The Three Most Common Questions About Sword Swallowing:
- Bill Berry
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Since I became a sword swallower nearly three decades ago, I’ve fielded countless questions. Some are thoughtful, some are strange, but three of them come up so often they’ve practically become a script. Let’s break them down.
“So, what, did you just wake up one morning and decide to swallow a sword?”
This one always makes me laugh. Without fail, it’s phrased exactly the same way, as if everyone received the same memo.
The truth? No, sword swallowing isn’t something you roll out of bed and casually decide to do. My journey to this art took years, full of trial, error, and more than a few defeats. It’s a long story (one I’ll probably save for book number six or so), but the short answer is: it takes far more than a single morning epiphany.
“Can you teach my wife?”
Ah, the infamous joke, and I get it, it's low-hanging fruit. But the innuendo grows tiresome after the 100th time.
My response? A professional smile.
To me, sword swallowing is a sacred, ancient art. It's above being reduced to innuendo. Still, it is the second most common thing I hear.
“Can you teach me?”
Now we’ve reached the big one. This question sounds innocent enough, usually asked with wide-eyed excitement: “That would be so neat to learn!”
The short answer?
No. It’s not for sale.
Why? Because most people don’t realize what’s actually involved:
Years of training — not weeks or months.
Unrelenting dedication — 99 out of 100 will give up. (Realistically, it’s closer to 1 in 10,000 who succeed.)
Risk — one wrong move can mean permanent damage.
Purpose — “looking cool” won’t carry you through the grind.
If all you want is a party trick, there are easier, safer, and equally impressive options: magic, bar bets, napkin origami. And you can learn all those in an afternoon.
The Bottom Line
If you ask me, “Can you teach me?” my answer will almost always be no. Not because I’m hoarding a secret, but because the skill isn’t something you buy; it’s something that demands a rare kind of person under rare circumstances.
But, if by some twist of fate, you are that one-in-a-million and our paths align, maybe one day I’ll suggest it to you. If you want to get on the road where that journey begins, follow the link below.
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