Can anyone comment on these and tell me where I can obtain them? I would like to know which is the best video of his for billiard ball manipulation? Does anyone have a video they are willing to part with?

While I am at it, how are his thimble manipulations?

FC

Steven's Magic Emporium sells the videos. I have the video in question. I am going to hold onto it for two reasons. One -historical and two - there are some good moves on them. I would suggest, however, if you want to learn manipulation of billiard balls (in video format) you would be better served in getting Jeff McBride's 3 Volume Manipulation Series. You will get much more. You will get thimbles on this series too, as well as coins. Highly recommended.

Steven

The Shimada video is great, but a little intimidating. The video I have features some cigarette manipulation, plenty of billiard ball stuff and a little material with card manip. I think it should be in every manipulator's library, but doesn't stand well alone as a learning aid. Shimada doesn't start with the basics, he just launches into teaching you the routine. There are some crazy hard moves on there and he doesn't go into much detail about them. Get the McBride vids first and the Shimada vid later to supplement and enrich your technique. McBride even recommends on the tape that you look at other manipulators' work, but his tapes along with the well known card vids will continue to be THE starting point for manipulation for a long time to come.

Have fun!

I am going to get Shimada tape...Its a must for myself as a manipulator ...By the way shimada is a grand manipulator in Japan.

I would agree with Symmatrix, Shimada is a very disciplined grand manipulator. The grace and beauty of his skills are a sight to behold. The Shimada tape is well worth having. The quality of the production is not that great, but the content more than makes up for the negatives. I like his simple and elegant aproach to manipulation. His technical skills are superb and his knowledge of the presentation of sleight of hand is equally superb.

I apologize for being unclear in my first post. I meant which Shimada video was the best? I have been through a lot of other material (including the ones suggested). I have heard people talk about "the Shimada video", but what is the name of this video? I know he has 3 lectures and the one Steven's carries is the third lecture. Is that the best one for ball manipulation? How about thimbles? I know some other shops carry numbers one and two. Any comments as to which of these is best?

FC

I can only comment on the manipulation video. I haven't see the dove video. I refer to my prior post.

Hi FCpreacher:

The video you're looking for is available from Stevens' Magic Emporium and is part of their "Greater Magic Video" series. The Shimada videos (manipulation and dove work) were two of the first in GMV series.

I used to have the manipulation video (sold it on ebay). The billiard ball segment is the best thing on it - Shimada does some remarkable things with the Billiard Balls.

The thimble part was okay. I've never liked the thimbles, but his work with them was good. I remember his ending where his wife brings out a balloon. Shimada pops it with his hands, and thimbles appear on all fingers and thumbs of both hands.

Hope this helps you.

Ron Reid

Thanks, Ron. That is exactly the info I was looking for.

FC

Hey,

The shimada videos are good. However if your new to it he doesn't really spend enough time on each of the sleights and doesn't really teach you everything. I do reckon theyre worth getting just for his flash from 1 to 4 its great

Sam

You might also like the Tim Wright DVD on multiplying billiard balls as well as the Charlie Frye DVD for other ideas.

Hey guys,

Do any of you know where abouts I could get that tim wright DVD

Thanks

Sam

Shimada does however show some really nice ball and silk moves on the videos. I have used them in my own act for years.

Kyle

I highly recommend you get the DVD! What Shimada does with Billard Balls is just so good.

You can get the tim wright dvd from mymagic.com

In addition to the Greater Magic Videos (which were shot by Stevens Magic in the 1980s), Shimada also did some instructional videos in the 1990s (that were marketed by his ex-wife). Frankly, I am such a big Shimada fan, I would recommend all of the tapes!

Levent

Shortly after my original post (way back in 2003) I picked up the Shimada videos on ball manipulation. I love them and have worked out one to four productions in both hands. It is a tremendous move and very surprising. But I never use shells in performance. Go figure.

Forrest Chapman

The Shimada videos are eally great. I especially love his moves he shows with the ball and silk. I employ some of those moves now in my own routine. However, like Forrest just said, I also have found my billiard ball routine becomeing very minimalist in nature. It is the fact that I know so many moves, but I feel I do not need to show every single move to convey the idea and create an entertainment value in the minds of the audience. In a way it becomes easier for them to grasp and understand what it is I am conveying to them. It is kind of weird how it all evolved over time.

Kyle

I learned to do most of what was on those videos with German wooden balls (50mm). The two handed eight ball production was the hardest, but really made you feel like you'd accomplished something when you hit it the first time.

Dry hands with age have made me switch to Fakini's. I only have single sets of Fakini tournaments and golf balls, but I wish I had multiple sets and/or shells to give that old stuff a whirl. I bet they'd be easy to nail. Fakini's handle great for the 4 to 1 - 1 to 4 sequence. I just wish my Fakini's were bigger. My largest are 1.75", a bit small for some of that stuff. The roll from the palm across the back of the hand into the 4th position is easier when the diameter of the ball is better suited to the distance it has to travel across your hand. Something about more distance per revolution. Kind of like small diameter tires screwing up your gas milage.

~michael

I can do Shimada's one-handed 1 to 4 combination with 2" Fakini set. But when I tried it with a 2 1/4" set, I felt that the palmed ball flashed too much. So to me it's a fun move to do. But on stage it's just not a practical move for me, unless I used small balls (2" and under).

Levent