There are dozens and dozens of great sites for learning more about whips and whip artistry in general, but here are some great starting off points
Informational Websites
The Bullwhip FAQ at bullwhip.org - The site of professional juggler and well-known bullwhip artist, Andrew Conway. Andrew also wrote "The Bullwhip Book," (you'll see a link to it below,) which is a great book on the topic of whip cracking, (and the first book on whip cracking I ever read! Highly recommended.)
The Bullwhip FAQ is far more detailed and exhaustive than our own FAQ here. Andrew has worked very hard to create a resource that's about as exhaustive and unabridged as they come on the topic of whips and whip artistry.
The Club Obi-Wan forums at Indygear.com - While focused predominantly on the bullwhips and whip action from the Indiana Jones films, Club Obi-Wan has for many years be the de-facto online hang-out spot for whip artists, whip makers and whip performers of all kinds. The quality of information, and general supportive attitude of the forums set it apart for many years from other whip-centered forums. Today, there are a half-dozen excellent groups on Facebook, the Whip Basics Forum mentioned above, and several other interactive social media sites where whips are openly discussed, but Club Obi-Wan remains the standard by which the others are often measured.
The Bullwhip FAQ is far more detailed and exhaustive than our own FAQ here. Andrew has worked very hard to create a resource that's about as exhaustive and unabridged as they come on the topic of whips and whip artistry.
The Club Obi-Wan forums at Indygear.com - While focused predominantly on the bullwhips and whip action from the Indiana Jones films, Club Obi-Wan has for many years be the de-facto online hang-out spot for whip artists, whip makers and whip performers of all kinds. The quality of information, and general supportive attitude of the forums set it apart for many years from other whip-centered forums. Today, there are a half-dozen excellent groups on Facebook, the Whip Basics Forum mentioned above, and several other interactive social media sites where whips are openly discussed, but Club Obi-Wan remains the standard by which the others are often measured.
Books about Whips, Whip Cracking, and Whip Making
The New Bullwhip Book by Andrew Conway - This is a short but highly detailed and incredibly informative book about whips and whip cracking. Andrew gives excellent instructions on whip cracking that both newcomers and folks who've been handling whips for a while will find incredibly useful. The first edition of this book was probably the first extensive book on whip handling around, and has been updated to include lots of new information and material. Andrew is also one of the key proprietors of The Bullwhip FAQ, which is mentioned above.
Let's Get Cracking!: The How-To Book of Bullwhip Skills by Robert Dante - More about the incomparable Mr. Dante is mentioned below in the Performers and Instructors section. Robert has been instructing people in the whip arts for a great many years, and his own unique approach to teaching shines through in this book. It covers everything from basic whip cracking, to advanced performance tips and techniques. Mr. Dante's "learning to be a better dance partner to the whip" approach will resonate very heavily with actors, dancers, and other performers looking to add the whip to their skill set. This book is now in its second edition, and has been translated into French by the very talented European whip artist, Sylvia Rosat
The Filipino Fighting Whip by Tom Meadows - Guro Meadows is a martial artist from California who has trained with many martial arts legends. His book chronicles his exploration of the Eskrima fighting styles of the Philippines, and the development of his own martial arts form of Latigo y Daga, utilizing the bullwhip as a off hand companion weapon alongside the eskrima, (baton,) and/or knife. Martial-Arts-centered techniques and applications as well as skill-building exercises are explained in great detail in this text. While MACH ONE Whip Artistry does not specifically train our students specifically in martial arts techniques, we greatly recognize and support the effectiveness and strength of the bullwhip in training kinesthetics, body alignment, and energy/chi flow. Tom's book covers all of this in great detail and with unconcealable passion
***PLEASE NOTE! This book is now out of print, and the author has no interest in making a second printing available. They have become hard to find and prices on used copies of this book are insane. Good luck!
Whips and Whip Making (Second Edition) By David W. Morgan - A few of David's many contributions to the North American whip community are chronicled below, but David is also the author of three books on whips. The first of these is Whips and Whip Making. This is a great resource on the history, development and design of whips. Many people have complained about this book, believing it to be a step-by-step instruction manual on the David Morgan method of making whips, but that is not the case. This book is ABOUT whip making, but talks about the different designs, techniques, and processes, and places them within a cultural and historical context. While this book is excellent as a supporting text to other books on whip making, (detailed below,) this book was never meant to be an instruction manual.
Braiding Fine Leather: Techniques of the Australian Whip Makers by David W. Morgan - This book provides more detail on the step-by-step techniques that many people are searching for in Whips and Whip Making.
