Amazing James Randi Rope Trick

[Kingucktoad]

He is so short!

[joardar73]

4 dislikes are knots.

[eddylon1983]

@joardar73 or 4 dislikes wasn't impressed?

[bprop]

Uri Geller voted four times

[8bobthebuilder]

i've watched this a number of times and i just cant stop laughing.

[tarnicles]

he really looks like Santa... perhaps he IS Santa....

[artemis3120]

Gah! I want to see the lecture!

[bircheyboymagic]

he reminds me of the miner from toy story

[1MadVirus1]

That is the easiest trick I have ever seen :P

He doesn't tie a knot over the first time, so when he twists, it comes undone. Try it :)

[qwer4o]

@1MadVirus1 Wow. You busted him.

[Whisper6911]

@1MadVirus1 i noticed that too.

lol first thing i thought was: that is not the knot i would use :P

(i would use ashtons constrictor knot :P )

[runningray]

@1MadVirus1 so how did he put the rope back on his hands after he took it off on the chair?

[1MadVirus1]

@runningray By putting them back into the loop and twisting them.

[genericmember1]

@1MadVirus1

Randi himself would be proud of you.

[TheMeridianOfInanity]

Oh my god he is short O.O

[Pesles]

on the first trick the rope doesn't go around his hand he just makes us assume that@1:19 , and on the second trick you can clearly see that he doesn't make a knot after the rope goes around his legs @2:45 ---->GIVE ME A THUMB UP IF I AM RIGHT<----

[AgnosticCube]

That has to be the most simplest trick to dechiper evar :D

[8bobthebuilder]

"By a strange and somewhat contrived coincidence i do [have a piece of rope]"

[BlueMaxx86]

He has his wrists displaced to have some slack despite the triple knot. Kinda neat, though, I guess.

[supravista]

Randi's in bdsm heaven

[MultiParsley]

I think it's all an elaborate cover-up ploy, James Randi is actually a Gnome.

[PhotoShopChannel]

Rex from Toy Story?

[ZenShroud1]

@PhotoShopChannel That would be Wallace Shawn, also known as Vizzini from 'The Princess Bride'

[Nnmana]

The first one I don't understand, the second one however is really easy to figure out. He just twists both of his hands at the same time so that the rope around his legs loosens up.

[smartmarlino]

@Nnmana On the first one, he simply twists his right hand under the left hand just before they make the knot, so that he has enough free space for his hands to get lose. ;)

[gabzpiano]

it looked like randi was gonna do the limbo

[CreepX]

this is absolute gold.

[Zeykieee]

James Randi's small and cute :p

[DarthSexyT]

I found a leprechaun

[jkyet]

I like his attitude but these weren't great tricks.

[PDodds77]

@jkyet some people are just dicks

[MultiAlieninvasion]

james is a wizard for the illuminati

[DavidHanjani]

EPIC

[ToyCableWire]

fuckn nazi

[shua530]

that was the most un-amusing trick i have ever seen

[cooliovasquez]

@shua530 the guys messed it up

[andyrooney12]

The magic tricks that James Randi has done in his life are 1000000000 times better than the horseshit that Uri Geller tried to peddle as "real magical powers". We're lucky that James Randi is on our side and instead of trying to make money off us he's teaching us. The world needs more people like him.

[13farseer13]

magical dwarves.........  i love them.

[Almari02]

he looks like gnome when dat 2 guy at stage..hehe..

[BrocTheMagnifico]

The initial knots aren't looped around. He's simply using his hands to create pressure that he releases when he wants to be free.

[freakystyley4000]

They should make plushies of James Randi.

[zabukazar]

Notice he ties the initial knots. Randi's awesome.

[syntaxengot000]

just leave a space between your legs when they tied you up.

[weefeatures]

of course it's real magic, he's Santa

[AmazingGordo]

Randi used one of the old "spirit rope ties" that were often used by fraudulent mediums during seances back in Houdini's time. He is adept at all manner of such escapes, being quite knowledgable on the various forms of deception these charlatans used.

[Lortagreb]

haha he is funny too.

[MitsuGTO885]

Ive seen basically every clip of this lecture here on YT, and all he got was 5 secs of applause? I wouldnt stop clapping for an hour.

[shkotay]

The classy old bird still hs the skill to perform tricks with sublime skill :D

[evexgee]

@shkotay you refer to a woman as a bird, not a man

[shkotay]

@evexgee thats "chick" you mean right? Depends on the lingo of the area one comes from i suppose but "old bird" can apply to any elderly person.

[HumaninSeoul]

Randi is a fraud. He is using true quantum fluxes and is permeating his atoms through the rope. Wake up all you people!! This man is a demon!! :3

[Tapecutter59]

Gotta love Randi, common tricks performed with uncommon skill.

