Cardistry #1

Cardistry, the art of manipulating and flourishing playing cards with precision, style, and skill, adds a captivating dimension to magic tricks, serving as a mesmerizing distraction and, above all, looking effortlessly cool.

I stumbled upon the world of cardistry at the age of 16 when one of my seniors showcased a simple table spread while we were playing card games. The quick learning curve and compliments I received fueled my interest, leading me to think, 'Not bad...' With this newfound enthusiasm, I purchased a deck of classic Bicycle cards and delved into YouTube tutorials for guidance.

One vivid memory from my early cardistry days is the Sybil cut, a challenging combo listed as a 'beginner must-know card trick.' Determined to master it, I spent hours on my bed practicing the intricate rotations and cuts, puzzled by how the cards remained suspended on two fingers while the other deck rotated, often picking up cards that seemed to disintegrate after countless attempts.

The journey of mastering the Sybil cut was undeniably both fun and challenging. Subsequently, I explored more basic cardistry tricks such as the Charlier Cut, Revolution Cut, Thumb Fan, Double Fan, Faro Shuffle, Werm, ATM, and many others.

Mastering a card trick, while it might sound a bit nerdy to admit, provides a similar sense of accomplishment to conquering a challenging calculus question in math. However, instead of relying on intense brain effort, cardistry demands more dexterity in finger movements. The visually compelling and stress-relieving nature of cardistry serves as a delightful escape from the demands of schoolwork. It becomes a form of productive procrastination, allowing for a break from academic projects while still gaining a sense of competence and achievement in learning something new—albeit not something one might openly boast about.

My journey in cardistry has been sporadic, but my passion for learning new tricks remains constant. With the extended break in 2024, I am determined to delve into more cool and fun tricks to amaze myself and others :>

Over the course of 5 years delving into the art of cardistry, I've amassed quite a collection of card decks. Most of these acquisitions were driven by my fascination with their designs and aesthetics, rather than for performance purposes. While I might expand my collection in the future, my current focus leans more towards honing my skills. Hence, to exercise prudence in this interest, I've decided to restrain myself to acquiring just one new card deck annually.

Anyway, here's a list of some card decks I currently own, as well as those I've sold in the past.

1. Virtuoso Fall/Winter 2017 FW17 Playing Poker Cards

I purchased this card deck for $25 on Carousel. I had come across this brand frequently on YouTube, and I personally appreciate the aesthetic design of these cards. Performing a fan with them is particularly satisfying due to the black and green stripes on the sides.

2. SHIELD Playing Cards (Deluxe Edition)

Judging by the packaging of this card, you probably understand why I was willing to purchase it for $60. The most satisfying aspect of this card deck is the magnetic opening and closing case, and I absolutely adore the Greek God theme. The purple and metallic finish of these cards is also a significant plus point.

3. Lost Deer Purple Edition Playing Cards

The elements of dark purple, mystery and fantasy are all well captured in this deck, and given the price of $15, it's definitely a worth purchase for me.
Fun fact: the two decks can be combined into a complete deer design but I didn't buy two decks for this purpose.

4. King Star 诸世灵妙系列 [The Wonderful Spirit of All Worlds]： 流影世 · 策 [World of Flowing Shadows · Strategy]

I have a fondness for the Chinese ink style of art, especially with the influence of martial arts and spiritual powers in the more fantastical setting of Chinese novels that I have read. The artistic quality of this deck is very high, and despite being the highest volume of the series, it's worth every cent for the art.
(PS: This deck costs $11 on Taobao [without the shipping fee])

5. King Star Cloud / Sea V2: Eagle Hawk (Regular) 云梦山海V2：鸢萝

Once again, I'm mesmerized by the ancient 仙侠 (XianXia) vibe of this card deck. Priced at $25 on Taobao without the shipping fee, it is too aesthetic for its price. The printing quality is no joke, and the satisfying pattern it creates during card tricks is amazing, although I rarely use it for card tricks because I don't want to ruin it with my mistakes.

6. Solokid Constellation Series V2 (Aries) Playing Cards

Well, I bought this initially as a gift to someone, but I didn't manage to deliver it, and I decided to use it for my daily cardistry practice. It's around $10 on Taobao, and I always treated it like a spin-off of the first Bicycle Constellation series. To be honest, I think the quality is probably similar, and I'm not complaining, as it's perfect for flourishes and cuts, despite sometimes feeling too slippery.

7. King Star 九州妖神录 [Kyushu Chronicles of Demons & Gods] - 九尾狐 [9 Tailed Fox] +精卫 [Jingwei (Nrwa)]

Well, well, well... At this point, it's probably for a similar reason to why I bought the #4 and #5 deck, but slightly different due to an investment angle. I bought both at $30, inclusive of the shipping fee, and I sold them at $40. Initially, I priced them at $50, but because I threw away the nice box that came with it, I lowered the price. It was a nice collection for a moment, but I kept it sealed and didn't use them.

8. 村雨 Murasame (Autumn Rain) series - 咒词 Incantation (Black)

As a fan of Japanese culture, it's a miss if I don't add this to my collection series. I often use it for practice, mainly because of its hardness suited for some cut tricks. It's also quite affordable at $4 per deck on Taobao.

9. Seasons playing cards - Primavera and Seronda Deck

This is one of the first decks that I bought on Carousel, and I sold it a year ago. I had too many decks, so I decided to sell it. It's still a nice deck for a collection, but I vaguely remember that I didn't use it for practice because there were better options available. 😳😳

10. Bicycle Maneki Neko Playing Card

I bought the blue version in a Blind Pack on Taobao. It's a regrettable decision to sell it too early as it seems to be a very limited edition these days, and the cuteness of this deck is still on my mind. But anyway, I'll buy it back again in the future if I find a good deal.

With the arrival of the new year in 2024, I've set some goals for my cardistry journey (Read more on https://www.ooijianhui.com/goals-setting-for-2024/). I hope to stay on this path as I tackle challenging and visually appealing tricks and expand my deck collection in my cabinet! 😄

Stay tuned for more updates on cool cardistry tricks

I'll definitely practice more ;-;