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

[Christina Rose]

Sword swallowing is a skill in my opinion... this all falls down to how people react diffrently on objects being inserted through their mouths and throats. One can train on how to controll the musles not to contract when inserting object. Its crazy bt people can do that.

I agree that it is a skill that can be practiced and improved.

[Christina Rose]

I do believe sword-swallowing is an art that can be learned, not just a trick. An incredibly dangerous art, like a great many circus acts, but real nonetheless. As with anything, there are probably fakers, but there are many people out there genuinely pushing the limits of human endeavor, and I believe some sword-swallowers are the real deal.

I agree, and it's too bad that those who fake this skill make it look like the rest are faking as well.

[Christina Rose]

I believe ie is something that can be learned, and I agree with the notion that beginners probably don't use real swords. I also applaud anyone who decides to take on sword swallowing. I could never do it, myself. We all have certain skill sets. Sword swallowing seems to be one for a very specific type of bravery.

I couldn't do it either. As a mother, reckless abandon isn't a luxury i can afford. I applaud those who can, as well. It truly does demand a certain amount of bravery on top of skill.

[SoonerKate]

I've always thought of it as a skill. A crazy dangerous skill but a skill nonetheless. I don't believe everyone who swallows swords are truly swallowing them but I do believe there are individuals that can truly do this. That being said I don't see why it couldn't be taught. I definitely don't think it's something just anyone could learn but I'm positive there are some daredevils out there that could learn how.

[Christina Rose]

I still believe it's a trick. I have seen blades and fire being swallowed but am yet to hear of swords. If that is so, it's also a gimmick. All these are ways of entertaining and amazing people. Although, you might consider this an art but i am stuck to the fact that it's not real...this is dangerous.

When I read the descriptions of how this is done I was a little bit more convinced. It made me think about intubation and how doctors are able to get a tube all the way down the throat. If you look at an image of this where you get an interior view of the throat, it seems more plausible, especially if the blade is short. Try looking at it from a more scientific point of view looking where certain things are internally and where the blade could actually go if someone could overcome the gag reflex. Just like with intubation, the head would have to be at the appropriate angle to allow for the throat to be properly open.

This comparison does make sense. I don't think sword swallowing is a trick anyway, but I never looked at it from this angle. Thank you.

[Legasus09]

To be honest no. i don't believe it's something that can be practiced although I believe in crazy things but this is just preposterous. Swallowing swords? Ya right! It's all a show, a stage act.

[Michiganbrown]

I feel it's a trick no way on the world a person is able to shove a sore down their throat without hitting any organs any bones

[bootsie0126+]

I'm skeptical at best. I think that to teach and learn a skill, there has to be some accepted leeway for failure. Because that's what people do as beginners. They fail. In this particular case, failure has a high probability of being fatal. I'm not buying the point that a person who is allegedly skilled at this would get there without accidentally cutting his windpipe a couple dozen times.
So, I guess no. I don't believe that it isn't a trick.

Beginners who are learning the art of sword swallowing do not start out using swords. The first step in being able to swallow swords or any other foreign object is learning how to control the gag reflex. Most beginners started with their own fingers, then upgraded to spoons, paint brushes, knitting needles, bent wire coat hangers, and so forth, before attempting short knife blades and, finally, swords. This is the same procedure that doctors use when an esophagoscopy is performed.

[crediblereading2]

Sword swallowing is definitely a trick that is played on the eye just like any other Magician's trick.

[PeaceLoveNature44]

I wrote a whole reply, and then my internet went out and I fogot to copy the words just in case. So here goes a shorter version of what I said:
I feel that it takes hard work, practice with other objects leading up to the swords, a wide opening to fit the swords, and skills to not cut yourself with the sword. But like a magician, we may never know. Only because now a days they have so much more special effects kind of stuff then the did even a few years ago. But I feel that it's an art and worth more then what people pay. I wish I could see skills like that more often, but now we just watch everything on tv....

[kfwilson6]

I'm skeptical at best. I think that to teach and learn a skill, there has to be some accepted leeway for failure. Because that's what people do as beginners. They fail. In this particular case, failure has a high probability of being fatal. I'm not buying the point that a person who is allegedly skilled at this would get there without accidentally cutting his windpipe a couple dozen times.
So, I guess no. I don't believe that it isn't a trick.

Beginners who are learning the art of sword swallowing do not start out using swords. The first step in being able to swallow swords or any other foreign object is learning how to control the gag reflex. Most beginners started with their own fingers, then upgraded to spoons, paint brushes, knitting needles, bent wire coat hangers, and so forth, before attempting short knife blades and, finally, swords. This is the same procedure that doctors use when an esophagoscopy is performed.

Thanks bootsie for sharing the list of objects they use. I was particularly interested in the progression of their training. It seems like no matter how much detail you provide about the process, some people will not be convinced. I really had no idea if it were a trick or not when this thread began but you have provided so much information about it.

[kfwilson6]

I feel it's a trick no way on the world a person is able to shove a sore down their throat without hitting any organs any bones

I wasn't quite convinced either because I'm not into science so wasn't too familiar with exactly how the body is structured which could create problems in doing this trick. However, I thought about the process of doctors intubating patients and decided to look up images to see how open the body is from the throat down. It seems much more convincing when you look at an interior view of the human body.

[kfwilson6]

I got the impression that what Duke was doing was real. It was a skill he was displaying. Real swords that he was swallowing, especially later on in the book when he actually gets hurt by them.

I think you are the first person to bring this up, at least I don't recall anyone else in this thread mentioning it. That is a great piece of evidence for the validity of the art. Of course Gary could have made it up to further the claim that it is a real talent, but I think it helps support the claim that sword swallowing is real. I had that feeling Duke couldn't go on indefinitely swallowing swords without some sort of set back. It was sad to read about it happening though.

[AnnaKathleen]

I think it could be both. It requires much skill and discipline to do it, and almost any art form would require that as well. However, if you don't want to believe it you could consider it a trick or some kind of illusion. I think it is right up there with fire-breathing. It requires discipline, skill, and practice and anyone can try, but not every person can succeed. I personally, find it to be a performance art.

[bootsie0126+]

I think it could be both. It requires much skill and discipline to do it, and almost any art form would require that as well. However, if you don't want to believe it you could consider it a trick or some kind of illusion. I think it is right up there with fire-breathing. It requires discipline, skill, and practice and anyone can try, but not every person can succeed. I personally, find it to be a performance art.

It wasn't easy for me to believe at first that this was real. Sometimes are brain will not allow us to get past the logical. If we believe something is not possible, it may be difficult to believe otherwise, no matter what the evidence may prove. I used to believe that sword swallowing was a trick because I could not imagine how a person would not be able to get injuried. After a family friend showed me and much research on this topic, I was finally able to understand (logically) how this skill could be accomplished.