(Read This First) So You Want to Learn Sword Swallowing?

When I first tried to learn sword swallowing, I hit nothing but locked doors.

I went to shows and tried talking to sword swallowers in person. I tracked down phone numbers for the handful I could find. Almost every attempt was the same: “It’s too dangerous, don’t even try.” Or “It’s too much liability, I don’t teach.”

And that was it. No books. No videos. No mentors. Nothing.

I didn’t even know for certain if it was real. I remember calling magic shops, asking magicians if it was just a trick, surely they would know the secret and sell it to me, right? But most weren’t sure. That uncertainty made me suspect the truth: it was real.

So I went on the journey myself. Trial and error. Stumbling in the dark. Pushing myself through unnecessary suffering because there were no resources, no guidance, no hand to help me along. Eventually, through sheer persistence and unshakable drive, I succeeded. I taught myself one of the rarest and most dangerous performance arts in the world.

And here’s the thing: if someone back then had offered me a program, even something as demanding as the process I’m about to outline, I would have jumped at it without hesitation. I would have raised the money, carved out the time, and proven myself. Because that’s how badly I wanted it.

That’s the kind of fire you have to have to succeed.

Fast Forward to Now

Today, people reach out to me constantly: “Will you teach me how to swallow swords?”

And I get it, they don’t realize what they’re actually asking for. They don’t understand the sheer amount of time, energy, and mental fortitude this takes. They don’t see that it’s not like juggling, yoga, or even fire handling. Sword swallowing is different.

If you want me to consider teaching you, you have to prove you’re serious. And I don’t mean serious in the way people casually say they’re “serious.” I mean the kind of serious where your actions prove your commitment long before you ever touch a blade.

Because if you look at this checklist and think, “That’s too much work,” then save yourself the trouble and stop here. What I’m asking is easy compared to the real training.

The Sword Swallowing Checklist

Here’s how you show me you’re serious about being a student:

Subscribe to my highest-tier Patreon ($50/month).

This is the entry point. If you can’t commit here, you’re not ready.

Like every single post I’ve made on Patreon.

As of now, there are over 100. My goal is 1,000. This isn’t busywork—it’s proof that you’re willing to invest your attention and time into this journey.

Leave 15 thoughtful comments on 15 different posts.

Not “cool” or “thanks.” Real reflections. I’ll read them, and they’ll help me understand who you are, what drives you, and whether you have the depth this path demands.

Buy one or two of my books—especially Embracing the Flame.

This gives you a foundation in how I teach and think. It also shows me you’re willing to engage beyond curiosity.

Book a fire handling session with me ($250).

Fire handling is a prerequisite. It reveals how you approach danger, discipline, and safety. If you can’t follow protocol with fire, you’re not ready for steel.

What Happens Next

If you do all of that, we’ll have built a foundation. You’ll have shown me commitment. I’ll have gotten to know you as a potential student. And then, maybe, we’ll move forward.

But even after all that, there’s no guarantee. Sword swallowing is not a pay-to-play skill. You can’t just buy your way in. I decide who I teach.

Why? Because I don’t just sell swords or give away ancient secrets to anyone. This is about mentorship, about forging a deep teacher–student relationship.

If you prove yourself, I may one day offer you one of the training swords I keep ready for serious students. But not before you’ve earned it.

Why So Demanding?

Because sword swallowing is unlike anything else.

Run an Ironman. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Go through Special Forces training. All of those are easier. I’m not exaggerating.

Sword swallowing demands suffering. It demands resilience. It demands something deep within you that almost no one has.

That’s why, in nearly 30 years, I’ve only taken on three students. All three succeeded. Two hold Guinness World Records. Each of them has told me they can’t imagine learning any other way than how I taught them.

Final Word

Sword swallowing isn’t for “most people.” It isn’t even for “almost anyone.” But if you’ve read this far, maybe you’re different.

The real question is:

Are you ready to prove it?

Because once upon a time, I sat where you are now. Hungry. Curious. Desperate for a teacher. And if I had found this exact page, with this exact checklist, I would have jumped at it. No hesitation. No excuses.

And that’s the kind of student I’m looking for.