bullwhip lesson indy gear lessons whip stock whip Midwest bullwhip workshop Indiana Jones 4 whip artistry Gery deer
Conservatory of Professional Whip Artistry * SINCE 1998
Education * Entertainment Jamestown, Ohio
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bullwhip lesson indy gear lessons whip stock whip Midwest bullwhip workshop Indiana Jones 4 whip artistry Gery deer
Conservatory of Professional Whip Artistry * SINCE 1998 Education * Entertainment Jamestown, Ohio
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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull midwest bullwhip lessons whip artistry frequently asked questions bullwhip lessons The Whip Artistry Studio Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What kind of bullwhip did Indiana Jones use? A. The bullwhip made for the original Indiana Jones movie was a hybrid of an Australian bullwhip and an American bullwhip produced by David Morgan. What has now become known as the "Indiana Jones Style Bullwhip" by most whip artists is a 12-plait, 2-belly, kangaroo hide bullwhip with an 8-inch handle and a wrist loop. American whips typically had the short handle, but it's generally on a dowel rod or bolt so that the handle swivels. Instead, Morgan combined the American 'look' with the Australian function and got a legendary whip out of the marriage.
In the latest Indy movie, Terry Jacka provided the bullwhips, evident in the photo to the left. The over-extended transition area off the handle is a trademark of Jacka whips. This whip tends to be very light with a very stiff thong just off the transition making it look as though it has a 14 or 18 inch handle. The whip is capped at each end of the handle with Jacka's signature knots, making the whip look somewhat different than it's predecessors.
Go to Northern Whip Co. or Midwest Whips to find the right whip for you or to buy the best Indy duplicate.
Q. Is there good whip work in Indiana Jones films? A. Of course there is, but keep in mind that much of the whip work you see in the original Indiana Jones trilogy is more camera trickery than whip artistry. Harrison Ford learned how to look believable with the whip but he's not an expert of course. That's why they created stunt men and camera tricks. For example, while it is possible to swing on a whip, the odds of getting that perfect tension-making wrap are pretty high, not to mention that kangaroo-hide Indy-style whips are just not typically built to support weight and in motion they have torque and other stresses to support. If you do manage to get it to wrap and hold it may likely break when you put your weight on it - generally near or at the fall keeper knot - and it will usually stretch to the point of ruin. Plus, how will you get it down? If it wrapped that tightly, that little 'wrist flick' you see Indy do in the movies will likely not loosen it up.
There are two shots in the three original Indy movies that depict Ford actually using the whip in a complete motion. There were probably many others but they were omitted partly because of editing. In Raiders, just before the basket chase through Cairo. Indy throws Marion into a hay wagon and then sets about cracking his whip in a reverse-horizontal crack (side-arm flick) over and over. All the bad guys have swords and there is a lot of time between cracks when some of the bad guys could just rush him and finish him off. But then again, it is his movie.
The second shot of a complete throw was in Temple of Doom. Indy once again faces a sword fighter but has no gun this time. So, he cracks his whip around the hand of the swordsman and yanks the weapon away from him. If the camera angle is not too misleading you can tell the whip is about 5 feet long or so. But the shot looks very good and keeps the action going.
Notice, however, that the whip changes length from the one on his belt and it's supposed to be 'cracking' and that scares the horses making them run away pulling the wagon with Marion out of sight. Anyone notice that there is no popper on the end of his whip? If it did crack at all, it wouldn't be too loud. Studies show that the cracker does not produce the noise but it does amplify it by sending it out in many different directions so you wouldn't hear it too well.
Other movies to review for whip work are Batman Returns, The Mask of Zorro, The Mark of Zorro, Don Q Son of Zorro, The Rundown, The Kentuckian, and Man from Snowy River.
Those interested in learning include hobbyists, martial artists, sport whip crackers, professional performers, and more. Many whip practitioners go for the bullwhip to complete their theater training. Stunt performers, actors, dancers, and others in the film and theater industry learn the whip to expand their resume of skills. Performers in Wild West shows and stage variety acts as well as magicians and teachers use the whip to add to their exhibitions. Motion picture studios, stunt performers, and other film production groups use whips in a variety of ways. Often the whip is something the stunt performer will teach to a principal actor, as in the recent Catwoman movie. Stunt coach and performer Alex Green (LEFT) worked with Ohio native Halle Berry in preparation for her whip work in the movie. Alex taught her what she needed to make her whip work look smooth and believable. Unfortunately, a good deal of Halle's work ended up on the cutting room floor and the computer imaging was overused making it look silly in some scenes. ("Catwoman" is ©2004 Warner Brothers Pictures) Q. Why do you use the word "WHIP" so much and not "BULLWHIP?" A. There are literally dozens of different types of whips out there. All of which have a place in the whip arts. To use the term bullwhip generically would be inaccurate. A good whip artist will learn his or her skills based on technique and physics and their own physical ability. A downfall with many whip artists is becoming too 'used to' a particular type of whip. Learn about how and why whips work.