Whips of the West: An Illustrated History of American Whip Making by David W. Morgan - In many ways, this book is a sequel to the historical material provided in Whips and Whip Making. David shares his love of the great history of craftsmanship and manufacture of whips in North America. This book is rich in history and lore for the dedicated enthusiast of the history of the whip arts in the United States, but will be of little interest beyond the mildly trivial to the student wishing to read about how to make and crack whips.
How to Make Whips by Ron Edwards - Exactly what it says and what it claims to be. Mr. Edwards' book is by far the most widely recommended and popular book for providing detailed instruction for crafting a quality whip, from splitting the hide, to cutting, paring, and stretching the laces, to detailed instructions for braiding. Mr Andrews' detailed instructions can also be applied, with only slight modification, to the construction of nylon and polyester whips as well. This book, paired with Morgan's Whips and Whip Making and Braiding Fine Leather are to be found on almost every American whip maker worth their salt's bookshelf.
Let's Get Cracking!: The How-To Book of Bullwhip Skills by Robert Dante - More about the incomparable Mr. Dante is mentioned below in the Performers and Instructors section. Robert has been instructing people in the whip arts for a great many years, and his own unique approach to teaching shines through in this book. It covers everything from basic whip cracking, to advanced performance tips and techniques. Mr. Dante's "learning to be a better dance partner to the whip" approach will resonate very heavily with actors, dancers, and other performers looking to add the whip to their skill set. This book is now in its second edition, and has been translated into French by the very talented European whip artist, Sylvia Rosat
The Filipino Fighting Whip by Tom Meadows - Guro Meadows is a martial artist from California who has trained with many martial arts legends. His book chronicles his exploration of the Eskrima fighting styles of the Philippines, and the development of his own martial arts form of Latigo y Daga, utilizing the bullwhip as a off hand companion weapon alongside the eskrima, (baton,) and/or knife. Martial-Arts-centered techniques and applications as well as skill-building exercises are explained in great detail in this text. While MACH ONE Whip Artistry does not specifically train our students specifically in martial arts techniques, we greatly recognize and support the effectiveness and strength of the bullwhip in training kinesthetics, body alignment, and energy/chi flow. Tom's book covers all of this in great detail and with unconcealable passion
***PLEASE NOTE! This book is now out of print, and the author has no interest in making a second printing available. They have become hard to find and prices on used copies of this book are insane. Good luck!
Whips and Whip Making (Second Edition) By David W. Morgan - A few of David's many contributions to the North American whip community are chronicled below, but David is also the author of three books on whips. The first of these is Whips and Whip Making. This is a great resource on the history, development and design of whips. Many people have complained about this book, believing it to be a step-by-step instruction manual on the David Morgan method of making whips, but that is not the case. This book is ABOUT whip making, but talks about the different designs, techniques, and processes, and places them within a cultural and historical context. While this book is excellent as a supporting text to other books on whip making, (detailed below,) this book was never meant to be an instruction manual.
Braiding Fine Leather: Techniques of the Australian Whip Makers by David W. Morgan - This book provides more detail on the step-by-step techniques that many people are searching for in Whips and Whip Making.
Whips of the West: An Illustrated History of American Whip Making by David W. Morgan - In many ways, this book is a sequel to the historical material provided in Whips and Whip Making. David shares his love of the great history of craftsmanship and manufacture of whips in North America. This book is rich in history and lore for the dedicated enthusiast of the history of the whip arts in the United States, but will be of little interest beyond the mildly trivial to the student wishing to read about how to make and crack whips.
How to Make Whips by Ron Edwards - Exactly what it says and what it claims to be. Mr. Edwards' book is by far the most widely recommended and popular book for providing detailed instruction for crafting a quality whip, from splitting the hide, to cutting, paring, and stretching the laces, to detailed instructions for braiding. Mr Andrews' detailed instructions can also be applied, with only slight modification, to the construction of nylon and polyester whips as well. This book, paired with Morgan's Whips and Whip Making and Braiding Fine Leather are to be found on almost every American whip maker worth their salt's bookshelf.
Whips, Whip Makers and Whip Accessories
David Morgan - David Morgan is certainly one of the most well know whip makers in North America. Most whip-makers in North America (and at least one I know in South America), credit the gentleman for keeping the American whip making tradition alive through the 1970's and 1980's. Indiana Jones carried a David Morgan bullwhip (David's model 455) on his first three big-screen adventures. David's books on whip making got many of the best young whip makers around today started. His openness, critical eye, and constructive criticism helped a lot of people on this list of whip makers grow in skill. David passed away on July of 2015 at the age of 90. His health hadn't allowed him to make whips personally for the last few years of his life, but he still oversaw the braiding of the whips that came out of his shop, and his apprentices continue to carry on his work. He will certainly be missed.
