Just Tried Ripping My First Deck Of Cards

[MadMardegan]

Holy crap...

Barely even made a dent in them. Serious amount of respect for people who can do it.

Even tried a half a deck (of bicycles) and couldn't do it. Made me pretty embarrassed the fact that were 5 people watching me. None of them tried, but I'm sure they wouldn't have done it either!

How do you guys practice this feat?

[Shoggoth]

It's tough. Here's one of the first decks I did way back when. One helluva fight and it was with a cheap dollar store deck.

Here's the same brand after some time went by:

I just kept fighting with full, weaker decks and working on perfecting my technique. How to best apply your strength is key.

[MadMardegan]

It's tough. Here's one of the first decks I did way back when. One helluva fight and it was with a cheap dollar store deck.

Here's the same brand after some time went by:

I just kept fighting with full, weaker decks and working on perfecting my technique. How to best apply your strength is key.

Wow, that's a helluva improvement man!

I'm halfway through RRBT at the moment, when I'm finished I'm gonna focus on this kind of stuff.

[Six Barrel Shotgun]

I always recommend Jedds Card Tearing e-book, when people ask about Card Tearing. It's GOLD. Everything you need to know to get to tearing your first deck, is in it. The sections about technique is fantastic. And theres lots more of information in it.

Edited April 18, 2014 by Six Barrel Shotgun

[MadMardegan]

I always recommend Jedds Card Tearing e-book, when people ask about Card Tearing. It's GOLD. Everything you need to know to get to tearing your first deck, is in it. The sections about technique is fantastic. And theres lots more of information in it.

I'm sold! Buying it first thing Monday!

[Six Barrel Shotgun]

Haha I see now my post looked like a commercial.. Jedds a great guy for the grip sport and nice to support him and reaching your goals at the same time.. You'll be tearing Bicycles in no time

[MadMardegan]

Haha I see now my post looked like a commercial.. Jedds a great guy for the grip sport and nice to support him and reaching your goals at the same time.. You'll be tearing Bicycles in no time

Haha, not at all! I'm only too happy to help him out. As soon as I tried it I was like "damn, gotta buy Jedds ebook!!" :P

[wulfgeat]

I always recommend Jedds Card Tearing e-book, when people ask about Card Tearing. It's GOLD. Everything you need to know to get to tearing your first deck, is in it. The sections about technique is fantastic. And theres lots more of information in it.

I'm sold! Buying it first thing Monday!

Good Job! There are a lot of great things in that E-book.

While you are waiting, check out these two videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGLCMwmm9Ak

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlBPtiFxcj0

The first is Adam Glass offering instruction on the grip and peel method of card tearing (the one preferred by Jed and many performing strongmen). In the second, Zack McCarley discusses that one, but also two other styles: double overhand and the John Brookfield style. I mention the second video because I went from tearing no cards to tearing my first eleven decks (literally one right after the other) after watching the second and using the John Brookfield style. I still suck at double overhand (though I have blasted through some decks with the left hand leading).

Check out the Ugly Rubbers on Dennis Rodgers website. The only thing about them is you can't practice putting an "S" in those things, but they make great little sport specific exercisers.

I tore my first decks after I was able to both vertical lever and front lever from the floor a 10 lb hammer; hold 20 lbs shut on the titan's telegraph key with either thumb (with my thumb and fore finger--think penny pinch); and hold an 80 lb dumbbel with my wrist flexors while my lower arm bones were in a pronated position. Instead trying to explain that, just watch the third included video. I hope that is helpful, learning to tear cards was incredibly frustrating for me so I am particularly motivated to be helpful now that I can do so.

pronation flexion hold.MOV

[MadMardegan]

I always recommend Jedds Card Tearing e-book, when people ask about Card Tearing. It's GOLD. Everything you need to know to get to tearing your first deck, is in it. The sections about technique is fantastic. And theres lots more of information in it.

I'm sold! Buying it first thing Monday!

Good Job! There are a lot of great things in that E-book.

While you are waiting, check out these two videos:

The first is Adam Glass offering instruction on the grip and peel method of card tearing (the one preferred by Jed and many performing strongmen). In the second, Zack McCarley discusses that one, but also two other styles: double overhand and the John Brookfield style. I mention the second video because I went from tearing no cards to tearing my first eleven decks (literally one right after the other) after watching the second and using the John Brookfield style. I still suck at double overhand (though I have blasted through some decks with the left hand leading).

Check out the Ugly Rubbers on Dennis Rodgers website. The only thing about them is you can't practice putting an "S" in those things, but they make great little sport specific exercisers.

I tore my first decks after I was able to both vertical lever and front lever from the floor a 10 lb hammer; hold 20 lbs shut on the titan's telegraph key with either thumb (with my thumb and fore finger--think penny pinch); and hold an 80 lb dumbbel with my wrist flexors while my lower arm bones were in a pronated position. Instead trying to explain that, just watch the third included video. I hope that is helpful, learning to tear cards was incredibly frustrating for me so I am particularly motivated to be helpful now that I can do so.

Thanks for the advice man!

I actually have the ugly rubbers, but I've been focusing on grippers and have only messed around with them a couple of times.

Tonight was my first trying on a deck and it really shocked me.

I didn't know about putting the S in the cards, so that's something to work on!

