I was wondering if anyone has any tips on this. I have read the method from two different sources. I was wondering if a certain deck of cards is easier to grip compared to others, or if new decks are better than old decks.

If there is a knack to this I don't know it. I have been just trying to rip it with the grip detailed in the books. I am not up to a full deck yet and have been working with bicycle cards.

Any tips are appreciated.

Thanks,

Jon

Plastic coated cards are more difficult, Less expensive decks that are not coated are easier to start.

haha (me either...)

Check out Steve McGranahan's website. He has a few dvd's and will respond to any questions you send him.
http://www.stevemcgranahan.com/
I use the packs that are two for 1.00 at Wal Mart.
He makes some recommendations on his dvd's. I don't want to reveal them because it could take his business away and he is a really great guy.

I also used the cheap ones, and really just wears your wrists out doing it though.

Great to do when doing nightclub shows, least until the bouncers start cursing your name because of the mess you make.

McGranahan looks pretty intense, but with a sense of humor. Have you seen his dvd material? Is it any good? I love the strong man acts. Anyone here read the Mighty Atom's biography? If you can find it, it's worth the read.

I bought his first dvd. It was shot with a camcorder and distributed on a home copied dvd, but I love that and his informal style. He is hilarious. He stares into space for a minute when he's trying to remember something. It's great. I asked him for some specifics on a few things and he answered almost immediately. Great guy. Even though we differ in our theologies.

He gives a very thorough lesson in cards, starting with basics and working up to some really advanced stuff. He demos one that he is famous for, but doesn't teach it, which is good because it is really advanced. It is where he wraps a deck, in the box, with duct tape and tears it with his teeth.

He then teaches some bending and supplemental exercises for grip.
I can't say enough good things about him or his dvd.

I heard of that biography. I think they had it on Ironmind.com a little while ago.
Check out this site:
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk
I think that's right.
It has free online copies of old time strongman books.
It's one of my favorite sites.
Check out the Louis Cyr bio, that guy was amazing.

I can second Adam's recommendation of "The Mighty Atom." Truly inspiring.

And I have to tip my hat to Harley for recommending it first. Now on to more in my pile...Trickster, Amateur Magicians Handbook, 13 Steps to Mentalism, Visual guide to lock picking, Mr. Wilson's Cabinet Of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology...

Michael

While we're on the topic of books, Hubert's Freaks is a good read. It's about the lost Diane Arbus photos that went to auction earlier in the year.

Sandowplus was a fun website. I have the 'how to perform strongman acts' booklet. I love how they totally simplify the acts. "Oh, just wrap the spike in a towel and bend it" Yeah, right.

Thanks for all the help so far.

Steve McGranahan's DVD looks good. I want to get Dennis Roger's stuff. I would also like to get Slim "The Hammer Man"'s DVD.

I read the card tearing section of the Amateur Magician's Handbook. I have also read the whole How to Perform Strongman Acts booklet as well. Those were my original references.

I tried the cheaper souvenir type cards. They had a smooth finish and were two ply. I probably have well over a hundred decks of cards and I could only find one I was willing to rip. It was much easier to rip as compared to the three ply bicycle cards.

Reggie: I'm still not playing with a full deck though

I have trouble keeping the outside cards on. It seems the outer most card will sometimes rip in half completely first before the deck really starts to rip. The best starts I get is when I am able to put a ripple/wave in the cards after I gripped them which makes them stiff and I able to give it a good amount of pressure then. I was able to quarter half a deck (26 cards) fairly easily doing this.

Speaking of ironmind. Great products. That is what I am using to try to do these crazy things. Right now I am using a bunch of the ironmind grippers and extensors bands. I also am trying kettle balls as well.

I am still waiting to try to buy my copy of the Mighty Atom's biography.

Yes, the least expensive copy of the Atom book is around $60. It's a great book, and certainly gives you an idea of this eccentric guy, who entertained a lot of people. I often run into folks who recall seeing him at work.

If you can't buy it, get it on inter-library loan.

I agree. I got a Weider strongman book from the 70's that was like that. It was about 4 pages with 20 stunts. Really?
I always try to break them down and figure out a progression to work up to it.

Critter:

I think this was geared towards me.
"Really? I always try to break them down and figure out a progression to work up to it."

So, if you were referring to my using the grippers and such I can answer. If I am wrong in my interpretation then I apologize and ignore this.

I am very interested in hand strength and the things you can do with it. So making the cards easier to rip among other things are a bonus to the strength gained. I also do work outs if you will with the cards or whatever I am working with to gradually get better which is what I think you were referring to. So in once sentence I do both.

Oh, I didn't realize there were so many of us who posted at the same time that day
I was pretty much referring to the specific stunts in the book.
As opposed to just grabbing a wrench and twisting, what could I start with to build up to a wrench?
What could I bend as a beginner?
It was mostly my interpretation of how the book should have been written and not geared towards anyone specifically.
I like it when those types of lessons give me a starting point I can do instead of just an impossible task to sprain my wrist on (which happened a couple times.)

It was a reply to this:
"I have the 'how to perform strongman acts' booklet. I love how they totally simplify the acts. "Oh, just wrap the spike in a towel and bend it" Yeah, right."

Sorry about any contusion.

No problem. I agree with the building up to a wrench theory. I luckily only hurt my wrist once so far. Strongman acts are new to me. Sadly it didn't take very much to have my wrist sore for a week or so.

Most of the stunts really make you aware of your own body. You all of a sudden are aware of the muscles you are using, your movements, your posture, your breathing...

It is a surreal experience. The biggest eye opener to date was the sword staircase at Harley's sideshow class.

It sounds like you are smart for seeking as much information as possible.
If you haven't invested in Ironmind's "Healthy hands booklet" then I recommend it. Preventative maintenance is so important. Using a non-gripping muscle as an example, It is much healthier to exercise the rotator cuff than to recover from the surgery to repair it.
Your wrists are delicate. Please be careful with them.
Strongman is a very psychologically fulfilling thing to do, but there are risks as well. Having worked in nursing homes, I never want to end up with joints I can't use.

Pulling weeds is good exercise for hands and wrists.

I used to do this stunt before I broke my thumb in the dark on the chest of Russian acrobat backstage at the Big Apple Circus (that is a story for another time.)

I found that cheaper cards were harder to do than the US Playing Card Co. decks. The cheaper cards had a heavier coat of plastic and the US cards more brittle.

I hope she was worth it?

Thanks a lot, I was trying to keep that secret for myself