Basic Training by Ian Kendall

Between 2009 and 2011 a very special column appeared in M-U-M, the in-house magazine for the Society of American Magicians. Conceived to be an introduction to sleight of hand aimed at beginners, the thirty-six lessons ended up being one of the most detailed courses in conjuring to date. The topics covered included all aspects of magic; cards and coins, balls, ropes and cups, stand up and close up, interspersed with real-world performance hints and tips from someone who has spent time in the trenches.

This e-book version contains all thirty six Basic Training columns, plus two extra lessons on the Classic Pass and the Top Change.

Download a sample of the ebook.

Contents

• Some words from the Original Editor

• It all began with an email

• On teaching

• The Lessons

• The Ghost Count

• The Double Lift

• Open position and the cage defined

• The French Drop

• Presentation

• Card Controls

• Multiple cut to table (Ron Bauer)

• Spanish Control

• A Simple Pass

• Let's do the Twist

• Jordan Count

• Through the fist flourish

• Twisting Daley's Aces

• The False Transfer

• A Simple Vanish

• Hang Point

• A False Transfer

• Forces

• Cross Cut Force

• The Backslip Force

• The Hamman Count

• Hamman from a dealing grip

• Be Prepared

• The Line

• Ambidextrous Magic

• Heel Clip Simple Steal

• False Shuffles

• Overhand Chop Shuffle

• Riffle Shuffle Control

• Up The Ladder Cut

• Thumb Tip Tips

• Silk From Bill

• Hindu Shuffle

• As a Control

• As a Force

• As a Convincer

• The Last Turn

• The Chop Cup

• Paul Wilson's Lean Chop

• Ian's First Phase

• Shells

• Into the Fourth Dimension (Jay Sankey)

• On Venue

• The Birth of a Show

• Ambitious Card

• The Easiest Second Deal in the World

• Gary Kurtz's Convincer

• Wesley James' Load Up Move

• Multiple Selections

• Classic Palming a Coin

• The Three Ball Trick

• The Unequal Ropes

• The One Way Deck

• Spellbound

• Changes

• The Too Perfect Theory

• Card to Envelope

• The Book Change

• Stacked Decks

• Eight Kings

• Si Stebbins

• Three Way Mind Reading

• Knots

• Cut and Restored Get Ready

• The Knot Routine

• Juggling

• The Classic Force

• Sleeving

• Cards to Pocket

• Gordon Bruce's Load

• Francis Carlyle's Homing Card

• Ad Lib Jacket Load

• The Muscle Pass

• One Coin Routines

• Ian's One Coin Routine

• Adaptability

• Instant Card Reversed, Tabled

• Instant Card Reversed, Standing

• Final Thunks

• The Classic Pass

• The Trapdoor

• The Hinge

• The Classic Pass

• Blocking the Pass

• The Top Change

• The Standard Top Change

• The Overhand Top Change

• The Snap Top Change

• Blocking the Top Change