Q. Is it hard to learn? A. There’s no yes or no answer to this one. If you are willing to put in practice time, as with any other skill like music or sports, you will learn quickly. If you don't have a whip and don't put your lessons into practice, then you will likely be unsuccessful.
Q. What about 'copy cat' whip workshops out there? A. There are a number of whip artists out there giving lessons, and many are fine teachers, most notably Chris Camp (The Whip Guy) in Illinois, and Robert Dante who gives lessons at his Minneapolis Bullwhip Academy in Minnesota. These are not 'copy cats' but instead qualified whip artists who have been in the business for some years and have a great deal of experience teaching and performing. They are highly respected and recognized in their field. We can highly recommend their work. There are times to be careful who you choose for a teacher, however.
Whip artistry is not all what you see in the movies. Contrary to popular media you can't swing across a ravine or disarm a guy with a machine gun. With that in mind, we request that potential whip students visit during an open session at the studio before enrolling in lessons. An initial discussion with the instructors and current students can help you see what it's really like and you'll have the opportunity to try your hand at the whip so that the instructor can get a feel for your potential aptitude at the sport. There is no charge for this time and it's helpful in guiding your training later.
Q. Do I need a whip? A. You won't need a whip for the first session. We'll have you try a few different types and see what you're most comfortable using. But once you start your lessons, you will need your own whip. Like they say, if you don't use it, you'll lose it. We will help you determine what you need to get started, but we do have a basic recommendation for beginners. If you already have a whip, you must have it and all safety equipment approved by the instructor before training begins. Should you wish to use one of the instructor's whips during training sessions, they are available for a minor fee. Better equipment can lead to quicker success. Our instructors generally recommend a 6 to 8 foot Australian 12-plait, dual-bellied, kangaroo-hide whip.Click here to see our recommendation for a more professional whip from Joe Strain's "Northern Whip Co.".
One Note: If the whip shown in the picture on the left is what you have it will not be acceptable for your lessons. These 'whips' barely deserve the name. They cost all of $1.50-$2.00 wholesale and retail for as much as $10. They are made of glued newspaper with ultra-thin strips of the worst in left-over leather from a processing house. They are then painted and have a red nylon string attached to the end as a 'popper.' You will neither succeed with this whip nor will you be able to perform most of the work required. Plus, the average lifespan of this whip is about 20 minutes. Save your money. Buy a good, professionally-made whip.
Q. What about whip workshops that say you don't need your own whip? A. That is just nonsense. It's ridiculous to put out money to go to a class and have no way to practice what you learned when you get home. Whip artistry, like sports and other activities is largely muscle-memory. If you don't have a whip, you won't learn anything because it will be gone once you leave your lesson. It's a little like taking piano lessons if you don't have a piano of your own.
Q. Do I need to find a teacher or can I learn on my own? A. Naturally, anyone can teach you to 'crack' a whip. But really learning the whip is like learning a musical instrument. It requires good information, good equipment, and lots of practice. It is possible to learn the basics on your own without a teacher, but it makes its own enemy in the long run. Today, with so many how-to videos available, online discussion groups, and so on, someone working on their own has a much better chance of success than in days past, but there’s nothing to replace a teacher who can give you immediate feedback. A qualified, experienced whip coach can help you keep from having bad habits engrained into your brain permanently. At the very least, get an hour or two with a whip coach to give you a kick start. Then, use the videos and books as a guide and refresher.
NO ONE can teach you everything about the whip in an hour. Accomplished whip artistry is very much like learning a musical instrument. It requires commitment, time, and effort on the part of the student. No one at our studio will ever say they can make you a whip expert overnight. In fact, anyone claiming to be an 'expert' on the whip should be avoided. No matter how long you stay with it, you will learn something new.
