Review of Whip Basics - A Beginners Guide - Vol. I-III

[Marc]

Hi gang,

yesterday I – as the first one – received the completely re-shot Whip Basics – A Beginners Guide – DVDs from Robby. Even before starting watching, you'll see with how much love for detail everything is put together. Starting with the professionally designed cover, via the classic design of the single DVDs. Those of you who enjoy a good briar pipe from time to time will know this feeling, when looking forward to opening up a newly purchased can of pipe tobacco.

Since I already own the former versions of Vol. I and II, I wanted to check out what’s new immediately so I flipped the first DVD into my notebook and started watching. If you expect this to be some kind of “Director’s Cut” of the previous DVDs you’ll be surprised to read, that the ENTIRE material was re-shot and that the does and don’ts are explained to even great detail than before. Since I never really got to train my skills based on the former DVDs (too wet outside and too much other stuff), I consider myself a perfect “victem” for Robby’s training DVDs. I currently own three whips, however I hardly ever got to train with them (excepts from the summits). So, yesterday I took two hours off for myself and while Robby explained what to do and what not to on the notebook, I tried myself in the yard with my 8’ Latigo Bullwhip from Skip. Circuscrack was easyly done, since that’s the only crack I could do already. Followed by the underhand crack, the horizontal crack etc. etc. etc. and thanks to the detailed explanaitions, it hardly took any longer than 15-20min. to get a deep “fopp” from the cracker. Then, a few problems with the forward crack, a quick call to Robby “I constantly get my legs in the way of the forward crack”, on which he replied with “ahhh… you put the whip at half past six behind you, try with what FEELS like five o’ clock instead.” Ok, problem known, problem solved.

After another hour, I stood in the yard with a HUGE grin on my face, doing the first routines of four cracks. *crack*, *crack*, *crack*, *crack* and from the start again. Great fun and SO much cooler the my previous attemps that looked as if I was trying to rip out my own arm.

After this, I had a quick look into Vol. II (fast forward), ‘cause since I had “mastered” Vol. I so well, I wanted to quickly learn a few routines, so I could make a good show off on the upcomming summit in Cologne. BUT!!! It didn’t work out that way. And to be honest, Robby had STRICTLY adviced against doing so, but of course I knew better.

As I said: flipped Vol. II into the notebook, watched it fast forward, closed down the notebook and went outside. A few times I went through the routine from Vol. I – warming up so to say – and then I quickly wanted to finish off what I had seen on Vol. II. The extremely painfull 8” long read mark on my right underarm tought me better. Whoever believes that they can learn to crack a whip by watching a few movieflicks, is quickly proven wrong the hard way. However, if you’re willing to listen an watch for a few minutes, then you quickly gain some new and faszinating skills. To those I can only recommend this collection VERY highly. Just don’t do the same error that I did but follow through the single steps and you’ll soon be able to make some cool looking cracks.

That’s why Vol. III will stay out of the DVD player before I’m done with Vol. II.

Hats off Robby.

Regards,

Marc

[IndyWhips]

The new Whip Basics DVD’S.....mmmmmmmmm what can I say...................................

Posty came walking up the path to the workshop at around quarter to twelve today, lazy boy our posty, bloody good job I wasn’t waiting for a cheque is all I can say....that was excuse enough for me to take an early dinner break and have a flit through, having spoken to Robby numerous times and having got to know him well I was very intrigued to see what he’d come up with now he has full control.........

Before I start I should make the point that if you already own Vol I and Vol II then don’t worry Vol III will slip into your collection nice and easy almost unnoticed that said in the new versions there are some improvements....

PRESENTATION

I have the Vol.I-III box set, the cover has one of my whips on (along with a Skip Whip & a Simon Martin) so I guess I was predestined to love it, but putting that aside the photography and printing is crisp and sharp really professional the colouring matches the website as do the logo’s and font styles so it feels comfortable even before you play one......inside there are 3 DVD’s with a moving insert that holds Vol II so kind of like turning the page of a book, I’m a lowly small brained whipmaker so this amused me greatly......

CONTENT

Like I said above don’t worry if your just buying Vol III to finish your collection this will slot in just fine and there is no need at all to re-buy Vol I & II the teaching style is just the same and just as easy, Robby using a wide variety of whips walks you through the cracks and combinations with that same slow precise way, telling you the do’s as well as the do not’s and pointing out what you may be doing if you’re not getting the crack, it’s all and everything we’ve come to expect from the man so therefore excellent!