Terry Jacka at the Australian Whip Company - Terry Jacka is a gentleman from Tazmania, who learned his craft from legendary whip maker Tom Hill. Terry's whips are known the world over for their distinctive look, feel, and performance. When Harrison Ford dusted of the fedora for Indy IV, he was carrying a Jacka bullwhip, and the two whip-wielding big-screen versions of Catwoman (Michelle Peiffer and Halle Berry) were both outfitted with whips from Terry. Terry's bullwhips feature a heavily reinforced transition zone between the braid and the handle for what he calls a "Progressive Flexibility." The result is a "leaf spring" snap to his whips that make them a professional whip performer favorite. There are several retailers in the United States that still occasionally have whips from Terry in stock, but you can also cut out the middle man, and get exactly what you want by going to Mr. Jacka himself. UPDATE: The Venerable Mr. Jacka has since retired from whip making. His whips are becoming somewhat collectable. I leave his entry here in honor of his amazing work.
Paul Nolan at Midwest Whips - The name is now somewhat of a misnomer, and has become a bit of an inside joke. Midwest Whips is now located out in Hollywood, California! The story goes like this: Paul started making whips when he a kid of about 16 in Fenton, Missouri and began Midwest Whips a few years later. Paul was one of my first friends in the global whip community, and Dan was pretty happy when Paul relocated to the Dayton, Ohio area.
After a while, the west called, and Paul moved from Dayton, Ohio to Pahrump, Nevada, and now Hollywood, where he has supplied whips for several different Cirque du Soleil productions, Disney's Prince of Persia, The Rundown, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained and Inglorious Basterds, Mirror Mirror, and The Mortal Instruments; City of Bones, as well as countless whip hobbyists, professionals, and collectors.
Bobbi HolyOak of HolyOak Whips - Bobbi is one of my favorite people on the planet. I highly recommend picking up a whip from Bobbi, though you're in for a wait because her current wait time is about 7-12 months, (and well worth that wait!) I've reviewed 3 of her whips on the MACH ONE blog, (here, here, and here,) and if you're interested in a fairly in depth explanation of what sets her whips apart from those of mortal men, I recommend taking a look-see, if you can tolerate my gushing about them. If you are attending one of MACH ONE's courses, chances are, the nylon whip that I keep reaching for when I need to demonstrate something is one of hers. She works exclusively in 550 and 650 nylon paracord, and her whips are by far the most responsive, accurate, and easy to handle whips we've ever had the luxury of cracking, far exceeding every nylon whip I've ever handled, go toe-to-toe with most Kangaroo whips. There is no mistake why Bobbi's whips carry an official endorsement by Hollywood stunt legend, Anthony DeLongis, (Bobbi's Valkyrie and DeLongis Alignment series of whips were co-developed by Anthony,) and Bobbi's whips have been chosen as the official whips for Maestro Ron Lew's Tibetan Wave Tai Chi form.
Terry Jacka at the Australian Whip Company - Terry Jacka is a gentleman from Tazmania, who learned his craft from legendary whip maker Tom Hill. Terry's whips are known the world over for their distinctive look, feel, and performance. When Harrison Ford dusted of the fedora for Indy IV, he was carrying a Jacka bullwhip, and the two whip-wielding big-screen versions of Catwoman (Michelle Peiffer and Halle Berry) were both outfitted with whips from Terry. Terry's bullwhips feature a heavily reinforced transition zone between the braid and the handle for what he calls a "Progressive Flexibility." The result is a "leaf spring" snap to his whips that make them a professional whip performer favorite. There are several retailers in the United States that still occasionally have whips from Terry in stock, but you can also cut out the middle man, and get exactly what you want by going to Mr. Jacka himself. UPDATE: The Venerable Mr. Jacka has since retired from whip making. His whips are becoming somewhat collectable. I leave his entry here in honor of his amazing work.
Paul Nolan at Midwest Whips - The name is now somewhat of a misnomer, and has become a bit of an inside joke. Midwest Whips is now located out in Hollywood, California! The story goes like this: Paul started making whips when he a kid of about 16 in Fenton, Missouri and began Midwest Whips a few years later. Paul was one of my first friends in the global whip community, and Dan was pretty happy when Paul relocated to the Dayton, Ohio area.