[wulfgeat]

I always recommend Jedds Card Tearing e-book, when people ask about Card Tearing. It's GOLD. Everything you need to know to get to tearing your first deck, is in it. The sections about technique is fantastic. And theres lots more of information in it.

I'm sold! Buying it first thing Monday!

Good Job! There are a lot of great things in that E-book.

While you are waiting, check out these two videos:

The first is Adam Glass offering instruction on the grip and peel method of card tearing (the one preferred by Jed and many performing strongmen). In the second, Zack McCarley discusses that one, but also two other styles: double overhand and the John Brookfield style. I mention the second video because I went from tearing no cards to tearing my first eleven decks (literally one right after the other) after watching the second and using the John Brookfield style. I still suck at double overhand (though I have blasted through some decks with the left hand leading).

Check out the Ugly Rubbers on Dennis Rodgers website. The only thing about them is you can't practice putting an "S" in those things, but they make great little sport specific exercisers.

I tore my first decks after I was able to both vertical lever and front lever from the floor a 10 lb hammer; hold 20 lbs shut on the titan's telegraph key with either thumb (with my thumb and fore finger--think penny pinch); and hold an 80 lb dumbbel with my wrist flexors while my lower arm bones were in a pronated position. Instead trying to explain that, just watch the third included video. I hope that is helpful, learning to tear cards was incredibly frustrating for me so I am particularly motivated to be helpful now that I can do so.

Thanks for the advice man!

I actually have the ugly rubbers, but I've been focusing on grippers and have only messed around with them a couple of times.

Tonight was my first trying on a deck and it really shocked me.

I didn't know about putting the S in the cards, so that's something to work on!

Yeah man, the "S" is the most important part--you don't do that, the cards don't budge. If you have strong thumbs and flexors go for the Grip and Peel method, if you have equally strong radial and ulnar deviators go for the double overhand method. If you really want to tear one of those stupid things try John Brookfields method. I like the last one, but I will warn you this: make sure you set it in your hands correctly, if you don't you are going to compress a nerve in the bottom hand's thumb pad. It goes away as soon as you stop but it hurts like an a you know what when you nail it. Ironically, I discovered that shortly after hearing Dennis Rodgers say that card tearing is "relatively safe," and I thought "maybe, but it DOES smart sometimes. . ."

[king crusher]

From what I've found and my experience ripping cards and phone books can be done two ways. With brute force and with technique.

I use the former method but don't do it's often.

If someone blows through a phone book or cards in a split second it's technique. But is not a workout at all IMO.

When I've ripped cards I mostly use a thumbless grip with both hands starting in front of me and next to each other on the long part of the deck. One palm facing to the left the other to the right. And then I start twisting back and forth while squeezing the cards using the tips of my fingers.

I kinda use that same technique on phone books. Pinching the open pages not the spine of the book. And not using that bending the pages technique to create the v crease in the pages. When I do a phone book my hands and wrists are jello. But I get the satisfaction of knowing I really tore it with brute force not a technique to make it much much easier.

[Josh O'Dell]

I started by trying different cheap decks,

Your hands will have to condition a bit.

I like double overhand style myself, Dennis

Rogers mini deck long ways is the greatest

card feat! Along with Justin S. Double deck

rip. Yea get that s shape and it will create a

pressure point in the deck and make a perfect

line.My hands bleed on my first full deck..

[slazbob]

When Brookfield tore that chunk out of the center of a deck with his thumb and index finger, I was in awe! Pure finger strength!

[king crusher]

When Brookfield tore that chunk out of the center of a deck with his thumb and index finger, I was in awe! Pure finger strength!

pinched a chunk out of a full deck? I'd have to see that in person to believe it's possible. Is there a link to a video?

[slazbob]

When Brookfield tore that chunk out of the center of a deck with his thumb and index finger, I was in awe! Pure finger strength!

pinched a chunk out of a full deck? I'd have to see that in person to believe it's possible. Is there a link to a video?

I don't know if it was ever on video. It was first mentioned in Randall strossen's artical: Captains of Crush-men who know how to get a grip.

In the article, it says John could do it- and that it's outright extraordinary! I did see a video of John tearing 3 decks at once on YouTube.

It also mentioned Mr.sorin was able to shut a super gripper with 4 springs! In the toughest position. So take the article at its face value.

Maybe Richard can shed some light on the article and what John was able to do.

[Tim71]

There is a video on youtube of John ripping 3 decks of cards.

I just started with how many ever cards I could do and added cards to it. I had bought Steve McGranahan's DVD's and that was one of the things they helped me with.

[Shoggoth]

There is a video on youtube of John ripping 3 decks of cards.

I just started with how many ever cards I could do and added cards to it. I had bought Steve McGranahan's DVD's and that was one of the things they helped me with.

Steve's DVD descriptions for doing the over-under style was very helpful to me as well. A lot of really good info for very affordable dvd's.

[Tim71]

Yeah and Steve is a nice guy as well.

One thing about tearing a deck of cards is that it's very hard on the hands so as you build up hand strength, that will help as well. The 2 pack of cards that they sell at Wal-Mart are nice ones to begin with as well. I've done a deck and a half of those and I'm not one of the better card rippers.

I did "notch" a deck of cards at work one time but I was absolutely red-faced mad at the time. Can't remember what happened but somebody fired me up.