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View Full Version : THE ALMIGHTY ULMEN TRAILS *first 6 challenges*



Kuea
Jul 13, 2004, 03:34 AM
well do you think you got what it takes to do these?

some of the best card flourishers can't even finishe the trails



ULMEN TRIALS - FIRST SIX REQUIREMENTS
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Here are the first six Ulmen4 requirements. These first six are fairly simple, and were established to set the minimum standards for flourishes. The next 7 however will be extremely difficult for any of our best flourishers...

These requirements have changed durastically from the previous years!! Ulmen4 held council for over 6 months to determine the challenges. They decided to make it more achievable. These new challenges have just changed and we are completely honored that the Ulmen4 inducted De'vo's Cobra cuts into the new and revised trials!

The old requirements were near physically impossible. The sons of the original(all now deceased) Ulmen4 are keeping their fathers dreams alive. The new requirements will bring more people to the trials as these trials are far more achievable, but will still challenge each and every person that makes the journey to Ulmen.

Here you all go, start your engines.... FH


ULMEN4 TRIALS PRELIMINARY RULES

The Ulmen4 Trials consists of thirteen challenges. Successfully meeting each challenge entails performing an extremely advanced manipulative stunt with playing cards. Completion of all thirteen feats confers upon the performer the title of ULMEN4 MASTER. This is a title that will objectively reflect true mastery of the art and that will carry with it honor and prestige to which few will rightfully lay claim. The challenges must be completed in the prescribed order. Failure to complete a given challenge does not preclude the challenger from attempting further challenges. Sucessfully completed challenges may be applied toward future attempts at full completion of the Trials.

GENERAL PARAMETERS

The challenger will be allowed the use of no more than six decks of cards of his own supply. No more than one of these decks will consist of no more than 54 waterproof or all-plastic cards. The waterproof or all-plastic deck can only be used for performance of the water elemental. The remaining five decks must be standard, unaltered regulation playing cards consisting of no more than 54 cards per deck. The only augmentation of the cards allowed will be the application of fanning powder. Fanning powder must be applied prior to entry into the challenge chamber. Decks may be bridge or poker size, in any condition. Bending, creasing, folding or otherwise altering the planar condition of a card is not permitted. No fanning decks are permitted. All cards may be examined either before or after the execution of a stunt by a judge wearing cotton gloves to avoid contamination of the cards. A different deck may be used for any individual challenge and/or any attempt within a challenge phase. Any two non-plastic decks may be combined for the thirty-packet cut. Any two decks may be used for the double one-hand shuffles. No augmentation of the hands or body or clothing of the performer is allowed. No assistance from any other person not the challenger will be permitted at any time. The water tank, wind apparatus, suspension apparatus and variable surface apparatus will be that supplied by the Ulmen4. Specifications for this equipment for training purposes is supplied in conjunction with the description of each stunt. No other equipment of any kind, including lights, audio, video, smoke, or gimmicks of any kind whatsoever are permitted. Determining that a violation of the rules and parameters of the Trials shall be at the sole discretion of the judges.
Three consecutive attempts at the completion of each challenge are allowed. There will be no more than one minute of elapsed time between attempts of the same challenge.


The challenger will be given three chances to complete each challenge. The objective criteria for completion are given below. The challenger may switch decks for any challenge or for any of the three attempts at completion of any particular challenge. Judges have the final say as to whether a challenge has been successfully completed. All proceedings are videotaped and these tapes become the property of the Ulmen4. No other non-sanctioned recording equipment is allowed.


FIRST CHALLENGE

The challenger is to perform one-hand weave shuffles with waterfall finishes using two decks of cards, one in each hand, blindfolded, with both hands tied behind the back.
Any method of the one-hand weave may be employed. The "blindfold" will be that supplied by the Ulmen4, and shall consist of a peek-proof cloth sack, to be applied by the judges. The challenger may position his decks on a table prior to being blindfolded, or may hold them throughout. No cards may hit the ground, and the hands must not help each other.

