The 10/10 Challenge

[Ron May]

I just got through with my 10/10 practice and my focus this afternoon was to physically keep my elbows glued to my side. It does help show the plane the thong is supposed to be in. It's quite awkward but it demonstrates a good point.

No, it will not be the final execution of the circus crack but it will keep me mindful of keeping it on plane with the thong and having it as a drill is a good thing.

Ron

[Robert Gage]

Ron, I'm more and more convinced that the (relaxed) control of the elbow is the key to doing all sorts of things. Well done!

[Ben Varsek]

Thank you very much for your advise Mr. Partin !!!

If one of my neighbors has been watching my "indoor stickparctice" through the window than he or she must have been thinking:" that guy must be insane and why is he smiling while swining his stick since yesteday"

Congratulations on your progress Ron !!!


All the best
Ben

[Ron May]

Ben, that "cracks" me up.
That would be something to wonder about.
My neighbors all ready think I'm a little nuts.

Don't for get y'all , tomorrow is video day to show how much you have progressed from the first video. I think we all are going to be surprised at the progress we are making.

Ron

[Ben Varsek]

I won't forget todays video day Ron !!!

Since I've joined the 10/10 challenge later than you and Jessie I have decided to do the following:
I will move on to the next crack just like Jessie and you in 2 days but I will also keep on practicing the circus crack for more than 2 days to complete the 10 days of practice ("overlaping practice").

All the best
Ben

[Ron May]

Ben that's an excellent idea to overlap the two cracks practices.
I'm not sure what Jessie has in mind for the second crack but I think it's the underhand crack.
She's following the instruction videos that Robby made .
Starting with volume one.
I don't have the videos but I think the second crack is the under hand crack.

Ron

[Guest]

Ron, that's right. The second crack is underhand.

[Ron May]

Thank you Alexander.

Ron

[Ben Varsek]

Hi !

Here is my video of todays practice.
It's the first practice with a whip insted of a stick since I've caught the cold and I'm not satisfied with the result.
While practicing with the stick I've keept in mind to avoid following through for to long after the crack ever since Roger Tuson's advice but I've noticed that I'm doing the same mistake (despite my stick practice) in terms of following through to long - its so hard for me to get rid of those bad habbits !!!
Well, at least I'm smilling a bit but watching the video of todays parctice has shown me that I need to practice the circus crack a lot more to get it done properly !!!

http://vid1098.photobucket.com/albums/g ... jwmgnm.mp4

All the best
Ben

[Ron May]

Ben there's definitely improvement.
I not so sure that a long follow through is such a bad thing.
It positions the whip for the next throw or combination of throws.
I also think it looks better in stead of just stopping the arm at 6:00.

For anyone who has Robby's videos what does he say about it.

Ron

[Ron May]

Here's my practice video of the "final day" for the circus crack.
I had just finished mowing the yard and decided to go ahead and practice before I took a shower.
And yes I do change clothes every day, but when I have something like work or something sweaty to do I raid the dirty clothes basket.... they are all ready dirty so it saves on laundry. Right?

There is definite improvement I think but it also shows me that I need to do a whole lot more.

I am still taking it back beyond 12:00 with the handle end but I will get it right sooner or later with a lot more practice and concentration.
I was grinning but I'm not sure you can actually see it in the video.

I too, like Ben, will keep doing this crack along with the next crack for the practice challenge. ( underhand crack?)

*hint to self, rest after mowing the yard before doing the practice and then the video*

https://youtu.be/RR69HrnPt5Y

Ron

[Ron May]

Ben, have you looked at the first video and compared it to the last one?
I can see you have improved especially your right side. It's more relaxed and natural looking.

For me the changes are there even though they are minimal .

Ron

[Ben Varsek]

Thank's Ron !!!

About your question on Robby's videos:
Robby does say that the movement of the arm should stop at 6 o'clock.

Your advise about smiling while cracking has helped me a lot to relax a bit more (I'm camrea shy) and I've used a simple technique to create that smile on my face: thinking about a situation that made me smile in the past.

The situation that I was thinking of while doning todays parctice dates back to 2010. Back then I used to work as a kindergarden teacher and one of the girls of the group that I was in charge of just had experienced that her mother gave birth to her sister.
She therfore asked every female kindergarden teacher who had just a little belly if they are expecting to give birth to a child several times.

Here is a "protocol" of one of these situations:

Little girl: "are you having a baby ?"
Kindergarden teacher: No, thats just my normal stomach".
Litte girl: "are you shure you're not having a baby ?"
Kindergadern teacher: "yes, I'm absolutley shure I'm not having a baby"

The little girl turned her head to the side and you could see how intensively she was thinking - then she turned her head back to the kindergarden teacher since she had finaly thought of the solution - and then she asked the kindergarden teacher with a huge smile on her face: " are you having a cat ?"

We both had to struggle a lot to avoid laughing in front of that little girl but we've both manged to do so and told that little girl that humans are not able to give birth to cats

Now back to the topic - your laest video shows some great improovement Ron !!!
You are keeping your elbows close to your body and you don't take the handle of the whip at
9 o'clock anymore - both in a very relaxed way - my compliments to your progess !!!

I have looked at my first video and compared it to the last one - I also think that I've improoved a bit on my right hand which encourages me to keep on practicing on a regular basis !!!

All the best
Ben

[Ron May]

My conclusion so far is that this challenge works.

Jessie, thank you.

Your story about the little girl was priceless. It made me laugh and I can just imagine the whole scene.

Ron

[Roy Partin]

Ron that is some very relaxed and graceful cracking. Congrats on your big improvement.

[Ron May]

Thanks Roy. I still have a long way to go.
Ben's right side practice has really improved a lot.
He's left handed and using the off hand is a huge challenge for me too.
Jessie had a really good idea starting this thread.

Ron

[Ron May]

It might be too late to start the second crack of the 10/10 practice challenge today, but we can all start tomorrow with the underhand crack so we can all be on the same page..... Yes or No ?

Or should we wait for Jessie to be able to join once her catching up is completed?

Ron

[Ben Varsek]

Thank you very much Ron !!!

Also thank you very much Jessie !!!
This challenge is an awesome project and it helps me to improve on my whipckracking which I have neglected to often in the past !!!

All the best
Ben

[Jessie Edwards]

It's time to start the next crack. Start the underhand flick now guys. I'm watching, just busy. Don't wait for me. I will get here when I can get here. Right now, I am worried about this overpriced career path I need to finish now that I started. I have a tutoring session tonight and through the weekend so let's see if you can move onto the underhand flick on your own. Thanks Ron, for all your help. You really are a sweetie and helping out a whole bunch with this. I am not forgetting all the help you have given me this week.

[Ron May]

Not a problem Jessie.
Considering everything you do it's the least I could do to help.

Hang in there Jessie,the future will be worth it.

"It's better to bleed in training now than to bleed on the battle field."

Ron