Price$29.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryGeneral
Date AddedJun 04, 2014
Velocity : High-Caliber Card Throwing System
Smith, Rick
Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
(Based on 2 reviews)
Now, he's ready to give you the secrets to the most effective techniques in card throwing-- transforming you into a card-throwing ninja in minutes.
You don't have to be Rick Smith Jr. in order to throw like him. Just a few secret techniques and styles, taught in this video, will bring you from zero to Pro in no time.
In Velocity, you will quickly learn: The hidden technique for throwing with the power to slice and penetrate The secret to throwing for speed, distance and accuracy How to slice through fruits and vegetables like a Samurai blade How to penetrate hard surfaces like crystallized Styrofoam, pumpkins and cardboard How to make a card whistle as it cuts through the air Trick throwing styles and stunts Multiple throwing styles and when to use them Safety precautions Proposition betting How to get a crowd with card throwing How create your own card throwing show Four NEW single-handed card flicks that eject cards without throwing them How to start with no knowledge of card throwing and become deadly; fastNo other video lets you in on this much card throwing technique and performance information. So, suit up and get ready to be transformed into a card-throwing ninja with Velocity.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Back in The Village by Iron Maiden
Velocity by Rick Smith Jr. Review:
One DVD, $30 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect/Method
Basically, there's really no method or effect to speak of. This is a DVD that teaches you how to throw playing cards for distance and accuracy. Everything you can imagine is covered, and covered well. Cutting vegetables in half, hitting targets, building a show with throwing stunts in it, how to use it to draw crowds, how to involve the audience, etc., etc., etc.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is dead on. You get exactly (and more than) what they claim you get. Rick Smith Jr. is/was a college baseball pitcher and a magician. Together, those two things give us a technique for throwing cards that is unique, and allowed him to break the world record for distance by several feet. His expertise really shines through and is given to the viewer in simple to implement steps.
Product Quality
The DVD is beautifully produced (typical of Murphy's Magic productions). It's well lit, mic'd, choreographed, etc. They took the time to insert footage shot on high speed cameras to help show the details of a good throw. Further, he had a friend on the DVD with him who was learning to throw cards. Smith gave him coaching and tips on the spot that actually improved his technique and understanding of the grips.
In addition to all the card throwing stuff, there are several different card "flinging" moves taught. Springing a card from the top or bottom of the deck and a lot of card manipulation techniques that can add flourish and style to your card work. I found myself reaching for a deck of cards with every move he taught just so I could try it out.
Final Thoughts
I actually tested his particular throwing grip and found it to be quite easy to do and found that I got a fair distance and pretty solid accuracy. This was only a few minutes of practice. I imagine that if I put in the time, I would be able to do the various stunts he teaches.
Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.
(Top ▲)
If you see this and find yourself on the fence about whether or not you could use something like this in your show, let me give you some reasons to come to the "dark side" (other than the fact that we have cookies...)
Your host is the Guiness Book of Records record holder Rick Smith Jr., who holds the world record for throwing a playing card 216 feet and 4 inches (72 yards/65.9 meters) at 92 miles per hour.
Rick covers what types and brands of cards to use and why and even shares a really cool way to get the cards to make a whistling/warbling sound when they are thrown! Very cool stuff! He shows you how to practice and develop your technique and skill in three different areas, how to track progress, etc.
Rick shows you three different grips with the card and how to get the maximum impact from each grip, which grips are suited to what outcomes, the 'ins' and 'outs' of each one and more. The grip that he calls his own is really only half original and half-not-so-much. I remember as a kid gripping a card in a similar manner, but his touches, hints and tips gained through years of experimentation with it make it so much better!
Rick shows you all the techniques that enabled him to throw a playing card 216 feet and 4 inches (72 yards/65.9 meters) at 92 miles per hour and attain the world record. Though his teaching is very good and very clear, you will have to practice these techniques - they are not something to be attained overnight. Your style will likely be very different from his - he is a former college baseball pitcher and it shows, but you do not have to be a baseball pitcher (or even an athlete) to use these techniques. You only need to practice.
The production quality is typical of Murphy's Magic DVDs -excellent and second-to-none. The lighting is very good, the audio and video are very clear and crisp and easy to see and understand. They use slow-motion footage in many parts of the demos and explanations, which was nice. This DVD is not teaching an effect or any sleights but rather a technique for throwing playing cards, centered around three different areas: Distance, speed and accuracy. You can aim to achieve one, two or all three of those with diligent practice and proper technique, the latter of which is again the main focus of this DVD.
During the explanations he is joined by Jason Brumbalow and what I really appreciated was that even though Jason had practiced some of the techniques before shooting (presumably), he was still very much at the beginner level. Because of this, he was asking Rick most of the questions that the viewers at home would be asking - why the cards behave the way they do, how to correct 'this' problem or 'that' problem and much more. With as much detail as Rick was already covering, these questions made it all even more detailed.
Rick (the world record holder for throwing a playing card 216 feet and 4 inches (72 yards/65.9 meters...you get the point, but he will tell you this...many times!) also shares some really cool flourishes, at least one of which might be familiar to you already. If you ever had trouble with this particular flourish, he shares a lot of tips to make it easier to learn and accomplish. He also teaches a couple of original flourishes.
In another section he shows a number of different targets at which you can throw playing cards, which ones to start with and which to progress towards and many other details that make all the difference.
