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The Charming Chinese Challenge

The effect (They say)

Troy Hooser's Charming Chinese Challenge has become a masterpiece of coin magic. Why? It's extremely visual, totally practical and very easy to do plus it resets instantly. The Charming Chinese Challenge is absolutely the best penetration effect you’ve ever seen!

The effect is clean and simple: Three Chinese coins are threaded onto a silk ribbon. One by one the coins visually penetrate through the ribbon. You won’t believe your eyes as the coins jump both off and on the ribbon. The routine is captured during a live performance.

Designed to be performed in extreme close-up conditions such as walk-around, trade shows or formal environments, Troy's routine will soon become a cornerstone of your repertoire. Even if you're not a heavy coin worker, you'll soon be able to master this fabulous routine. Each part is taught in excruciating detail, nothing is left out.

Originally published in "DesTROYers," this DVD contains much more information along with new handlings never before seen. These additional methods and sequences are well worth the price of admission, but there's a lot more. With contributions from Shoot Ogawa, Apollo and Thomas Wayne, The Charming Chinese Challenge has been taken to a new level.

£23.99 from http://www.magicshop.co.uk

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
3 to 4. Anyone working regularly with coins should have no major problem with this. Much of the working will be familiar, although not strung together like this (no pun intended although left upon reflection)

Review
(I say)

As mentioned in the sales blurb, this routine is taken from Joshua Jay's book of Troy Hooser's work, "desTROYers".
A great book and a truly beautiful piece of magic. Takes some practise to get smooth, but well worth the effort. I kept this to myself for at least couple of months before showing anyone at all. I knew how good it would be if done well as soon as I had read it and didn't want to spoil it by not giving it the attention that it deservees. I personally use ninja coins for this and then go into the ninja coin routine proper afterwards which throws people completely. My personal favorite non card routine. I did not know it had been releasied on DVD until a review request last week.

As it says above, any chinese coins will be useable, although rounded holes are better than squared. Large metal washers are also an option.

The spectator has previously inspected everything and threaded the coins themselves onto the ribbon.
Then, one by one the 3 coins visually fall off the ribbon. Not only that, much of this can be done in the spectators hands. Right from the very beginning
The coins can be taken off the ribbon and relinked right in front of their eyes. These events happen in quick succession in a variety of ways, from slowly letting the coins just fall of the ribbon to throwing them onto the ribbon

I already had the effect down to a tee from the desTROYers book, however, I was interested in what was new on here and, indeed, if anything had been omitted.
There are new phases added and a few new subtleties not explained in the book. Shoot Ogawa's opener really does take this to another level. As do other elements added since the book's publication. This effect has been worked by many and refined over the years, not just by Troy.
As I said, I already had the effect in Destroyers, but I am glad that I got this DVD. It was nice to see Troy's own handling of the effect, although the patter differs from the book. Originally it was presented as an old Chinese puzzle and I do not remember this being mentioned on the DVD. Troy has got together with some great magical talents and expanded upon what was already a fantastic effect. It also helps to eliminate one of the routines weaker phases.

The reset on this is pretty much non existant and I always have the coins and ribbon on me, either to perform or just fine tune my own handling of it. Trust me on this, it is worth the time and effort you will put in.

Like I said, I learned this originally from the book and it is interesting that my handling developed quite differently in places to that which I now see on the DVD.
If anyone does have this already by the way, I have added a subtlety to the final phase which really does help to sell this to the spectator.

I am glad I now own the DVD, despite having already in printed format.
It adds a fair bit and Troy's instruction is clear and consise as is that of the guests on the DVD.

I should also mention that the quality of the DVD is quite good, no problems with sound or picture quality and the menu is well laid out and does what it should.

In closing, learning this routine brings with it a sense of achievement as does performing it well. I love showing this now, I really do.

Overall
10/10, not given lightly. If you like coin magic then this (in my opinion) should be in your repertoire either from here or the book. It is nice to see something a little different and there is scope to adapt the effect to suit your own handling and expand it as your experiences with it grow. Only one effect with the DVD, whereas the book does contain many others, however, both I consider very good buys.

Buy it and enjoy.

sold!!!!! i will get this