[davcar23]

Remember, it's not about figuring out how the trick is done, it's doing it yourself and make it look effortless.

[qwer4o]

@DodecahedronHead You're becoming more and more boring by the hour. Block for stupidity.

[cstviz]

it's impossible to tie tight knots with sash cord

[tomp2008]

wow, Randi's a midget

[RantzinmyPantz]

I think I actually figures out both tricks, I could be wrong,, I'm pretty sure he cut the first rope when he doubled it and then pulled another tied rope out after he was free. For the 2nd, try tying yourself this way, if you turn you arms counter to the way the rope is overlapped on your lages it loosens up, It's as if you had a single loop and twisted it into a figure 8, when you untwist it the smaller loops of the eight get bigger. Gosh that's hard to explain in text, hope it makes sense

[ArrogantAtheism]

"there enough rope?"

"yea"

"DAMN"

haha fucking epic

[kszpirak]

Wonderful man.

[Nitzlplix]

Randi uses his wrist watch in a similar method used to escape from metal handcuffs. Notice his right hand at 1:03. Not to say in the least that the trick doesn't require a lot of skill and practice. He must've practiced it at least 5,000 times to be able to do put the cord on and off so quickly.

[gugenheim84]

The Master!

[saigondj]

that is why modern day magicians can't call themselves to possess paranomal power and potentially scam people because James Randi's work

[AyKay47]

you know...now that I think about it, he does give himself a bit of leeway(pardon my spelling) when he gets just his hands tied up, he basically takes the rope, wraps it around the one hand in such a way that all he has to do is turn the one hands and it loosens it up for both hands, same as the legs, the legs help keep the rope tight as well so he can slip them off with all the slack he's created by moving his appendages a bit farther apart when he's getting tied up

[AnimeBelover]

@AyKay47 Well, you are so smart dude... But why would you break other people's tricks... Just keep the asnwer to yourself... showoff

[AyKay47]

@AnimeBelover lol this man in the video does that to people on a daily basis lol. he gave away a LOT of peoples secrets and that's what he's about. So I was mainly showing you that HE is showing you how easy it is to do.

[AnimeBelover]

@AyKay47 OH! Ok... lolz xD

Well, nice xD

[DarkKnightBob1o1]

using the legs to keep the rope'tight'

[ikkyu]

The "James Randi Lecture at Princeton 2001" in google video is badly out of sync with audio. Is it just me?

[Zentz29]

gotta love randi!

[Hidoba]

Just take a part of rope or cord and do it the same way. You'll understand how easy is the trick.

[hollowfocus001]

what the hell. Does anyone agree he looks a lot shorter in this video than some of his new one''s.

[phulme61]

Yer a great slight of hand from the Amazing Randi - Master showman !

[ALFTUBE50]

Excelente truco!!!

[Magikomik]

@abbccjns No, the clown with the beard makes the trick.

[wouterw1991]

Randi is the best!

[Berelore]

this is a great twist on a oldie but a goodie well done.

Randi rocks

[partyshock]

he does the tric before they bind his hands

can see him doing a strange move to place the rope on his wrist, thats when he does whats needed for the tric

[bublegumhu]

lul

[CloverCATOREE]

so randi. you dont know these people huh? so what if the guy didnt have a jacket? would you make him take his shirt off? ahahhahah what do u think im stupid? :D hahahah you knew the assistants. see thats some critical thinking for you. LOL

[MURDOCMULDOON]

So fuckin beautiful...

We are so stupid in this world , critical thinking is so freakin important.

[iHateSally]

HAAHAHAHAHHAHA

[Z1Z12]

MR RANDI IS NOT AN AMERICAN GNOME

[dmhewey]

Correct -- he is not a gnome. He is a dwarf, which is rather ... amazing.

[caltrof]

amusement and laughs at the same time. Don't get better than this

[Serostern]

I have figured it out, I wont bother telling you, but I just want to say I love Randi!

[almo2001]

You can't fault the showmanship. Nobody cares if you can figure out how he did it.

[keydetpiper]

I didn't realize Randi was so short... he's my hero though.

[xismxist]

kinda, but the guys were tall

[qwer4o]

Ya think? :)))

[MrLioned]

haha i like his humor and skills :)

[dat72787]

One cycle in one hand ... then placed the free hand crossed on the one with rope. Tie the knot. Just rotate the lower hand. Hand is free.

[arvetis]

At 1:19, Randi ties the first "knot" himself. It doesn't matter how tight they make the second knot, because the first one is fake. After the fake knot loosens and slips away, it's the same situation with the legs and arms with only one knot over them - it's a simple matter to slip out of the whole thing.

