The 5 Stages of Learning Cardistry

[flashcards]

I don't know about you but this is how I feel when learning a new move.

Stage 1 - Discovery: You find a video of a cool new move on Youtube. "That doesn't look too hard. I bet I could do that, no problem."

Stage 2 - Learning: You search for a tutorial of the cool move. You find one and try to follow it but you are having trouble making it work. "Wait, how is he getting from here to there. I can make it out. " You search out more tutorials. They are all different and they all leave something out. Finally, after looking at a dozen different tutorials and demos, you think you've figured it out.

Stage 3 - Frustration: You've got all the steps but you just can't seem to make it work. "I'm never going to get this. It's impossible. Maybe my hands are just to small." After picking the cards off the floor for the twentieth time, you are ready to give up. "Okay, one more time and I'm done."

Stage 4 - Breakthrough: It finally worked. You did it. Sure it looked like it was slow motion and you almost dropped everything but you managed to get through the whole move. And sure, you couldn't make it work again the next five time you tried. But you did it once, and if you can do it once, you know you can do it again.

Stage 5 - Commitment: You can make it through each time, roughly. "Okay, I look like an arthritic three towed sloth but at least I've got it down. Another 3,000 repetitions and I'll look as good at that 12 year old kid in the original video. That's another move I can add to my repertoire." Success!?

[MagikFingerz]

Yep, sounds about right!

[volantangel]

Wait.. theres something past stage 3 ?!?!

[Eoghann]

I remember those feelings all too well when learning to faro. I kept bending and folding the cards and pushing them like they were two solid wood blocks.

[nECr0MaNCeD]

Wait.. theres something past stage 3 ?!?!

LMAO... for some moves it seems step 3 lasts forever


This is as spot on as it gets.

I just got to stage 5 on the revolution/spin cut as taught by the Virts and am as pleased as punch. A couple more moves and I will start trying to tie them all together into a routine.

[Cbkimble]

I'm still working on stage one.

[dleiber]

These steps surely do fit me! Well done!