talkmagic.co.uk

If you can't get hold of Ricky Jays classic book ( its like gold dust )
here is some basic instruction on the art of card throwing
http://www.thatisweird.com/cardsasweapons2.htm
also a video
http://www.geocities.com/HowToThrowCards/
Rick Smith the current world record holder for card throwing over 216ft!
http://www.ricksmithjr.com/
amazing but true - have a go

CAUTION


Card throwing is very dangerous, and if not done correctly the cards can do severe damage. Please be careful when throwing and remember to never throw cards at people. Work on throwing at targets such as a rubbish bins or the back of a chair. With the right amount of practice this stunt of throwing cards will amaze everyone in your path.

Call me a cynic - but I've never seen the attraction in this 'sport'. Sure, it can be used to impress, but I've always considered it an odd waste of one's energy.

It would appear to have no place in magic - either as a flourish or a utility (unless you could deal a hand of cards out this way, or have the cards 'boomerang' back to you from great distances).

But, I appreciate that there is a great following for this 'trick'.

Card throwing has been popularised by some VERY credible magicians - Ricky Jay (who even has a throw named after him) and Jeff McBride are just two I can mention - oh, and that American street magician - errr... David someone...

It does indeed take a lot of skill and practice to get the cards flying correctly, and I suppose that it could be a prelude to the Hummer Card???

But seriously, I've seen this type of thing cause pretty nasty injury - so take it easy!!! Remember that 'Monkey Magic' episode where they used card throwing as an endurance test!!!

However, flicking one card from hand to hand IS a useful utility (Lennart Green's a master of this - and it pays off VERY well indeed).

This is not meant as a criticism of this type of thing - each to their own - but I am just trying to be objective and perpetuate the discussion!

does anyone have any definitive evidence of where and when card throwing originated (cave paintings ,hieroglyphics et cetera?)

Ace of Wands wrote:does anyone have any definitive evidence of where and when card throwing originated (cave paintings ,hieroglyphics et cetera?)

I would hope card throwing didn't originate in the days of cave paintings - they painted on the walls coz they had no paper - and therefore wouldn't have cards, and would therefore paint the cards on the walls, which would involve throwing huge lumps of cave around.

Very dangerous!

I believe the first person to make card scaling a major part in their act was Alexander Herrmann in the 1800s. Later on Thurston perfected this and could throw a card to someone all the way in the back of the theater with great accuracy. I have heard some things about oriental hitmen using cards to incapacitate their victims.

mgould wrote:I believe the first person to make card scaling a major part in their act was Alexander Herrmann in the 1800s. Later on Thurston perfected this and could throw a card to someone all the way in the back of the theater with great accuracy. I have heard some things about oriental hitmen using cards to incapacitate their victims.

it is impossible to incapacitate someone with a playing card thrown by a person unless it possibly hit them in the eye. An episode of Mythbusters tried to prove the myth that it could be done... even with the card thrown at some ridiculous speed by a machine it only left a tiny cut on one of the guys stomach. Cards have very little in the way of mass and so they do not have the momentum to do any actual harm