There are a number of books, DVD's, and numerous online videos on how to crack a whip on the market. Many of them are absolutely fantastic sources of information, and we encourage students to explore as many different sources, approaches, and styles of whip cracking as they can, (and you will find links to some of the best out there in the links section of this website.) However, in my experience, nothing provides faster, safer, and more effective results than working with an experienced whip coach.
I provide both informational presentations on whip history, function and artistry, as well as hands-on whip training in the form of one-on-one lessons, ongoing group classes, and intensive one and two day workshops.
First of all, let me tell you what I'm not and what I don't do:
I am not a stage combat instructor, but I've had some SAFD stage combat training and understand the necessities, structure, and safety protocols of staged violence. Consequently, I can teach whip skills to the stage combat performer and instructor using language, techniques and tools they're already familiar with.
Likewise, I'm not a martial arts instructor. I have however had some training in Kendo, Shuri Ryu Karate, and Tai Chi and various Western Martial Arts, and have a solid understanding of human kinesthetics and self-defense. I can teach a martial artist various ways to crack a whip, using combat techniques and approaches that are already second nature to them, and give them some tools to incorporate the whip into kata and self-defense techniques.
I am not a dancer/performer, but I have acted semi-pro where I was required to perform choreographed dance routines. I won't choreograph your routine, but I can give you the tools to do it yourself.
I am not a sadomasochist/fetish enthusiast, but I've worked with a whip alongside a few, (in a non-fetish training environment,) and I have had the opportunity to train with one of the fetish communities leading authorities on the bullwhip. I can teach you how to control the whip so that you can induce pain or light sensation.
Above all, I am an educator. As mentioned in my bio, I taught college for the better part of a decade. Before that, I taught high school very briefly. Prior to that, I worked in the education resourced department of a Fortune 200 Hospital, and my current "day job" is in media training and informational support for a family of Charter Schools in North Carolina. I have advanced degrees in communication, and over 25 years of experience in breaking complex information down and presenting it in an easy to process way. Over half of that time was spent also working with a whip.
While I have obviously incorporated a considerable amount of techniques and material that I have learned from the highly skilled whip performers and whip makers that I have been privileged to work with, (and even more privileged to call friends,) I have also developed my own unique instructional system based upon human body mechanics, physical therapy techniques and visualization systems that I feel allows the whip student to rapidly develop a deep understanding of the movement of the whip. It is from that understanding that every application, from targeting to self-defense, to dramatic performance, to intricate two-hand routines will emerge naturally.
Whether you or your group are dancers, martial artists, actors, jugglers, magicians, or any other type of performer who wants to add the whip to your skill set, or you're just a fan of Zorro, Catwoman, or Indiana Jones, I will work with you to reach your personal goals in whip artistry.
The foundation of every presentation and course is safety, and developing a base skill that can be improved upon with practice.
Further details about course content, pricing, and structure are available below. Please read carefully, and feel free to contact me with questions or for further details.
I provide both informational presentations on whip history, function and artistry, as well as hands-on whip training in the form of one-on-one lessons, ongoing group classes, and intensive one and two day workshops.
First of all, let me tell you what I'm not and what I don't do:
I am not a stage combat instructor, but I've had some SAFD stage combat training and understand the necessities, structure, and safety protocols of staged violence. Consequently, I can teach whip skills to the stage combat performer and instructor using language, techniques and tools they're already familiar with.
Likewise, I'm not a martial arts instructor. I have however had some training in Kendo, Shuri Ryu Karate, and Tai Chi and various Western Martial Arts, and have a solid understanding of human kinesthetics and self-defense. I can teach a martial artist various ways to crack a whip, using combat techniques and approaches that are already second nature to them, and give them some tools to incorporate the whip into kata and self-defense techniques.
I am not a dancer/performer, but I have acted semi-pro where I was required to perform choreographed dance routines. I won't choreograph your routine, but I can give you the tools to do it yourself.
I am not a sadomasochist/fetish enthusiast, but I've worked with a whip alongside a few, (in a non-fetish training environment,) and I have had the opportunity to train with one of the fetish communities leading authorities on the bullwhip. I can teach you how to control the whip so that you can induce pain or light sensation.
Above all, I am an educator. As mentioned in my bio, I taught college for the better part of a decade. Before that, I taught high school very briefly. Prior to that, I worked in the education resourced department of a Fortune 200 Hospital, and my current "day job" is in media training and informational support for a family of Charter Schools in North Carolina. I have advanced degrees in communication, and over 25 years of experience in breaking complex information down and presenting it in an easy to process way. Over half of that time was spent also working with a whip.
While I have obviously incorporated a considerable amount of techniques and material that I have learned from the highly skilled whip performers and whip makers that I have been privileged to work with, (and even more privileged to call friends,) I have also developed my own unique instructional system based upon human body mechanics, physical therapy techniques and visualization systems that I feel allows the whip student to rapidly develop a deep understanding of the movement of the whip. It is from that understanding that every application, from targeting to self-defense, to dramatic performance, to intricate two-hand routines will emerge naturally.
Whether you or your group are dancers, martial artists, actors, jugglers, magicians, or any other type of performer who wants to add the whip to your skill set, or you're just a fan of Zorro, Catwoman, or Indiana Jones, I will work with you to reach your personal goals in whip artistry.
The foundation of every presentation and course is safety, and developing a base skill that can be improved upon with practice.
Further details about course content, pricing, and structure are available below. Please read carefully, and feel free to contact me with questions or for further details.
