Even You Can Crack a Whip :)

I get asked now and again if it is difficult to crack a whip.  My answer is no and yes.  By that I mean that accomplishing a basic crack is quite simple when you understand the movements, but there are also many types of cracks that are much more difficult to master and even I can't do all of them yet, or all that well.

On that note, I shot this clip the other day of my seven year old son, Elijah, as he cracked his bullwhip.  The whip he's using is his three foot electric blue and neon orange paracord bullwhip.  I was duly impressed with his improvement.  The crack he is performing is the forward crack or the circus crack.



Happy cracking,

~Ryan

http://www.happycracking.com/

How to Lose Weight With a Bullwhip

I love it when I see bullwhips going more mainstream.  Here's a post from the LiveStrong webiste. (Click here to see it in the original.)

Overview
A bullwhip is a tightly woven cord attached to a handle and is traditionally used for steering animals on a ranch or farm; however, fitness enthusiasts have found another use for bullwhips. The art of bull whipping requires exceptional coordination and requires strength in the arms, shoulders, back and core. With practice, bullwhip training can be an entertaining alternative to traditional forms of cardiovascular exercise. Exercise with the bullwhip can help you burn the calories it takes to lose weight.

Step 1
Practice your technique with the bullwhip. There are three basic whip cracking motions: the forward crack, the overhead crack and the sidearm crack. Bullwhipping for exercise requires fast motions to get your heart rate up.

Step 2
Wear safety goggles, durable jeans, a long-sleeved durable top and gloves. These items will protect the body from various injuries in case the whip motion goes awry when trying to bullwhip for exercise.

Step 3
Start with a warm-up before you begin whipping. You will be utilizing your arms, shoulders, back and core. Five minutes of jogging followed by arms circles, trunks twists and squats should sufficiently warm up your body for bullwhipping.

Step 4
Start bullwhipping by beginning with one technique and performing the move slowly. Gradually increase your speed until you are performing that particular technique quickly.

Step 5
Switch to another technique after you have reached maximal speed with the previous technique. Repeat this process for each of the three techniques, twice.

Step 6
Complete your cycling through the three techniques and then break out into a bullwhipping "freestyle." This means stringing together the three techniques so that you move quickly from one technique to the next without repeating the same technique twice in a row.

Step 7
Continue to "free style" until you have completed at least 30 minutes of bull whipping. Depending on how vigorously you are whipping, you can burn anywhere from 150 to 200 calories per half hour.

Sounds like fun and an interesting workout idea.  Happy cracking,

~Ryan

http://www.happycracking.com/

The Bumble Bee

I finished this whip this week and thought it looked like a bumble bee...

I would imagine that it has a good sting to it.  I truly enjoy cracking these shorter whips.  They work well for fast cracking routines and are just easy to tote around with me.

This shot gave me some good close up resolution.  I'm not much of a photographer so I appreciate it when I get a shot like this that shows good detail.

Not much to blog about at the present time.  I'm hoping to shoot some better "how to crack" videos over the Christmas break.  The more I look at the ones that I have created the more I think they look lame.  We'll see how it goes.  If you're planning to order a whip I'd encourage you to do it fairly soon.  My plaiting claendar is filling up quickly and I'm already into January.  At the present time I may only have time for one, possibly two more oders for January and will be looking forward to February.  I'll be out of town for a week during that time and may not have the freedom to work on whips.

Well I hope you are enjoying your cracking.  Our weather here may be turning ugly soon - thankfully I have several nylon whips to play with that won't be affected by the weather ;)

~Ryan

http://www.happycracking.com/

Got 'Er Done :)

I finished the snakewhip from my earlier post and thought I'd throw out a few pics.

Happy cracking!

~Ryan

http://www.happycracking.com/

Busy With Christmas Orders

Well, I'm busily cranking out whips for Christmas.  Currently I am booked through about the second week in January, even though I've been able to get out several whips lately rather quickly (well quickly for me that is).  I'm currently finishing a three foot snakewhip to send to Canada for a gal who has told me this is her first whip.  I think she's going to enjoy the final product.  The colors she chose were colonial blue and neon orange - and I have to say I really like this color combo.  Here are a couple of pics of the whip in progress...

This one is not the clearest resolution, but here's the belly being plaited.

In this shot you can still see the loop where the butt knot will be that I hang the whip by as I plait it and the five strands of paracord on the other end that I'll tie the transtion hitch with.  I took this one outside in the sunlight with my iPhone.

Anyway, I just thought I'd write a quick update.  Feel free to contact me with questions about my whips, whips in general, or about ordering.  Have a wonderful Christmas season.

~Ryan

http://www.happycracking.com/