The 10/10 Challenge

[Jesse Bessette]

No problem. Just thought everybody would benefit from a more concise way of displaying it.

[Robert Gage]

I have found, the thinner the cracker, the sharper the crack.

Jessie, I've found exactly the same!

[Ben Varsek]

Ron, the video of your last day combo practice looks awesome and your first video of the slow figure 8 is looking great too !!!
I've noticed that you sometimes bring the handle to the 3 o'clock position while doing the reverse circus crack.
I'm very impressed that your videos show continuous improvement although you had been "forced" to many "handle only" practice days because of the weather.
I've also had many "handle only" practice days in December but in my case the lack of "real whip practice" feels and looks like a step backwards:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfRgBM0vbwU


I'm also moving the handle to the 3 o'clock position on the reverse circus crack and there are many, many other things I need to work on (on top of that) !!!

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve everyone !!!


All the best
Ben

[Ron May]

I think it's a good job Ben.
I know you haven't been able to practice either much but it's not as negative as you might think. It's much better than my own.
Keep up the good work.

Ron

[Ben Varsek]

Thank you for your motivating words Ron !!!

All the best
Ben

[Jessie Edwards]

Ben! Jesse suggested that we make separate topics for each 10-day challenge. If you look under this topic in the index, you will find the thread about the slow figure 8. That is where we are right now. Ya see it? Pretty cool idea Jesse had, huh?

[Tristan Foy]

Jesse's idea was super!

I know that I would either start or be very active in threads devoted to a number of these cracks, namely the Forward Crack and the Horizontal Crack.

[Tristan Foy]

So, I am quite delayed on my practice, due to break. Yesterday I got in 20 minutes while I play catch up. What day are we supposed to be one? 6 or 7?

Here is my first attempt at the slow figure 8:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCE8UyQKMh0

[Ron May]

Ok it's now to move on to another crack in the 10/10 Challenge.
Jessie, mentioned the "Ciaro" crack.
I'll make a topic for this for tomorrow.

Ron

[Sir Roger Tuson]

Late arrival here.

Here's my Day 1 Circus Crack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6npry-Bc6VE&t=1s

Overall I'm quite happy with it but what do I know....?

[Ron May]

Sir Roger, that's looking very good.

I did notice that when you are bringing the whip down that your arm moves in a slightly diagonal , towards the left, downward movement in stead of straight forward and down.
The whip is handling very nicely. Great job on the build.
You made a good performing whip.

Ron

[Robert Gage]

Well done, Rog - and good that you've joined the Challenge!

I may be wrong, (it's not easy to see exactly) but I suspect that using a little more energy to bring the whip up, and a little less to bring it down again, might make things a bit smoother. (But it's already pretty smooth....)

[Sir Roger Tuson]

Thanks Robert. I can't get out today as I'm down in London all day but I'll be out again tomorrow (weather permitting) for another go.

[Sir Roger Tuson]

Day 2 Circus Crack

I'm still 'throwing' that right shoulder across to the left as I bring the whip back down! Still, nice cracks though!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZvw5oBCPaQ

[Ron May]

Sir Roger, yeah you're right you're moving your whole upper body to the left a little.
I really like the way that whip flies.

Ron

[Robert Gage]

Roger, that's not bad at all....

You might avoid the movement to the left by applying a trick that Robby taught me when I was last in Munich. (I think it was in connection with the forward crack, but it also applies here.) Imagine there's someone standing in front of you, holding an apple in the palm of his hand. You reach out to take hold of the apple - not so much with the whip, but with your own hand. I find this helps keep everything focused on the 'straight ahead'.

[Sir Roger Tuson]

Thanks Robert. I'll give that a go tomorrow.

[Sir Roger Tuson]

OK, here's day 3. I have to say I'm happy with this and would like to move on to the next one if you're all ok with that. :/

https://youtu.be/WkaWhfWVpSk

[Ron May]

Sir Roger, that's a very good improvement.
Yep you're ready to move on.

[Robert Gage]

Rog, that's a whole lot better!

Do move on - but I might just mentioned that Robby told me, some time ago, that his daily routine includes practising all the cracks. Just because you move on, I hope you won't leave the circus crack behind!