Instructors can explain how it works, what can be done with it, and give basic instruction in a relatively short time and in more advanced levels of training they can help with detailed fine tuning. Someone with a good background in teaching, engineering, physics, and performing arts can help you even understand the motion of the whip in conjunction with your movements, like a dancer learning how their body works to improve their work. But, to learn the whip and become 'smooth' with it, making it look and feel effortless, requires time and practice on the part of the student not to mention having quality equipment to work with.
Q. What kind of whip should I buy? A. The best one you can afford. Really, this isn’t a gimmick to sell whips. As any sportsman or musician can tell you, your learning curve is less challenging when you have the best quality tools. Your whip is your art so don’t skimp if you can afford not to. A well-made basic, wooden-handled, cowhide, $70 whip can get you started but you’ll see more and quicker success using something more balanced, properly weighted, and professionally-made. More success will make you more inclined to stay with it rather than giving up from frustration to overcome ‘mechanical’ issues. The Whip Artistry Studio instructors recommend starting with a standard kangaroo hide bullwhip of 6-ft, with a 12-plait overlay, and double belly – preferably with a 10-12 inch handle. Recommended whip suppliers : Paul Nolan - Midwest Whips, and Joe Strain - Northern Whip Company.
Q. Bullwhip or Stock Whip. Which should I start with? A. We don’t recommend starting with a stock whip. Stock whips are great for doing flashy cracking routines and you’ll learn very quickly on many things, but they’re also somewhat of a ‘cheat.’ The long handle and flexible transition between thong and handle make it easier to use on basic cracks and you might pick it up in a very short time. While that can be good in the short term, if you have any intention of moving over to a bullwhip this becomes a problem. Because of the bullwhip’s solid transition and often far shorter handle, you suddenly have to do all the work yourself and you will have a more difficult time handling whips like the “Indy” style or other short handled bullwhips. But, in the end you will learn more.
Q. I want to do double-handed whip work. Do I need a matched pair of whips? A. The simple, and not terribly popular answer, is no. The origin of the idea of the necessity for a "matched" pair of whips is a mystery. Some say it was created by whip makers in order to sell more whips. Others believe it was a way for competitive whip crackers in Australia to 'distance' themselves from the general population or hobbyist by being the only ones with access to or able to afford the finer whip makers' work. In reality it's not necessary to your work with one exception.
Whips that are made at the same time, are never 'identical' - since they're made by hand one at a time that's a physical impossibility. Every whip has a 'personality' that develops over time of use. If you have two whips that were made at the same time, by the same person, with similar materials, and you only use them together they will 'break in' in a similar fashion and develop similar characteristics. This makes them react more alike than not, but this is not always true. I use a bullwhip and a stockwhip in many of my double-handed routines. These are two totally different types of whip and learning to handle them together can teach you more than two identical whips. Is it harder? Of course. That's why you learn more.
Q. Is it expensive? A. This question is relative to your interest in the craft. Many hobbies are expensive and no one would think twice about getting a good piano teacher or firearms instructor. The average piano lesson costs $25 for 30 minutes. Whip lessons at The Whip Artistry Studio are slightly less expensive and are far more exclusive. After all, piano teachers, even good ones, are a dime a dozen and still command a fair price for their time and experience. An experienced whip artist with a full-time facility is nearly non-existent. Many of our students and associates have gone on to win national awards and some are now professional performers earning a good living with the use of what they learned at our studio.
In addition to weekly hourly classes and quarterly weekend sessions, The Whip Artistry Studio also offers less-expensive Saturday Whip Camps and Thursday Night Open Studio sessions. These events are often less than $10 per person for a couple of hours and offer students a chance to interact with other students, get help with problems, and take advantage of a fun learning experience. Check our Schedule page for more information.
Q. Why not go to a free whip workshop or whip cracking gathering at a park? A. Many online whip hobbyist groups have gatherings at parks and private locations around the country. Many of these events are held with little safety instruction and no insurance liability coverage. This is a great way to share interests, as in any other hobby, but it's not a good way to focus your whip artistry education. You can and should soak up everything you can learn but there's no replacement for an experienced, professional teacher in a controlled, focused, indoor environment.
Q. I want to learn to be a performing whip artist. Can you teach me that too? A. Absolutely. All of our instructors and associates are professional performers as well as instructors and competitors. Our parent company, GLD Enterprises & Productions, is a talent referral and production management agency. We have the space, materials, and experience to help someone build an audience-pleasing stage show from the ground up, from costuming to arrangement. We have a proven track record in this field and many letters of recommendation and thanks from clients over the last ten years.
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