Amusing and useful illustrated book showing how to throw playing cards better - subtitled "A Treatise on the art of throwing, scaling, juggling, boomeranging and manipulating ordinary playing cards with particular emphasis on impressing one''s friends and providing a deadly yet inexpensive means of self-defence". The book, a perennial Ebay special and Library sale ''sleeper'', is now being seen as a self help book that ''changes lives'' - several comments at Amazon, not entirely tongue in cheek, attest to this. Apparently people take up card throwing in the way they used to take up tap dancing or juggling -to get out of a rut. Jay is something of a media star (MTV etc.,) and the book is much wanted. It is not especially elusive although it''s hard to find a sharp copy as it is a thin large format paperback. It reveals secrets that some magicians feel should not have been revealed; as a manual it has been used by blokes like Chow Yun-fat, Andy Lau, and Stephen Chow in their Asian gambling films. VALUE? Copies show up a bit creased at around $200 and twice that for fine copies. Signed should show up as Jay is pretty approachable and was often seen at book fairs etc., being a serious book collector. God bless him. Magicians are often pretty serious book collectors - at one time one heard quite a bit about the highly acquisitive David Copperfield and his awesome collection. It is worth noting that there is also a hardback of the book that is much prized and dealers (who are not mad) sometimes ask $1000 or more for it, although a cautious punter could probably pick one up in the $600 to $800 range - in a jacket.
How to Throw Cards The Grip (2 Basic methods): Before throwing a card it is necessary to acquire the proper grip. There are actually a few that work quite well. In the following verbal discriptions of how to hold the card, it is assumed that the thrower is right handed. Also, the corners and sides are labeled with the card being held so the number and suit are in the Northwest corner, thus the top of the card is North. The method which seems to be the easiest for beginners is the following: the card is simply held between the pointer and middle finger, so that the finger tips squeeze the northeast corner of the card (NW for leftys), and the right edge of the card is partially in between the fingers, and the southeast corner touches the palm of the hand. Keep the hand straight out, as if going to shake hands, and the left edge of the card should run parallel to the hand. The next method, is quite similar to the last, in that the card is gripped between the tips of the pointer and middle fingers. The main difference is that the finger tips squeeze the northwest corner. The northeast corner contacts the palm just below the fingers, and the right edge of the card runs down along the palm. JAY GRIP The final method which will be discussed is the "Jay Grip". It is the method I use the most often(except for behind the back shots) and I feel I have a lot more control with it. First put the the fleshy part of the index finger on the Northeast corner of the card. Then, with the thumb and middle finger, squeeze the card a little above and to the right of the center. Make sure the card is twisted back so that the southeast corner touches the palm of the hand. The Throw: The basic way to throw a card is much like a frisbee, but it is important to have a very quick flick of the wrist, the arm is not really important. If your card just flutters, it is most likely because the card is not spinning, meaning that you are giving it too much arm and not enough wrist. To fix this problem, hold your throwing arm still and attempt to toss cards using just a flick of the wrist, you will see them spin and fly a few feet. Then slowly work in the swing of the arm, not forgetting the quick flick of the wrist. Also, be sure to start with your hand all the way twisted back, so the top of the card points directly at you. Once this method is mastered, you may wish to move on to the advanced method. This method is more like a baseball pitch. The hand starts over the right sholder and comes down and outward. Be sure not to twist the wrist at all during this motion, and the quick flick of the wrist is very important. Also, stepping in with the opposite leg gives an extra boost. ('Cards As Weapons', copyright 1988 Warner Books) . How to Throw Cards The Grip (2 Basic methods): Before throwing a card it is necessary to acquire the proper grip. There. that you are giving it too much arm and not enough wrist. To fix this problem, hold your throwing arm still and attempt to toss cards using just a flick