Yu Hojin - 1%

1% is Yu Hojin’s two DVD set that reveals and instructs how to do amazing card manipulation effects suitable for TV, stage, close-up or parlor settings. The DVD opens up to a quote by Thomas Edison: “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Yu Hojin has provided the 1%. The 99% perspiration will be up to you. And, to really master many of these flourishes and techniques you will have to put in hours of hard work. 

First the good. 

Yu Hojin’s routine and cardistry does not look like real magic, it is real magic. He is at the top of the game. It is not a coincidence that he holds the FISM 2012 Blackpool Stage Grand Prix prize and was named the Academy of Magical Art's 2013 Magician of the Year. Watching him perform his art is a thing of beauty and amazement. Even knowing what he is does not take away from the astonishment induced by watching him. 

He presents 26 moves, sleights, and parts of his routine, which are broken down into Basic, Professional and Original. The DVD is has excellent production quality and is mostly set to relaxing and easy-to-listen-to new wave piano music. The DVD is easy to navigate and is set up so that after a studio performance of each move is played, an instructional performance immediately follows. The instruction portion of each move is shot with different angles so that you can see Yu Hojin’s handling and manipulation of the cards. 

If you watch this DVD, you will learn the amazing method behind Yu Hojin’s performance and will be able to start practicing the moves, each of which, when taken together, comprise of a greater routine. This DVD set is not for beginners.

So, now, the not-so-good.

There is not a full performance that combines all the moves. I would have expected a live performance of Yu Hojin’s routine and also a full studio performance. Instead, you only get a studio performance of each move without any explanation as how Yu Hojin strings them together and makes up his entire act. There is no explanation as to how he moves from one part to the other after he drops a deck of cards, or some cards, into his black top-hat. There are no spoken words or dubbed language during the performances or explanations and each explanatory section for each move is taught by pantomime and video taken at different angles. You do clearly understand what is happening, but it should have had verbal instruction as to the issues with each move and how to improve upon some of the more knuckle busting flourishes. From time to time there are English sub-titles to supplement the video shots. These two issues resulted in a lower rating. Had there been a full performance and spoken instruction, this DVD project would have scored much higher.

During the explanatory segments for each move, there is an inset screen-in-screen display of the performance, which does not match up to the performance, because the explanation takes longer than the performances. Also, the inset performance screen-in-screen is so small that it is hard to see.

It did not bother me that the DVD’s were labelled as “CD 1” and “CD 2”, but at this steep price, it should have been perfect. Because it is so expensive, these DVD’s will likely appeal to a smaller segment of magicians, excluding the casually curious. 

Both DVD’s have duplicative tracks such as the trailer, the “How to make black art” segment, which shows how to make a certain gaff and the credits track.

There is a thirty minute “Workshop” segment in which Yu Hojin speaks about his philosophy on performing and magic, which has English subtitles. It is an interesting and informative talk from a master.

The promotional video is accurate because it shows some of the amazing flourishes and moves that will inspire awe and jealousy to most, if not all, card handlers. The ad copy is accurate in that it claims that “your capability and understanding on card manipulation will have improved by many steps.” This is true, but it will take much practice, like with all things that are worth it. There are no claims that you will become a master like Yu Hojin.

Once you have gotten past the price point barrier, you will enjoy and learn a tremendous amount from this project.

The flourishes, sleights and moves, as listed in the ad copy include the following:

DVD 1: Basic and Professional
Basic
Back Palm Single Production & Pivot Sequence
Cardini Production & Fan Production Sequence
Tenkai Spin Production
Perfect Production (by Index Finger)
Longitudinal [Vertical] Perfect Production (Japanese Perfect Production)
Packet Appearing & Vanishing Sequence
Twirling Production
Dual Fan from Interlock 

Professional
Pastel Sequence
Yu Hojin Clean Card Vanish
Hatta Grip Fan Production and Vanish Sequence
Yu Hojin Multiple Color Change Sequence
Blackpool Backpalm Color Change
Drop Vanish
Flash Card Roll Down
Mitosis Card Roll Down
The Eraser
Four Cards Sequence 

DVD 2: Original and Workshop
Original
Yu Hojin Color Fan Production
Yu Hojin Card Roll Down Sequence
PYS Rainbow Fan Color Change Sequence
Single Card to Rainbow Fan
Into the Blank
Yu Hojin Diminishing Card
Yu Hojin Impossible Fan Production
Vaporizing Pips