Club Obi Wan

Ok im having a big prob with the breakaway crack pattern. Im using a 8 foot ,12 plait, 8"handle , bull whip. . The main problem is the part after you do the fast figure 8, where you lift the whip slightly so the thong comes under the handle .Then you through across you body for the crack . Do any of you whip crackers have any pointers for this crack pattern ?
Cabe

Is this one Adam Winrich does? If it is, then I think when I was learning it, I kept trying to do things with my wrist as I was moving the whip across my body that didn't need to happen. I think you're supposed to do nothing with your wrist after the fast figure 8, and actually just keep it stiff. Do you do it that way?

Shane

Ya its one the Adam winrich does.
So dont move your wrist? I think one of the problems Is getting the thong under my handle to make the loop for a crack. I cant seem to get the loop made befor I crack. And do you keep you hand close to you body ?

I keep it far away from my body! But not so far that I'm stretching. Hmmm... At least, that's how it worked when I did it!

Shane

Alright , Ill give it a go . Thanks for the help

Without seeing what you're doing, I can't say a whole lot to help you, but I'll give it a shot.

First, I would mention that IMHO the breakaway is easier with a 6 ft stockwhip than with an Indy-style bullwhip. With a stockwhip you can use more wrist and less arm, and the whole movement will be less awkward. Also, since the stockwhip has a longer handle and tends to be lighter than bullwhips, they work better for routines where the whip changes direction quickly, such as in the volley, or in this case, the breakaway.

With the plug for a decidedly non-Indy whip out of the way, the lift comes right after the crack in back. After this crack, which is basically like the second crack in the fast-figure 8, the whip is heading down into the ground. The idea is to lift the handle so the whip misses the ground and swings down underneath itself, forming a hair-pin shape. Once you can form this hair-pin shape with the lift, pull the whip across your body for the crack.

If you're having trouble visualizing the hair-pin, look for it in my YouTube video on the breakaway and pause the video after the 2nd crack.

Since you have a bullwhip, you'll have to use more arm than I do in my video since I used a stockwhip. You'll also have to lift the whip higher.

-Adam

PS: The figure-8 crack is a dangerous crack, but the figure-7 crack can be deadly. Why? Because 7 ate 9

winrichwhips wrote: PS: The figure-8 crack is a dangerous crack, but the figure-7 crack can be deadly. Why? Because 7 ate 9

Well I am able to do the crack better , But im still a little sloppy . Is the last crack suppose to crack almost by your ear. It tends more to crack besid me than in frount of me when i bring my arm across my body

Cabe