Ps : sorry for my english.

About the blanco cut : is it a variation or is it just the way you learned it ? cos the way you twist the small packet before gripping it in the left hand is a bit ugly. Flourishes shouldn’t be ugly because then it could mean you haven’t trained enough, or you’re messing with cards : that’s the way I see things. Also, be careful about the end of blanco : why do you re-grip the small packet and fiddle with it as though you were trying to square it, when you could simply let it fall on top of the deck, as taught in thecuso’ tut ?
Now openers and closers should be good and fluid, better not be choppy or fiddling.

I’ve been meaning to write here for a while, to HOPEFULLY aid you, and support Alejandro’s “Up and Coming” scheme. I have no assignments to do now so, let me get started :)

You showed excellent speed throughout the video, and this demonstrates a great natural ability for manipulating cards. However, the moves were often jerky, and quite mechanical. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this, but it does mean that the moves need time to become completely natural. Try practicing things slower, so that you get the timing between each hand just right. Trust me, participents in the art won’t be the only people to notice the difference. Laypeople will see a smoothness and a mastery of the cards and realise it’s something really special.

Remember, Smooth does NOT = Slow. Nor does Fast = Rough.

Let me explain.
The opposite of Smooth is Rough, the opposite of Fast = Slow. Therefore, Smoothness and Speed CAN mix! It’s a case of practice and dedication, beyond simply learning the mechanics of a move.

Remember: Smoothness begins in the arms, and ends in the cards.

You showed great thought with your moves, they were creative and as someone else pointed out, “playful”, as with the spring and the kickflip which I really liked! Perhaps focus a bit more on that “fun” side of things if you enjoy it, that sort of spirit sets you apart from many, many other cardistry videos.

I saw a LOT of twirly moves, spinning packets etc. I’d like to see the broardening of your routines, to incorporate the many different styles. Don’t BREAK your own style in doing so, but do go looking for different things which catch your eye and try and incoporate them in some useful way, into the things you do. It will increase viewers perception of your skills, that you have a large base on which to draw moves from.

I’d love to see a lot more of you two flourishing in the same shot. The moments where you did, were the highlights for me, the kickflip+spring and both of you doing a spring.

So far as the editing goes it was fine. A couple more fade transitions might have been nicer, as your moves were quite dainty but the music was extremely agressive and the clips went straight into each other. You both looked pretty chilled out as well, so actual video images didn’t really match the editing and music. Something to think about :-)

Overall a decent video, and certainly some really good moments in there!

Well done, and please, take this advice to heart in a good way. I don’t want to force it on you both. Take what you think will be useful to you, and use it ;-)

Au revoir!

-David