On Apr 30, 2017, robfind wrote:
Any idea where we can get replacement cubes? Identical or very similar to the one Cube 3 comes with?

On Feb 27, 2018, sjbrundage wrote:
Hey Guys! Thank you for taking the time to read this and watch the video. There was some teaching and crediting issues with Cube 3. Please take the time to watch the video and support Usui Takamitsu. Feel free to post any questions below. I am touring Saudi Arabia at the moment.. but I will do my best to answer any questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP1rURreo98

On Feb 27, 2018, elimagic wrote:

Quote:

On Feb 27, 2018, sjbrundage wrote:
Hey Guys! Thank you for taking the time to read this and watch the video. There was some teaching and crediting issues with Cube 3. Please take the time to watch the video and support Usui Takamitsu. Feel free to post any questions below. I am touring Saudi Arabia at the moment.. but I will do my best to answer any questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP1rURreo98

Way to go steven! Ps. What is the kind of cube you are using?

On Feb 27, 2018, sjbrundage wrote:
I use a custom made for me Weilong GTS 2 M

On Feb 27, 2018, sjbrundage wrote:
I use a custom made for me Weilong GTS 2 M

On May 25, 2016, Zack_Johnston wrote:
Here is a false shuffle that I use and a great subtlety. Feel free to use it:

Here is what Steven and I both use, and what I believe to be one of the most convincing false shuffles:
(R U R' U') (R' F) (R2 U') (R' U' R U) (R' F') (R U R' U') (R' F) (R2 U') (R' U' R U) (R' F')

When you practice this, these moves flow together very nicely. I recommend a slow, buttery execution.

In reality, this is just a famous Rubik's cube move called the T-Perm, but repeated twice.

(R U R' U') (R' F) (R2 U') (R' U' R U) (R' F') AND REPEAT (R U R' U') (R' F) (R2 U') (R' U' R U) (R' F')


Here is a very cool subtlety that you might want to employ:
The False Cube Throw:
(I will use the T-Perm to illustrate)

1.) Execute: (R U R' U') (R' F) (R2 U') (R' U' R U) (R' F')
2.) Immediately memorize a few blocks after this execution to gain your orientation so that you can throw the cube up in the air and be able to return to the original position. Throw the cube in the air, and catch it without looking. Immediately execute a simple, short false shuffle while talking to your audience. (If you want the shuffle to look extra thorough, feel free to use two PLLs here instead of short shuffles). Now, look back at the cube and quickly find the memorized pattern to return to the original position. (Experiment with different ways of throwing the cube in the air. You might find a way to throw the cube up and be able to catch it in the same position. Smile )
3.) Execute the second half of the shuffle: (R U R' U') (R' F) (R2 U') (R' U' R U) (R' F')

The great thing about the cube throw is that when practicing a specific trick, you become familiar with the pattern of the cube after the execution of the Cube3 algorithm AND a T-Perm. The performer can execute the trick algorithm and a T-Perm without looking, throw the cube up into the air without looking, and then catch the cube and quickly find the original orientation by the familiar pattern. This way, the performer only looks at the cube once (as opposed to twice when including the memorization), to find the original position.

In short, a great formula for false shuffles is as follows:
1.) Execution of 1/2 of a false shuffle (Some other PLLs work very well).
2.) Cube toss to a different location.
3.) Execution of a simple, shorter false shuffle.
4.) Cube toss to a different location.
5.) Find original orientation, and immediately execute the second half of the false shuffle.

All of this should be carried out with no hesitation at all, with the utmost fluidity between steps, without robotic execution. Make it natural. Only then will this sequence be convincing. One should talk while false shuffling. When the performer talks, "blindly" mixes up the cube, and tosses the cube to confuse the audience's orientation, the audience perceives the cube to be thoroughly mixed.

One important point to keep in mind is that there is a common misconception about the Rubik's cube that we can take advantage of. Let's call it The Layman's Rule. Many believe that there is a correlation between the number of moves one carries out, and the difficulty of the solve. In other words, some believe that the more moves carried out, the more moves away from being solved the cube is. Thus, the more moves one carries out, the more difficult the cube is to be solved. Take advantage of this misconception!

Feel free to PM me for more,

Zack Johnston