After a while, the west called, and Paul moved from Dayton, Ohio to Pahrump, Nevada, and now Hollywood, where he has supplied whips for several different Cirque du Soleil productions, Disney's Prince of Persia, The Rundown, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained and Inglorious Basterds, Mirror Mirror, and The Mortal Instruments; City of Bones, as well as countless whip hobbyists, professionals, and collectors.
Bobbi HolyOak of HolyOak Whips - Bobbi is one of my favorite people on the planet. I highly recommend picking up a whip from Bobbi, though you're in for a wait because her current wait time is about 7-12 months, (and well worth that wait!) I've reviewed 3 of her whips on the MACH ONE blog, (here, here, and here,) and if you're interested in a fairly in depth explanation of what sets her whips apart from those of mortal men, I recommend taking a look-see, if you can tolerate my gushing about them. If you are attending one of MACH ONE's courses, chances are, the nylon whip that I keep reaching for when I need to demonstrate something is one of hers. She works exclusively in 550 and 650 nylon paracord, and her whips are by far the most responsive, accurate, and easy to handle whips we've ever had the luxury of cracking, far exceeding every nylon whip I've ever handled, go toe-to-toe with most Kangaroo whips. There is no mistake why Bobbi's whips carry an official endorsement by Hollywood stunt legend, Anthony DeLongis, (Bobbi's Valkyrie and DeLongis Alignment series of whips were co-developed by Anthony,) and Bobbi's whips have been chosen as the official whips for Maestro Ron Lew's Tibetan Wave Tai Chi form.
Other Whip Performers, Instructors, and Groups
Gery Deer's The Whip Artistry Studio - This is the site of whip coach and performer, Gery L. Deer, out of Jamestown, Ohio. Dan would be quite remiss to not include him, as it was at his studio with his bullwhip that Dan developed his own obsession with whip artistry a decade and a half ago.
Robert Dante - We don't think it would be insulting to say that Robert and his wife and performance partner, Mary have a wonderfully vagabond life! While Robert calls Minneapolis home, he and Mary are constantly on the road in their vintage Volkswagen van, doing shows, hosting whip workshops, and generally having fun. Robert holds several Guinness World Records in whip cracking (and indeed hosted the event where Adam Winrich got his first taste of breaking world records, and started to blow the doors off of everyone else), and is a talented and eloquent showman. Robert's shows range from Wild West to Steampunk and Cabaret themes, and he is a leading world authority on supersonic whips in the Fetish community.
Chris "The Whip Guy" Camp - Now, actually the entire Camp family, including Chris's wife, Laura and their children. Chris and company are out of Springfield, Illinois, and their high energy show is full of whip work that will amaze an average audience member and a seasoned, cynical whip performer alike. Chris has made a careful study of surviving footage of turn of the century whip performers in wild west shows, and painstakingly reconstructed, rehearsed, and updated for a whole new generation his own high-energy version of whip performances that haven't been seen for over 3/4 of a century. Chris's attention to detail, endless rehearsing, and amazing exuberance have taken him and his family across the US and into China as part of a cultural exchange program. If you ever get the chance to see or crack whips with Chris Camp, DO IT, (though bring plenty coffee and a 5 hour energy. He NEVER slows down!)
Adam "Crack" Winrich - Another guy I'm lucky to say "I knew him when." If you're a Renaissance Faire fan, or have friends who are, you've no doubt seen Adam live or on YouTube wowing audiences with his firewhip routines and two-handed rhythmic cracking. Adam holds numerous Guinness World Records for whip cracking, (I'm honestly not going to try to keep a running tally here, as every time I talk to him he's either broken a new one, or is in training for the next record attempt. Check out Robert Dante's site above. He tries to keep track of those.) Adam's fame on the Renaissance Faire circuit, and the multiple world records he has set has given him the opportunity to appear on US Network and international television, and his YouTube Channel, (along with a DVD available at his website,) provide some excellent tutorials, demonstrations, and tips for whip cracking.
Anthony De Longis - Martial Artist, Hollywood actor, stunt man, stunt coordinator, director, and weapon master, Anthony De Longis has been the go-to guy for whips in feature film for a great number of years now. Anthony trained Michelle Pfeiffer for her amazing portrayal of Catwoman in 1992's Batman Returns, he trained and consulted on the bullwhip action by the bad guys in The Rundown, Underworld, and most recently brought Harrison Ford back up to speed for the fourth Indiana Jones film. His unique "Rolling Loop" technique of whip work not only produces a dynamic flow of the the whip that directly addresses many of the problems inherent in portraying whip action on film/video, but also provides a safe and efficient method of whip choreography for stage and screen. His training DVD, Mastering the Bullwhip, vol. 1,2 & 3, provides further details on this technique!
