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

[Dolor]

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.

There are tricks and there are real. Both are learned. How are we gonna identify the tricks from the real depends upon how keen we are while watching it done, live!

[Jeyasivananth]

Well after reading the book and its prologue where the author claims the book is based on real-life incidents and people. I am convinced to believe its an sn rare and dying art mastered by a few in this world.

[K Geisinger]

I do not believe that sword swallowing is a trick. Any skill seems like a trick to people who don't know how to do it. I am sure that there are "tricks" or movements that make the sword swallowing easier, but any artist has those. It is possible to learn, but dangerous.

What I think would have been interesting was the first time Duke tried to swallow a sword. I'm sure it would have been difficult and he probably wouldn't have succeeded the first time.

[kislany]

I know that there are true sword swallowers, but my mind somehow wants to believe that it's just a trick. I guess the vivid images that come with the second option are more gentle.

[sophiemer642]

I believe that sword swallowing is indeed a trick. Lets analyze this. If sword swallowing was actually real, a sharp blade would be going down someones throat. Swords should be sharp enough to cut the esophagus, so that raises questions. Also, sword swallowers usually "swallow" long swords, so how does it not bump into organs such as the lungs or the heart? How does it not bump against the ribcage? I doubt years of practice could actually cause a human to be able to accomplish this. I believe human beings can accomplish very great things, but sword swallowing?? No.

[bootsie0126+]

This is a practice art and skilled that only a few have mastered. I have had the pleasure of knowing a man who can swallow swords and other items with little or no problems. He told me once that it took years for him to perfect this skill and only after mastering swallowing items that did not consist of anything sharp, he was able to guide an object down his throat without harm. He didn't try using an actual sword until almost 3 years after he first started. He admits that although it is a very dangerous skill to possess, he enjoy performing for people and he has also had incidents where he has gotten cut from performing.

[Supergirl1]

I have not seen an actual sword swallower in real life, so I am yet to be convinced that it is not a trick.

[kfwilson6]

Based on the way the author described what Duke did in order to "swallow" the swords, it kind of had me convinced they really were going down his throat. I would venture to say the majority of sword swallowers are using something collapsible, but as was previously pointed out, why would the author not have mentioned this if it were Duke's method? Maybe I'm too gullible, but I'm inclined to believe it really can happen and is definitely an art.

[bootsie0126+]

I believe that sword swallowing is indeed a trick. Lets analyze this. If sword swallowing was actually real, a sharp blade would be going down someones throat. Swords should be sharp enough to cut the esophagus, so that raises questions. Also, sword swallowers usually "swallow" long swords, so how does it not bump into organs such as the lungs or the heart? How does it not bump against the ribcage? I doubt years of practice could actually cause a human to be able to accomplish this. I believe human beings can accomplish very great things, but sword swallowing?? No.

Hi,
Although, I respect your opinion regarding sword swallowing, it is true that some people have mastered the art of sword swallowing. Lets analyze your responses. the process of swallowing food or water is the same for swallowing a sword or any other foreign object. Children have accidentally swallowed coins and other items which can scratch, cuts or otherwise damage the throat, esophagus and major organs inside the body. The difference is the process of swallowing food starts with the voluntary action of using muscles to start the swallowing process. This process help food and other items travel through the esophagus into the stomach. This process is automatic and does not cause a person to gag with swallowing food. However the skill of swallowing a sword or other sharp items is learning how to control reflex (gaging) when you swallow something that does not voluntarily start the swallowing process. So a sword swallower must first learn to control gagging reflexes, the head is tilted back to relax throat muscles and straighten out the lining of the throat. Once relaxation is mastered, the movement of the sword safely down the esophagus can occur.

Your second point: the ability to swallow a sword without injuring vital organs can be done with practice over many years. Once the sword starts to travel down the esophagus, I have been told by my friend who can swallow swords, as the sword nears the heart, he could actually feel the pulsing beat on the sword. He is able to gently move the position which allows him to pass the heart and lungs.

I was showed an authentic x-ray of his throat and stomach with the sword inside.

[jwalker73]

The art of sword swallowing is not a trick or illusion, it is a very risky and difficult art, where you have to learn to adjust your swallowing to prevent damage. The sword only goes down the oesophagus into the stomach (hopefully!) so it does not really have to 'get around' organs as it is a straight line, it just needs to not pierce any organs that are located next to the oesophagus. Also, the world record for number of swords swallowed at one time is 24!

[bootsie0126+]

I believe that sword swallowing is more of a trick than art. Just how do you swallow a sword and fail to get injuries? For me, it's just a clever trick.

The only trick involved in sword swallowing, which is really not a trick, is that the swords are not as sharp as people may believe. However this does not take away from the fact that sword swallowing is real. Sometimes it is hard to accept things that defy all logic, but just because it may seem impossible and beyond the imagination, does not mean that it's not possible. Sword swallowing is a skill that takes practice. There has been documentation of many foreign objects that people have swallowed over the years. Some of those objects goes against everything you believe to be false, yet these objects are swallowed in the same manner as a sword. How is it possible for a doctor to place a scope in the mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach without damaging organs? What you may be thinking is that a scope is smaller and not as sharp. That is true but the same concept applies. Swallowing foreign objects can cause damage to several things inside the body, not just a sword, but they have been done.

I think the problem most people have with accepting the truth of sword swallowing is the image of a sharp blade. True, however the ability or skill that sword swallowers have is aligning the esophagus straight as possible so that a blade can pass through without injuries. Take a look at this website and see the impossible become possible. These are legitimate x-rays of individuals swallowing a sword: http://www.swordswallow.com/xrays.php

[Samarah2010]

Sword swallowing is art or a trick.being a performer he have entention to captivize our attention or gave as a big soleving.

[Jgideon]

That's quite an eye-opener. I would wish it wasn't true but the reality says something different. The x-rays have taken away my doubts. Thanks.

[Gingerbreads]

Depend on every and each person own thinking weather it an art or a trick. to me, it a little bit both and everyone could do it but at their own risk as you know playing with sword is dangerous. To swallow a sword, need practice & strong determination. As i said, your own risk. another way is buy sword swallowing props from Magic shops/stores so you could do a trick to your family, friends or random stranger

[Jax14]

I definitely believe that there is no trick involved in the genuine displays of this art. I'm sure there are those looking to earn a quick buck, but those dedicated to the "old-time" profession do align with a strict code. I have seen a number of documentaries on how they teach people to do this, and it involves learning to suppress your gag reflex and starting on smaller knives before moving onto larger swords. If you look at the swords they are slim and can fit onto each other with the total size being equivalent to a "normal" sword I guess. Personally, it makes me queasy to watch it, but the hours of practice it must take to thrill an audience is commendable. As humans, I think we have the tendency to call things tricks that we don't fully understand. I have some friends who are fire jugglers and had to learn how to do an entire routine with the gas in their mouths without accidentally swallowing it before being able to use it in a trick, so lots of things are possible with a gag reflex.