Course Pricing Structure
Our cost for whip artistry courses is somewhat flexible, and will vary depending upon travel expenses for instructors, location fees, and number of participants. Special pricing through educational and fine arts organizations, dance studios, martial arts dojos, etc. may also be negotiated for reduced rates.
To provide a baseline to go from, the average cost of a stand-alone whip lesson per person per session is $75 for the 1st hour, $25 each additional hour. That price does not reflect additional fees for location rental and may decrease with larger numbers of students or multiple day course structure.
Specially reduced rates for small groups and extended lessons also apply.
Contact the instructor for further details.
Unless otherwise agreed upon with the instructor, instructional fees are due prior to training session.
To learn more about our pricing structure, and educational philosophy, please refer to our FAQ.
To provide a baseline to go from, the average cost of a stand-alone whip lesson per person per session is $75 for the 1st hour, $25 each additional hour. That price does not reflect additional fees for location rental and may decrease with larger numbers of students or multiple day course structure.
Specially reduced rates for small groups and extended lessons also apply.
Contact the instructor for further details.
Unless otherwise agreed upon with the instructor, instructional fees are due prior to training session.
To learn more about our pricing structure, and educational philosophy, please refer to our FAQ.
Course Requirements
In order to participate in any MACH ONE Whip Artistry course or seminar where you will be handling a whip, the following is required:
- A participation waiver must be signed before students may handle whips. Persons under 18 years of age must provide a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian to participate in any hands-on whip activities. These waivers are for our legal records only and no information will be publicly divulged.
- Participants must wear eye protection when handling whips. Shatter resistant corrective lens glasses or sunglasses are acceptable as eye protection. The instructor will most likely have several pair of safety glasses available for use, but is not obliged to provide them. Students will not be permitted to handle whips without eye protection. Acceptable eye protection can be purchased anywhere from sporting goods shops, hardware stores, or anyplace that sells firearms or ammunition.
- Long pants and long sleeve shirts are strongly recommended for beginning students, though not a strict requirement. Tights and yoga pants do not qualify here as long pants. Jeans, sweat pants, or other resistant material is recommended. There are some whip practitioners who recommend a leather motorcycle jacket and helmet. We believe this to be a bit extreme, and have found a heavy Karate uniform, (a gi) is quite adequate for almost all whip practice up to but not including full contact sparring (which we will not be doing.) A wide-brimmed hat or a hoodie may also be useful to beginning students. As the student progresses in skill level, they may find that they are comfortable enough to practice without this additional protection. Eye protection, however, may only be removed in practice for specific instances of dress rehearsals or costume limitations, but only with express permission of the instructor.
- For training indoors, or for those with exceptionally sensitive hearing, we recommend the use of hearing protection. The disposable foam "in ear" earplugs available at most hardware stores and anywhere that sells firearms and ammunition are quite suitable to block the potentially damaging frequencies from a cracking whip. Again, the instructor may have hearing protection available, but is not obliged to provide it.
- Students who wish to provide their own whip while participating in a MACH ONE course or workshop must have the whip they wish to use inspected and OKed by the instructor. Whips that are too long, too short, or are poorly constructed will impede the progress of the student and can cause a potential danger to the student and others. Students wishing to purchase a whip to use in class are encouraged to contact the instructor for assistance in selecting a suitable one from a reputable source well in advance of the course.
- "Loaner whips" may be provided on a "first come, first serve" availability basis for shorter one or two day whip workshops, though the instructor is under no obligation to provide whips. Please contact the instructor 1-2 weeks beforehand to ensure availability.
General Course Structure
Course Structure will vary greatly, depending on length of course, scope and purpose of instruction, and students' prior experience.
While the techniques covered in these courses apply equally to all types and lengths of supersonic whips, (bullwhips, stockwhips, snakewhips, and the now popular hybrid "Performance" whip,) the courses will cover and will only utilize, (unless with express prior permission from the instructor,) Australian Construction nylon or leather bullwhips between 5 and 8 feet in length.
Beginner/Introductory courses will generally cover the following topics.
Beginner/Introductory courses will teach the following whip handling techniques
Special topics may cover incorporating a whip into the student's act, specific dance/action/fight choreography, whip performance for stage/motion picture, focused targeting, two-handed routines, and whip integration into martial arts kata, sparring, and practice.
While the techniques covered in these courses apply equally to all types and lengths of supersonic whips, (bullwhips, stockwhips, snakewhips, and the now popular hybrid "Performance" whip,) the courses will cover and will only utilize, (unless with express prior permission from the instructor,) Australian Construction nylon or leather bullwhips between 5 and 8 feet in length.
Beginner/Introductory courses will generally cover the following topics.
- Brief overview Whip history, design, and use
- The Anatomy of an Australian construction bullwhip
- The physics of a cracking whip
- Whip safety for whip performer, audience and fellow performance partners
- The basic "Do's and Don'ts" of whip cracking
- General whip care and maintenance for both nylon and leather whips
- Selecting a good whip: What makes a good whip, How to evaluate a whip, What to look for, what to avoid
Beginner/Introductory courses will teach the following whip handling techniques
- Grip, posture, stance
- Whip curvature and cracking orientation
- "The Box" and "The Railroad Tracks" visualizations, (i.e. "How to not hit yourself")
- The two types of whip cracks, and "The 360 Degree Rule"
- The different planes of motion
- Crack combinations, "changing planes" and building routines
- Cracking with the non-dominant "off" hand
- Introduction to target cutting and wraps
- Basic whip "Tricks"
Special topics may cover incorporating a whip into the student's act, specific dance/action/fight choreography, whip performance for stage/motion picture, focused targeting, two-handed routines, and whip integration into martial arts kata, sparring, and practice.