Senior Grandmaster Ronald R. Lew. I would be exceedingly remiss in my listing if I did not now add Maestro Lew. Ron is a seasoned martial artist who has incorporated some absolutely incredible Chinese Tai Chi, Kung Fu and Qi Gong techniques into Filipino Latigo y Daga bullwhip form to produce Tibetan Wave, a style uniquely his own. Ron is typically busy travelling the globe, giving seminars in Filipino and Chinese Martial Arts. If you ever get the chance to learn from Ron, take the time to do so! As I have discussed in the blog here and here, my two hour session with Ron Lew completely changed the approach to whip arts that I had diligently been refining for the decade prior to meeting him. I have since worked extensively with Ron in Tibetan Wave, and collaborated with him to produce a video training system for Tibetan Wave. More details to come!
Robert Dante - We don't think it would be insulting to say that Robert and his wife and performance partner, Mary have a wonderfully vagabond life! While Robert calls Minneapolis home, he and Mary are constantly on the road in their vintage Volkswagen van, doing shows, hosting whip workshops, and generally having fun. Robert holds several Guinness World Records in whip cracking (and indeed hosted the event where Adam Winrich got his first taste of breaking world records, and started to blow the doors off of everyone else), and is a talented and eloquent showman. Robert's shows range from Wild West to Steampunk and Cabaret themes, and he is a leading world authority on supersonic whips in the Fetish community.
Chris "The Whip Guy" Camp - Now, actually the entire Camp family, including Chris's wife, Laura and their children. Chris and company are out of Springfield, Illinois, and their high energy show is full of whip work that will amaze an average audience member and a seasoned, cynical whip performer alike. Chris has made a careful study of surviving footage of turn of the century whip performers in wild west shows, and painstakingly reconstructed, rehearsed, and updated for a whole new generation his own high-energy version of whip performances that haven't been seen for over 3/4 of a century. Chris's attention to detail, endless rehearsing, and amazing exuberance have taken him and his family across the US and into China as part of a cultural exchange program. If you ever get the chance to see or crack whips with Chris Camp, DO IT, (though bring plenty coffee and a 5 hour energy. He NEVER slows down!)
Adam "Crack" Winrich - Another guy I'm lucky to say "I knew him when." If you're a Renaissance Faire fan, or have friends who are, you've no doubt seen Adam live or on YouTube wowing audiences with his firewhip routines and two-handed rhythmic cracking. Adam holds numerous Guinness World Records for whip cracking, (I'm honestly not going to try to keep a running tally here, as every time I talk to him he's either broken a new one, or is in training for the next record attempt. Check out Robert Dante's site above. He tries to keep track of those.) Adam's fame on the Renaissance Faire circuit, and the multiple world records he has set has given him the opportunity to appear on US Network and international television, and his YouTube Channel, (along with a DVD available at his website,) provide some excellent tutorials, demonstrations, and tips for whip cracking.
Anthony De Longis - Martial Artist, Hollywood actor, stunt man, stunt coordinator, director, and weapon master, Anthony De Longis has been the go-to guy for whips in feature film for a great number of years now. Anthony trained Michelle Pfeiffer for her amazing portrayal of Catwoman in 1992's Batman Returns, he trained and consulted on the bullwhip action by the bad guys in The Rundown, Underworld, and most recently brought Harrison Ford back up to speed for the fourth Indiana Jones film. His unique "Rolling Loop" technique of whip work not only produces a dynamic flow of the the whip that directly addresses many of the problems inherent in portraying whip action on film/video, but also provides a safe and efficient method of whip choreography for stage and screen. His training DVD, Mastering the Bullwhip, vol. 1,2 & 3, provides further details on this technique!
Senior Grandmaster Ronald R. Lew. I would be exceedingly remiss in my listing if I did not now add Maestro Lew. Ron is a seasoned martial artist who has incorporated some absolutely incredible Chinese Tai Chi, Kung Fu and Qi Gong techniques into Filipino Latigo y Daga bullwhip form to produce Tibetan Wave, a style uniquely his own. Ron is typically busy travelling the globe, giving seminars in Filipino and Chinese Martial Arts. If you ever get the chance to learn from Ron, take the time to do so! As I have discussed in the blog here and here, my two hour session with Ron Lew completely changed the approach to whip arts that I had diligently been refining for the decade prior to meeting him. I have since worked extensively with Ron in Tibetan Wave, and collaborated with him to produce a video training system for Tibetan Wave. More details to come!