talkmagic.co.uk

Ninja Rings

Effect: Possibly the best linking rings routine ever, and it is designed for closeup!

Cost: £25 for the dvd and £25 for the 4 1/2 inch rings.

Difficulty: 5, definately not an easy routine this.
(Based on the standard 1 an indeterminate animal could do it, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)


Review: I bought this yesterday, having heard that it was really good, and can honestly say that I sat with my mouth hanging open in shock and occasionally gigling like a little girl as I watched Shoot Ogawa perform this routine.

The very first link he does is with one ring spinning on the table, and he follows it with a series of stunning links and unlinks including getting a spectator to link a ring to one that you hold, this was one point at which I broke down with the exitement and started giggling (I had had a long day ok?).

In the dvd you are taught all the moves used in the routine, though he doesn't go into the details of the basic ring moves such as the crash link, just the way he does it to make it look good, and then the routine order.

I can do all the basic ring moves, and a couple of the harder ones like throw linking, but it is still going to take me a while to get to grips with things like the one handed blocked link (a chain of two rings hangs from the ring you hold, and a single ring hangs between it and your hand. With a shake of the wrist the bottom ring of the chain of two jumps up and links to the one in your hand.) so I would advise you to learn how to handle a set of rings before buying this

There is a quicktime clip of bits of the routine, including the one handed linking and the slightly less impressive of two spectator links at http://www.spectram.com/Spectramweb/Clip/ninja_rings.htm

As for the quality of the DVD, it is great, with brilliant sound and picture etc, fully produced in a studio. However, mine did crash about five times last night whilst trying to change scenes.

When I was thinking about buying it I wondered if a closeup rings routine would work, what if someone wanted to look at the rings? But having watched the full routine I am convinced that no-one actaully would, because it seems that the rings all penetrate each other, and they get to see the rings link at such close range that you couldn't possibly hide anything.

The rings themselves are nicely weighted and look good, but it is hard getting used to using such small ones.

Overall I would give this 9/10, only losing a mark because of the speed at which Shoot Ogawa goes through the routine description, it would have been better if he had spent a little more time on it as I had to keep rewinding it to keep up.

sounds amazing but is the dvd a nesesity

Great review... full of enthusiasm!

I must say that I've never been a fan of linking rings - it seems a bit old fashioned, but from the excerpts I've seen of the Shoot Ogawa videos, this looks like a 'rings revisitied'.

It has to be said that my own linking rings routine is pretty poor anyway, as I am not confident that my ageing props are up to any sort of scrutiny... but you're suggesting that the Ogawa rings are so good they don't attract scrutiny?

I know how this setup works, and how this routine is performed normally - but are the Ogawa rings the 'regular' setup, or is there something special?

I'd be really greatful if you could either email or PM, or even drop into the restricted access area and be a bit more revealing - as I'd love a foolhardy and modern routine to open the second half of my set, and I think this would be it - a bit of a musical accompaniment and there you have it...

Ok, the DVD is an absolute must, there is no way you will learn the routine from the instructions included with the rings, for a start they're in Japanese and secondly they are only two sides of A4 with about eight pictures, they are glossy though!

Seige, the rings are completely normal with nothing special (as far as linking rings go, that is). I'll detail the set in the magicians only section.

As I said in the review the routine is designed for closeup, but could easily be adapted for stage and platform performances. The rings don't attract scrutiny, not because of their design, but because of the routine. Every ring appears to be penetrated by pretty much every other, and as an audience member gets to link a ring themselves (not like in the video clip above, there is a better version) they will think that all the rings are identical.

Nick

Thanks Nick, no need to detail them in the MO area... I catch your drift...

If the're the standard ring setup, (if you know what I mean ) then is it worth a purchase of the Ogawa rings AND the DVD, or just the DVD, on the basis that I have a 'normal' set of rings...?

I had already posted about them before I saw this, you could probably do most of the ninja rings routine with a standard set of rings, but I think that some of the moves may be even harder with large rings than they are with the small ones.

Cheers Nick, but my linking rings are the large dinnerplate sized type, and I find that I can just about get by with them. I'm assuming these smaller rings are more 'handleable'?

You mention that the video is a bit quick-fire... and you need to re-wind a few times to get the moves... is this a downfall, or is is well explained, but just quick???

I'm putting an order together... and I'm getting more and more tempted...

The moves themselves are well explained, and quite slowly, it's just the routine order. As he goes through it 'slowly' so you can learn it, when you're just getting the hang of the moves it is very hard to keep up with him. There is another slight problem in that his English isn't perfect but he is understandable.

Hmm... as long as the video isn't as bad as Zenneth's Impossible Twist...

Mr. King of Keighley has a lovely way of describing rough & smooth!!!

Well, Nick... you've convinced me, I've ordered my Ninja Rings and Videos from the US... Thanks mate.

(This is my first post... yay!)

I was just wondering; it looks like those rings take quite a beating with all the bumping' and smacking' into each other -- I can only imagine how much punishment they must take while practicing the moves. How do they hold up to all of that? Do they dent easily, or otherwise become damaged?

I was thinking of getting the gold-plated model. It’s my birthday so I figured I might pamper myself a bit. Never tried rings before. But if they damage too easily, I may go for a cheaper practice set.

Thanks for your time!

If you buy the genuine rings that go with the DVD then they will easily hold up to all of the use that they will get. The chrome on cheaper rings will generally flake off after a few months. What you will learn is that there ISN'T loads of banging about - it's skill and delacacy.

This is a stunning routine as Nickj has stated and one that I hightly recommend. The specs just love it when performed well although there are parts that just take an absolute age to practice in order to get right. You could be talking weeks and months to get the consistancy that you need for some of the moves

Finally, go for the gold rings. Everyone that I've spoken to who has bought the silver, say that they wish they had the gold.

Hi
thinking of getting these next week, useful info on them here, thanks.
I will definately go for the gold and dvd combo.

I do not own a standard set of rings, however, was shown the basics of how to use them years ago by my uncle (magii).

I know these are not "beginners" rings, but do you think I would be able to pick up at least the more simple routines with them with a little practise and then add the more difficult ones after perfection?

I am very dextrous and used to confusing hand moves despite not having the largest pair of hands in the world.

magicmonkey,

This was the first linking rings routine I learned.
Just go for it!
If you know how to practise, then you will learn this routine no problem.
Just take your time - it may take 6 months of practise, but if you're patient you'll get there.

Cheers for the quick response sax.
I will probably get these on Monday as I have a credit with a supplier who billed me twice for a dvd set.

Always liked rings when performed well, but for where I usually do my little turns, they would be most impractical.

I guess they will also be my ultimate test for keeping grabby drunks' hands to themselves.

One of the best routines that you'll get.

Bye the way - when I said standard rings I didn't mean the larger rings that are commonly used for linking rings routines. What I meant was cheap / budget rings that are the Ninja Ring size. Just wanted to clear that one up.