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Card Tearing


milkbone

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I just started working on this feat. I have torn a few full decks so far, but all have been braced and are usually ugly at the end of the tear (not even, crumpled, etc). Also, it seems I always lose a card or two during the tear when the first and/or last card splits. I can get the initial rip of the deck with no problem, but switching my hand positioning to finish the tear is where I lose the 1 or 2 cards. Questions:

1. Do you tear braced or unbraced?

2. Describe your technique for changing hand placement when finishing the tear.

3. Does tearing cards in the box hurt or help your tearing effort (help by keeping the cards together)?

4. Do you do any assistance work that helps with card tearing?

Side note: I recently thought my limit for card tearing was 30-35 cards until I tried a full deck braced against the leg. By bracing against the leg, I was able to start a full deck tear. I am looking for some help with technique that might make the tear prettier. The answer may be more strength instead of better technique. Any input is appreciated.

Steve Reagan

"He trains my hands for battle"

2 Samuel 22:35

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I just started working on this feat. I have torn a few full decks so far, but all have been braced and are usually ugly at the end of the tear (not even, crumpled, etc). Also, it seems I always lose a card or two during the tear when the first and/or last card splits. I can get the initial rip of the deck with no problem, but switching my hand positioning to finish the tear is where I lose the 1 or 2 cards. Questions:

1. Do you tear braced or unbraced?

2. Describe your technique for changing hand placement when finishing the tear.

3. Does tearing cards in the box hurt or help your tearing effort (help by keeping the cards together)?

4. Do you do any assistance work that helps with card tearing?

Side note: I recently thought my limit for card tearing was 30-35 cards until I tried a full deck braced against the leg. By bracing against the leg, I was able to start a full deck tear. I am looking for some help with technique that might make the tear prettier. The answer may be more strength instead of better technique. Any input is appreciated.

Never done it but have read that Clay does "duct tape tears" to keep the cards to gether.

Ryan Windley

Working with KTA to master the #1

My KTA Training Log

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Hmm. Duct tape ... That is a good idea. I know JB tapes the entire deck to make 1 deck feel like two, but I have never thought of just taping the ends to keep the cards in tact.

I see you're from Atlanta. I'm north of you near Buford. You, me, and John Hicks should get together sometime and do some grip stuff.

Steve Reagan

"He trains my hands for battle"

2 Samuel 22:35

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Milkbone,

The duct tape also makes it a lot tougher.

Brookfield has a section on card tearing in "Grip Master's Manual"

Paul Doire

TEAR PHONE BOOKS 1/5/2005

GM1 2/14/2005

HG300 and 400 TNS 2/21/2005

MMO 3/11/05

RB300N Video Close 11/1/05

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Yeah, I've seen the section in his book about making it harder with duct tape to save on cards. In this case, the tape would just be on the ends of the cards to keep them together. Not that I want all my tears to be done like this as I could not call it an official tear. I am interested in trying this to become stronger in the actual tearing motion needed to rip the cards. Something to ween me off bracing and allow me to perfect the technique without dealing with rogue cards flying off the stack.

Edited by milkbone

Steve Reagan

"He trains my hands for battle"

2 Samuel 22:35

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Card tearing is a goal for me...I thought once I could close a three that

tearing would be easy....apparently I was wrong.

Is it more technique or more finger strength at this point?

Paul Doire

TEAR PHONE BOOKS 1/5/2005

GM1 2/14/2005

HG300 and 400 TNS 2/21/2005

MMO 3/11/05

RB300N Video Close 11/1/05

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Seems to be a combination of narrow pinch-grip strength, wrist strength, and some technique thrown in. I guess good technique could make up for some weaknesses.

I will not consider what I'm doing now an official deck tear until I can tear a deck inside the box and make it look somewhat easy. This may take a while considering I wrestle around with the cards quite a bit now. :D Finishing the tear is a killer for me right now. I'm pretty consistent with the initial rip. I just need to perfect my finishing technique.

I need to re-read the section on card tearing in the Gripmaster's Manual and see if I've missed anything. I know JB talks about repositioning the hands after the tear gets about half way, which I do to a degree. Can't remember the other stuff. I did create a small pinch block about the size of a deck of cards. I feel that this is helping, although I haven't been using it very long. I just started the card tearing quest about mid October so I'm still learning. Maybe I need to work on my explosiveness during the initial tear. I think if I can get a better initial tear (half way), it will be easier to reposition my grip and not lose any cards.

Edited by milkbone

Steve Reagan

"He trains my hands for battle"

2 Samuel 22:35

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Not that I have delusions of considering myself a world class card tearer or anything, but I'm revising the article I did for Heavy Grips on card tearing this week and will be including some more detailed information, including some advanced stuff. Hopefully will have a couple videos too

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The only way I can get card tearing to work is to pull toward me with my left hand, stabilizing with the right.

This is apparently the difficult way.

If I try it the "easy" way the cards split either side under the tension, and I lose hold of the deck. I have no control on card slippage at all.

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Not that I have delusions of considering myself a world class card tearer or anything, but I'm revising the article I did for Heavy Grips on card tearing this week and will be including some more detailed information, including some advanced stuff.  Hopefully will have a couple videos too

I'm looking forward to seeing that.

Steve Reagan

"He trains my hands for battle"

2 Samuel 22:35

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Like anything, technique and just getting reps in helps a lot. What brand are you trying to tear right now? Brands vary alot! I can get one kind that I can corner a deck and another where I can barely tear half a deck. Switching between different decks helps to add variety and target whatever your weak points might be...

Pastrami on Wry

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big steve's dvd is loaded with card tearin how toos and stuffs. outa git it, really helped me out.

dirty fingernails dont make u a man, missing fingernails, that makes you a man

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Dave's right. Steve's DVD is awesome. There is nothing better out there for learning how to do get stronger and watching some amazing feats.

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For those of us with head trauma-induced mental fatigue, where on this site is Big Steve's DVD sold?

I just ordered a copy from Atomic Athletic's website for $35.

Steve Reagan

"He trains my hands for battle"

2 Samuel 22:35

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The thumbless grip and wrist strength are the two elements I believe determine your card tearing power, assuming you have a good technique. Your fingers, particularly your pinkie, or particularly your index if you corner a deck, will get hurt ripping decks. No more that your palms hurting from bending, push through it. I start and get the initial tear unbraced, but I brace as I go into the finish because I reajust my hand position to get a better angle as I finish it off. I have Big Steve's video and I developed my finishing technique based on what I saw and it worked like a charm. Tearing a deck in the box is harder, it is the equivalent of maybe 10 cards I'd say. Once you bust the box with your first twist, it slips worse than the cards themselves. Once you've halved a deck try to quarter it, then put it into eighths. If you find you cannot quarter the amount of cards you halved, remove a few until you can. Layers of duck tape can take some serious skin off your palms too.

Real Name: Michael Rogowski

"The Glory of God is man fully alive." -Irenaeus

"The Lord is a warrior." Exodus 15:3

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  • 2 weeks later...

Clay, can you post a link to your card tearing article?

Steve Reagan

"He trains my hands for battle"

2 Samuel 22:35

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Clay, can you post a link to your card tearing article?

http://www.heavysports.com/

Paul Doire

TEAR PHONE BOOKS 1/5/2005

GM1 2/14/2005

HG300 and 400 TNS 2/21/2005

MMO 3/11/05

RB300N Video Close 11/1/05

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