Are you convinced that sword swallowing is an art and not a trick?

Use this forum to discuss the May 2018 Book of the Month, "The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid" by Gary Robinson
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GathuaM
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Re: Are you convinced that sword swallowing is an art and not a trick?

Post by GathuaM »

Zain A Blade wrote: 02 May 2018, 14:17 After reading the book (or at least the review), are you convinced that the character, Duke Raynolds, is not a fraud? Do you believe that sword swallowing is a practice that can actually be taught and learned? I'd love to hear your take on this.
No, I do believe sword swallowing is a trick used in circus shows.
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SparklesonPages
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Post by SparklesonPages »

I would certainly lean towards sword swallowing being a skill. It is a dangerous art that has to be learnt.
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Leyla
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Post by Leyla »

I still am not sure. I have seen them do it. I wish I could hold the sword to see if it is real, and not one of those that retrack when it hits something solid.

How can a sword go down someone's throat? I need a doctor's opinion. Is it possible? Is there a technique? I am truly baffled.
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Post by bruin »

I think it's a skill that can be taught, but I don't think anyone can do it. I guess it's an artful trick. I think that there is an actual method to follow in order to avoid injury. I don't think it's an illusion.
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Cecilia_L
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Post by Cecilia_L »

Depending on the experience and skill of the sword swallower, I would say it could be either a trick or an art.
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LV2R
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Post by LV2R »

It seems that sword swallowing must be real, though I still don't understand how it is done. Duke practiced swallowing things before he swallowed a sword. He also got cut up bad when he tried to swallow a sword on the TV show, as I recall.
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Post by samical6 »

I feel that any trick holds deception behind it. I think it ties into alcoholism. Addicts live life as a constant circus. Think about how that relates to this.
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Rosemary Wright
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Post by Rosemary Wright »

After I reading the book, I feel sword swallowing is a trick. I don't think anyone can swallow a sword without getting hurt.
Ibeh12
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Post by Ibeh12 »

Sword swallowing is suicidal act on its own. It's too dangerous to be considered to be an art form.
prinjeh18
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Post by prinjeh18 »

I guess, it is an art and a trick, but it must be practiced by professionals. It can be learned for today everything Is possible.
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Jennifer Fernandez
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Post by Jennifer Fernandez »

I think it goes both way. If the person is actually swallowing a sword then yes, it is art. Imagine doing that without harming yourself. BUt if it's just a deception then not. I read somewhere the swords where not sharp and they used lubricants but I don't know how true is that.
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LaurenHaupt
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Post by LaurenHaupt »

it's definitely a skill.
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Post by juliamenez »

I've seen x-ray videos of people swallowing swords and having to nudge different organs out of the way. In that sense, it is definitely happening and not done with a retractable sword.
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Nditah
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Post by Nditah »

The point is, Sword swallowing can be a trick but then every trick is an arts. It takes practice and mastery
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Post by pagesonfire »

I mean it must be...? There are people without a gag reflex and I'm sure it *is* physically possible, but the question would then be how many people actually *can* do it and how many are faking it, you know?
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