In yet another section he talks about putting card throwing into your show, gives a really great way to draw and hold a crowd with card throwing and so much more!
In every teaching segment, whether it was card throwing practice, target practice or even teaching the flourishes, there were multiple camera angles used to make everything even more clear and easy to understand - this included shots of Jason Brumbalow practicing from some of the other angles with Rick coaching him and helping him make the necessary corrections in his technique.
This DVD just kept going and going and going...I wondered when it was going to end - I wished it had not ended at all because it was so much fun and was very entertaining to watch! It is almost 2 hours long, not including the bonus footage.
The menu is easy to navigate and is very well laid out with the option to play all the way through or chapter-by-chapter. There is an "Exhibition" section that is exactly that - it is a collection of clips shot in various locations which show Rick in challenge situations, such as hitting moving targets and hitting others under practically impossible circumstances - very impressive stuff!
The ad copy is dead accurate but there is oh, so much more information on the DVD...Comparing it with the information and knowledge contained on this disc, the price point is very good - there are many one-trick DVDs with no included props and much less information that sell for twice the price of this DVD.
If you are familiar with Ricky Jay and his book, 'Cards As Weapons' you will love this DVD. Even if you are not familiar with that book but have a desire to learn how to throw playing cards, or if you think it is something you would use in a show to give it some variety, you will love this DVD. Whether you ever have or never have thrown/wanted to throw a playing card, you will love this DVD.
VERY highly recommended!
Your host is the Guiness Book of Records record holder Rick Smith Jr., who holds the world record for throwing a playing card 216 feet and 4 inches (72 yards/65.9 meters) at 92 miles per hour.
Rick covers what types and brands of cards to use and why and even shares a really cool way to get the cards to make a whistling/warbling sound when they are thrown! Very cool stuff! He shows you how to practice and develop your technique and skill in three different areas, how to track progress, etc.
Rick shows you three different grips with the card and how to get the maximum impact from each grip, which grips are suited to what outcomes, the 'ins' and 'outs' of each one and more. The grip that he calls his own is really only half original and half-not-so-much. I remember as a kid gripping a card in a similar manner, but his touches, hints and tips gained through years of experimentation with it make it so much better!
Rick shows you all the techniques that enabled him to throw a playing card 216 feet and 4 inches (72 yards/65.9 meters) at 92 miles per hour and attain the world record. Though his teaching is very good and very clear, you will have to practice these techniques - they are not something to be attained overnight. Your style will likely be very different from his - he is a former college baseball pitcher and it shows, but you do not have to be a baseball pitcher (or even an athlete) to use these techniques. You only need to practice.
The production quality is typical of Murphy's Magic DVDs -excellent and second-to-none. The lighting is very good, the audio and video are very clear and crisp and easy to see and understand. They use slow-motion footage in many parts of the demos and explanations, which was nice. This DVD is not teaching an effect or any sleights but rather a technique for throwing playing cards, centered around three different areas: Distance, speed and accuracy. You can aim to achieve one, two or all three of those with diligent practice and proper technique, the latter of which is again the main focus of this DVD.
During the explanations he is joined by Jason Brumbalow and what I really appreciated was that even though Jason had practiced some of the techniques before shooting (presumably), he was still very much at the beginner level. Because of this, he was asking Rick most of the questions that the viewers at home would be asking - why the cards behave the way they do, how to correct 'this' problem or 'that' problem and much more. With as much detail as Rick was already covering, these questions made it all even more detailed.
Rick (the world record holder for throwing a playing card 216 feet and 4 inches (72 yards/65.9 meters...you get the point, but he will tell you this...many times!) also shares some really cool flourishes, at least one of which might be familiar to you already. If you ever had trouble with this particular flourish, he shares a lot of tips to make it easier to learn and accomplish. He also teaches a couple of original flourishes.
In another section he shows a number of different targets at which you can throw playing cards, which ones to start with and which to progress towards and many other details that make all the difference.
In yet another section he talks about putting card throwing into your show, gives a really great way to draw and hold a crowd with card throwing and so much more!
In every teaching segment, whether it was card throwing practice, target practice or even teaching the flourishes, there were multiple camera angles used to make everything even more clear and easy to understand - this included shots of Jason Brumbalow practicing from some of the other angles with Rick coaching him and helping him make the necessary corrections in his technique.
This DVD just kept going and going and going...I wondered when it was going to end - I wished it had not ended at all because it was so much fun and was very entertaining to watch! It is almost 2 hours long, not including the bonus footage.
The menu is easy to navigate and is very well laid out with the option to play all the way through or chapter-by-chapter. There is an "Exhibition" section that is exactly that - it is a collection of clips shot in various locations which show Rick in challenge situations, such as hitting moving targets and hitting others under practically impossible circumstances - very impressive stuff!
The ad copy is dead accurate but there is oh, so much more information on the DVD...Comparing it with the information and knowledge contained on this disc, the price point is very good - there are many one-trick DVDs with no included props and much less information that sell for twice the price of this DVD.
If you are familiar with Ricky Jay and his book, 'Cards As Weapons' you will love this DVD. Even if you are not familiar with that book but have a desire to learn how to throw playing cards, or if you think it is something you would use in a show to give it some variety, you will love this DVD. Whether you ever have or never have thrown/wanted to throw a playing card, you will love this DVD.
VERY highly recommended!