SECOND CHALLENGE

The challenger must construct a self-standing sculpture
The sculpture must be created with one hand, and closed with one hand. Sculpture must consist of 4 or more packets. After the sculpture has been formed, it must not touch the finger tips, or be clipped in any way. At least 70% of the sculpture must be off of the hand. The other 30% can conform to the shape of your hand. It must stand on its own for at least 5 seconds with finger tips at least 1 inch away, and must collapse with all cards facing the same direction. The sculpture must be original to the artist performing.

THIRD CHALLENGE

The challenger is to perform double cross Cobra Cuts and switch airborne packets for the catch.
The challenger must execute simultaneous three-packet Cobra Cuts in each hand cross handed, up to strike position. Each elevated packet must be caught between the two mouth packets of the opposite hand without tilting the mouths upward. The packets must rotate at least ninety degrees, side over side. The challenger may use one or two non-plastic decks. The cards must start all oriented in the same direction before and after the stunt.

FOURTH CHALLENGE

The challenger must perform a standard riffle shuffle using only his feet.
The challenger may accomplish the shuffle standing up or sitting down. The shuffle itself may be a table shuffle or in-the-feet shuffle. No waterfall finish is necessary. A full deck must be used. A variety of chairs will be supplied by the Ulmen4 for this stunt. No contact assistance of the hands is allowed other than placing the deck on the floor or placing the undivided deck in the feet, prior to the execution of the shuffle. The hands may grip the chair or touch the floor in any manner needed to stabilize the challenger.

FIFTH CHALLENGE

The challenger shall perform Double Armspreads with simultaneous aerial catches.
Any one or two decks may be used. The performer must spread one deck or half a deck on each arm, execute simultaneous turnovers of the spreads, and then perform simultaneous aerial catches. Any method of spreading the cards is permitted. All cards of both ribbons must be completely free of the hands and arms prior to the actual catch. Glide catches are not permitted. Successive turnovers or catches are not permitted. All cards must be facing the same way before and after the stunt.

SIXTH CHALLENGE

The challenger must construct a thirty packet array using two decks.
Any two decks can be used. A packet must consist of at least three cards. There must be at least one quarter inch of space between the non-nexus ends or sides of any two adjacent packets. No stepped or stacked packets allowed. The packets must be completely seperate and visible during the display. Any part of the body may be used to hold or stabilize packets. Use of the ground or table is not permitted. An unlimited amount of packets may be placed on the body in a static position. The array must be generated and then gathered or closed such that all cards of both decks are facing the same way both before and after the cut. There must be a flow, style, or rythem to both creating and taking down the display.

PhotonDrop
Jul 13, 2004, 03:36 AM
wow, thats crazy...

Kuea
Jul 13, 2004, 03:38 AM
one of the origanal tasks was removed

you had to do a triple backflip well (can't remember exactly what with the cards) and it had to be from a standing position

no boards or anything

Outrider
Jul 13, 2004, 12:07 PM
Ok, done... and done.

Got any other challenges?

Kuea
Jul 13, 2004, 04:00 PM
got a vid to prove it?

Tact
Jul 13, 2004, 04:10 PM
On 2004-07-13 14:00, Eclair wrote:
got a vid to prove it?



No other equipment of any kind, including lights, audio, video, smoke, or gimmicks of any kind whatsoever are permitted.

No vids allowed. We can't know.

Outrider
Jul 13, 2004, 05:26 PM
Ted and Sef'll vouch for me.

They were there.

Everyone was there, I guess you missed it.

It was awesome. Wasn't it awesome, guys?

Kuea
Jul 13, 2004, 05:32 PM
well lets see if I can get ahold of the next challenges

Sef
Jul 13, 2004, 05:34 PM
That was so awesome. At first, I didn't think he could do it. But then he did!