Issue 24 - January 09
Ninja +
Matthew Garrett
Available from www.ninjaplus.com
Price: £50.00 (£40 without DVD)
The Ninja Rings, a close-up version of the linking rings, was recently popularised by Shoot Ogawa with a routine by Masahiro Yanagida. Matthew Garrett's ‘Ninja +’ is an extension of the Ninja Rings with the addition of a finger ring (supplied) that links on and off a 4 1/2 inch Ninja ring as well as linking from one Ninja ring to a second Ninja ring. At one point in the routine, when the finger ring is linked to a Ninja ring, it can be handed out for examination. The two rings are solidly linked together yet the magician can take it back and unlink the finger ring.
An important point is that the finger ring used is your own. If challenged to link a spectator's ring, it is possible to link a borrowed finger ring on and off the Ninja ring although it can't be handed out for examination in a linked state. It is possibly not wise to try and link anything other than a cheap borrowed ring as the crash linking method could damage a gold ring or even the stones in a ring.
The methods and two routines are all taught on a DVD and are clearly shown. The numerous methods explained give a wide variety of options so you could put together your own routine with only a little imagination. A simple routine is taught however and a more advanced one is also offered.
Anyone who has worked the Ninja Rings will have little trouble in adapting the methods to a finger ring which requires a slightly more refined technique. If you are starting from scratch, then this is going to require practice to obtain the knack of crash linking the larger rings as well as with the finger ring. It isn't as hard as a multitude of advanced card sleights but it's going to take some playing with to get the timing and confidence sufficient to perform in the real world. The props supplied will do some of the work for you and are fun to ‘play’ with once you get into the advanced moves!
The variety of ways to link and unlink a finger ring on and off the two Ninja rings is almost endless and they look very effective and pretty to watch. It's very visual magic and if you have seen the Ninja rings performed you will know that it can start to look like real magic!
Whether the addition of the finger ring is necessarily any improvement on the straight Ninja rings routine is hard to say. It's a matter of personal choice – both are effective. The finger ring possibly adds some novelty and variety to this small scale version of the linking rings.
The props which consist of the 2 faked Ninja + rings and a finger ring(s), are perfectly made, look great being chrome plated and rhodium plated with a choice of sizes of the finger ring. The moves are clearly taught and over 20 methods plus ring flourishes are taught providing plenty of options for routines although two are offered on the DVD.
I was surprised that although Shoot Ogawa's Ninja Rings is acknowledged at the start of the DVD he gets no mention at all in the actual credits section! At the price for the DVD and props you should be clear when purchasing Ninja Plus of the work required to perform the routine well. However you will have an unusual and visual piece of magic for walk around and close-up conditions. PP
What's Hot: A visual and striking piece of commercial magic
What's not: An expensive purchase if you leave it in the drawer!
Star rating: ****
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