey Chris,

Yeah, I like that whip too, wish I could get more of them.

Are you going to be at Gordie Peer's roper's gathering in February? I decided to come on down to Florida for it this year.

-Adam

Adam, what is the whip you are using? I mean, who made it and details etc? Close up pics? Link to the makers website? Looks like 1 of the nicer cow whips I've ever seen.

Hey Adam,

Well, if you're lookin' for more whips of the sort, I know a guy who's always ready and willing to make 'em....And this particular individual has just gone full-time as a whip maker, so he's lookin' for business....

Yep, I'll be down there at Gordie's....Glad to hear you decided to come down for the event - I look forward to seein' you there, man....

Highest Regards,
- Chris

I just posted a couple videos explaining the Singleton Special and the Tasmanian cutback. No links just yet, but if anyone interested goes to my YouTube profile/channel, they should be able to find them.

WhipDude,

Indiana_Hall has all the details on the whip, so I'd recommend that you send him a PM.

-Adam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBJosI1OdFs

Above should be the link for the Tasmanian Cutback video. The whip I'm using has a 19" handle, and this trick is a little harder to do with a bullwhip, but not impossible. With a 10 ft Morgan this trick would be really hard.

-Adam

Excellent - thanks for posting those. I'll check 'em out later when I get home. Can you do the singleton special with a bullwhip or do you need the longer stockwhip style handle for that one as well?

Thanks again for posting those. Excellent!

Shane

With the singleton special, I find that the longer handle puts the rest of the whip closer to your feet, making it easier to jump over. So, you can do the Singleton Special with a bullwhip (I've done it) but you have to jump higher to the whip clears your feet.

-Adam

Very interesting. I've seen other stuff from you on You-tube, do you have a "How to" whip cracking video to purchase?

Jimdiana,

Sorry, but I don't have a video for purchase. I might try to make a 'how-to' DVD this summer, but right now I'm just making videos for YouTube.

-Adam

Is it too much to ask for a Snake Killer vid?

I just went outside and learned the Tas. Cutback (awesome! Thanks again!! Works fine with my 8'er) and I'm working on the Singleton now.

Shane

Alright - I'm back... that was a thing of beauty. And watching your video I've also just perfected the fast figure 8. Thank you!!

Shane

Thanks for the video. It being in slower motion is what helped me out the most. Sometimes video quality is to low to really see the exact direction of the whip especially with a trick like that and sometimes the cracker is going to fast to watch unless it being high quality ( whipcracker going TOO fast...is that possible?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mK-OaZoLNU

Okay, just for you Shane, above is a video explaining the snake killer! I did two videos, one of the snake killer and one of the coachman's crack, and I used an IOAB bullwhip for both vids.

-Adam
www.winrichwhips.com

Looking good!

Alright. After watching your videos, I tested out the Coachman's Crack on my pocket whip (I was indoors). I was able to get a little snap out of it. So I went outside and tried out the 8 footer. Wow, that's loud!!

My question is... what is the point of this crack?! Why would anyone want to crack the whip right by their shoulder? I love the sound of it, but why were coachmen cracking it this way?

The whips that coachmen were using were more like lunge whips than bullwhips, and I think it was easier to do the coachman's crack with that type of whip. Also, the coachman was sitting on top of the coach, so the cracks he could do were probably limited due to his surroundings (the coach, horses, etc.).

Also, when I spent time with Chris Barr, Chris told me that one of the first whip cracks that really impressed him was the coachman's crack because the stockman he saw doing it could do it with minimal effort and yet create a deafening crack. Chris showed me this version of the coachman's crack, and it is really loud.

The main difference with the variation is that the whip cracks above the head instead of by the shoulder.

I've also seen a whipcracker use the coachman's crack to cut pasta from his own hand, using the crack of the whip.

There's also no use to the Tasmanian Cutback or the Singleton special (who would ever need to crack a whip under his feet or behind his back?!?) but some people still want to learn those cracks. It's part of the art of whipcracking: finding the different ways to crack a whip.

-Adam

Don't get me wrong. I love the crack. It's easy to pull, and really loud. Seems to be more for show than function.