A few things have changed though, Robby as we now know has full control and some of the little bits he’s added are all to the good I think, I won’t spoil it for you by giving it all away but the roaring lion and applause and the clock are two things in particular that made me smile.......a little music has been added as well as some lovely fade in fade out country scenes that depict the introduction of each crack, oh yes and a ginger cat too.......

It’s no big secret I’m a total technophobe so I may be wrong but the picture quality seems to be another step up the ladder, the way the menu system works seems more easy to navigate, and the effects that have been added are crisp and professional......

So in conclusion this set really is all you’ll ever need, I don’t doubt you could give a total novice this set and a whip and given a little time he’d be a quite proficient whip cracker, I may even be tempted to brush up my lack of skills myself.......a thoroughly professional, clean, crisp, easy to understand and well presented set that anyone would be proud to own, well done The Robby..................

[Skip]

Whip Basics I, II, III

I just received my copies of the new whip basics DVD’s last night, and I must say that I’m impressed with the quality of the production and the teaching method.

I have the “classic version” of Vol I & II and I really liked them. The first thing I did when I received the DVD’s was to put Vol III in the player. Vol.III concentrates on wraps and a long 23-crack routine. The long routine is constructed form the cracks and routines contained in the first two volumes, and fits right in with the Classic Version. If you have the fist two already all you need is the 3rd.

The re-shoot of the first two volumes was necessary for copyright reasons and I understand that. But Robert went all out on these… The production and quality is spectacular. I thought the first two were of high quality but now that I’ve seen the new versions I must say that Robert having creative control really made the difference. They really must be seen.

The teaching is clear, and the added graphic clock face makes them that much more so. Roberts’s personality comes out brilliantly and his humor makes the viewing very entertaining. I really do recommend these DVD’s to any beginner or advanced whip cracker. Robert Amper has succeeded in bringing the sport of whip cracking to the average man, and shows that this is a sport and a skill that’s not beyond the abilities of any man woman or child.

Now some of you may say that I posted this review because of my close association with Whip basics and Robert himself. I do consider Robert Amper my friend. That said, those of you that know me know I could never do this if I didn’t really believe it.


skip

www.handmadewhips.com

[IndyWhips]

From David Stokes of CuttingEdge Forum....

I was very lucky enough to meet Robby through Indygear.com/COW a while back before he got FAMOUS!
Robby started out with a very PURE purpose in heart, and that was to TEACH and educate people around the fun of whip cracking.
Robby was kind enough to send me his original Volume I and then later Volume II, which i reviewed. but now he has gone back and refilmed these earlier volumes in, what I think, is a much better format and style.
I recently recieved the whole set of Volumes I- III and had a chance to sit down and watch them, As always his instruction is precise and clear, often adding humor when possilble.

Volume III picks up and builds on the previous volumes and introduces several types of wrapping techniques.
In Volume II he worked on target cutting which is a bit more "violent" only in that you are STRIKING a target, whereas wrapping is more about finese and NOT hurting your target.

He is joined in this volume by an assistant who he performs the wraps on.

Also, he works on variations of techniques taught earlier such as taking a slow figure 8 and making it an over head.

All in all, it is basically what I have come to expect from Robby; quality groundbreaking work. Videos of this caliber just simply have NOT existed, so what he is doing is a HUGE thing for beginners. I guess newbies just dont know how lucky they are!

again thank you Robby for allowing me to review this, and if anyone has any direct questions, please ask!

[The Intercept]

I think these reviews are being way generous. I got one of these video 3 sets when they came out, an honestly I found them a waist of time in money. I’ve only been cracking whips a couple years (probably about the same length as the teacher) and even though I am no whip expert these movies where confusing to me. The teacher didn’t make much sense with his explanations in their are way way to many close ups of his face n upper body, You can’t see his arms or the whip in action and how its supposed too crack. That was frustrating. Then he would say stuff like there is “NO Problem” and no right or wrong way to do this, but then go on about how this or that was absolutely wrong even though it was the same stuff that other pro whip folks do and say are ok. Very confusing stuff.

Also there where some scenes that where just strange and totally out of place, like with him splashing his bare feet in a stream while discussing his "enlightened" philosophy of whip cracking and the clips with the kitty cats, whoa way out there. Maybe the original 2 where better but these new ones, not very good.

Maybe If you never seen anybody else’s training videos or anyone else crack a whip you might think that he is a great teacher and these are the best video DVD s out there with the most innovative an efficient system of learning but man I found them seriously lacking. There are ALOT better videos on Youtube for free. Besides If your going to spend money on training DVDs go with a pro who knows how to crack and explain it like going with Anthony Delongis, Alex Greene, Simon Martin Mike Murph’s or Adam “Cracks” DVDs you will learn more and understand them better.

Peace.

T~I