Which I have absolutely no problem with.

In terms of function, if we go with the idea that all a 'cracking' whip was ever made to do was make noise, then if you make noise with it you are doing something functional.

I'd say almost all the whip tricks I practice have no function, just entertainment value. Also, as a weapon I think a whip is more effective as a noisemaker to distract or intimidate than to actually land blows/hits. You could use the coachman's crack to change your rhythm of cracks to keep the oponent guessing as to when the next crack will be coming.

-Adam

I was gonna say, has the whip ever really had a purpose other then noise?

I figured I'd say it again, Indiana_Hall doesn't have any pics to show of his work or your whip. Would you mind posting a pic of your whip, Adam?

The reason I asked is that the name sounds like there was some actual function, rather than a demonstration (eg. Tasmanian Cutback). I was wondering why a coachman, presumably sitting 10' above ground would need such a confining crack. But you answered me perfectly, regarding the horses and coach as obstacles.

I shall practice this crack along with all the others I know. I really enjoy how easy it is to crack this one. Thank you for introducing me to this new method. I look forward to seeing more unique cracking methods!!

Adam, those were great. Thanks for taking the time to make and post them.
Jim

Hey! I just made a video today, and I used your "Tasmanian cutback" in it. I gave you credit for it in the description.

Here's my video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aYlUyPdqlI

I was a little nervous to be talking to the camera, but oh well...

Shane

Shane,
You have really advanced since the last time I saw you. Good work.

Adam,
Your contributions to youtube are to be commended. I wish I had a resource like that when I first started. All I had were written descriptions of the basic cracks. Technology marches on.....

Thanks for the good words, Sergei.

I just posted a video giving a quick explanation of the volley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1UbT2Lhj20

In the video I'm using the bullwhip I used to set a Guinness record for the most bullwhip cracks in one minute (253).

-Adam

Awesome! Thanks!! * * * * *

Shane

Hey Shane, if the backgrounds of my videos are cool, that's because it's 15 degrees outside!

I chose the snowy hillside as a background so the whip would show up easily. There's plenty of trees where I live, but if I use them for a background the whip seems to get lost.

Since you're using an 8 footer, your volleys will be slower than what I did.

-Adam

Yeah... I figured that out... Do you have an 8' bullwhip you can do it with? I'm having difficulty keeping the whip straight and from not hitting me in the head or torso.

Shane

Shane,

I do have a couple 8 ft bullwhips that will do the volley. With your whip, start slow at first, allow the whip to flow out both forward and backward, and pay attention to the motion of the whip and where it's going. As you get used to the motion, move your arm faster.

You'll find that you'll use more arm motion than I did in the video.

-Adam

Once again, great video and thanks for taking the time to do it.
Jim

Adam,My name is jake and I have a question that is off subject.I am about to turn 15 and I have 6ft. 12 plait Caicedo whip which is great but I am trying to find a 10 footer that doesn't cost that much. I was wandering if you could help. I know for sure that I am getting close to if not $200 for my birthday andif you could help me out that would really be nice.
Thanks,
Jake

sallah4 wrote:Adam,My name is jake and I have a question that is off subject.I am about to turn 15 and I have 6ft. 12 plait Caicedo whip which is great but I am trying to find a 10 footer that doesn't cost that much. I was wandering if you could help. I know for sure that I am getting close to if not $200 for my birthday and you could help out that would really nice.
Thanks,
Jake

Jake, try sending Adam a PM (since he might miss this thread). I think I saw him post that he's trying to get a new camera, so me might be coming out of retirement on the IOAB whips for a bit.

Good luck.

Hi Jake,

He has a 9 foot available for sale for $160 here:

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=41144

Regards,

Paul Nolan
www.midwestwhips.com

Dear Adam,
I just wish to offer my sincere thanks for the help you provide through your vids.
I'm about to become a bullwhip owner for the first time and your instruction is proving extremely useful.
Although you make the Coachman's Crack look so easy, I'm darned sure it must be one of the most difficult.
I'd say it was my favorite and I'd swear, from your vid, that it's the loudest?
Good luck for the future,
JTW.