Actually, the impressive thing, to me, is how quickly he slips his hands back INTO the rope for the second part. That takes skill!

[Wcoltd]

@arvetis not if the hands are fakes

[FretNinja]

Because James Randi is such a great guy his tricks are superb. He doesn't claim to be psychic or have powers, so i can truly appreciate his skill for what it is. And i dont want to know how he does it. His character and mastery is enough.

[BlueShr00m]

HE'S A WITCH! Burn him at the stake!

[blazednlovinit]

mum? why are they tying up santa?

[HemsefromdesreveR]

haha! hillarious!

I'm totally clueless on this one...

how does he...?

[Isanion]

love Randi, even if these tricks are bloody simple.

:)

[TomTommyThomas89]

James Randi The Atheist God

[nearadyn]

All Hail Randi! All hail Randi!...

[4ustr4li4]

@TomTommyThomas89 i recon he'd b offended if he saw that comment, he doesnt believe in gods :P

[oaaserud]

@4ustr4li4 agree with you.. idiotic comment.. seems as if he dont know what an atheist ist, or what he belives

[averagehomosapien]

@TomTommyThomas89

James Randi, The Atheist Santa

[Serostern]

I LOVE james Randi!

[Greenen72]

He is much shorter than a man of his stature would suggest.

Puns are fun.

[MrReactor1]

cool trick.

I figured it out, but it is really good.

[becongeneral]

That was very funny. i wish i could have a teacher like that

[Taraalcar]

He's so short! Hes almost a midget lol

[Screatus]

ya he seems short in this vid but hes actual 5'6 but also he has a veeeery small frame

[shmalfie]

When the rope is wrapped around his legs, they simply cross over rather than forming a knot. So even though the knots around his hands are quite tight, all he'd have to do is twist his hands around slightly to uncross the rope over his legs and he'd be free.

But he does it so smoothly and seamlessly. Very good trick.

[marxdesign]

The Amazing Randi is amazingly short.

[cosmicjazzer]

His jacket is too big for him!

[MrReactor1]

those two are amazingly long

[Serostern]

Not that short, but he got the biggest dudes in the audience =P

[JonnyYang123]

hes so funny lol at 0:52

[jscene17]

oh my god he's tiny!!

[Katalyzt]

Nicely done! Thank you for uploading this. ★★★★★

Katalyzt

[pitbull103]

Randi is a fraud. He is doing this by paranormal means and melting the rope with his mind. He is a fraud because he insists on telling us that it is just a trick. Randi is using black magic and is one of satan's minions. It is one way that he furthers the work of beelzebub. Randi was once the head of the "LuciClub" -- a coven devoted to the followers of Lucipher. Nah, just kidding. Randi is the best. He is a beacon of light in an irrational world.

[qwer4o]

Haha, good one! :))

[krissy4nik]

@pitbull103 haha i need to get a sense of humor sometimes i was just about to give you the wtf is wrong with you lecture... im sorry :o)

[bridde]

@pitbull103

lol!

[BloatedSensations]

@pitbull103 He's an ideologue. And, ideologues, by definition, promote stupidity. 

[qwer4o]

@BloatedSensations Grow up, inbecile. Block for stupidity.

[DodecahedronHead]

@qwer4o lol I agree with averything u say but I just have to point out that u talk about stupidity when you spelled imbecile wrong XD

[qwer4o]

@DodecahedronHead You agree with "averything" I say? Boy! I'm glad YOU can spell correctly :))

[JM2X4]

@pitbull103

at first i was like wtf then il lold hard!^^

[khylate]

@pitbull103 Lmao I do hope that's a Poe, Black magic... that's one of the most hilarious comments I've ever seen in my life

[jotatsu]

Mmm i think the second part have a position in the legs, i try to duplicate angle and the position of the feet at seat, but looks like the position is not so thight at it looks, there is still manouver space.

[TheUnmaskedMagician]

Randi is the best!!

[Gunther1987]

Hahaha, Randi, you rule!!!

[culvre]

damn, i didn't know james randi was so short!

[Cellsplitter]

ya he's so adorable lol. wanna keep him in my front pocket ^^

[37view37]

Heavens above! I just watched the rest of the trick (Randi seated). I guess I'm starting to think like a magician because that was incredibly obvious! ANYONE, meaning every human being over age 5, can do that one. But not everyone can sell it like Randi. I was lol as soon as he put his hands on top of the rope around his legs. It's only the best of showmen that can make such a trick seem magical. THIS is why I am increasingly drawn to magic. What a hoot! Thanks, qwer4o! Go Randi! FUN!!

[37view37]

At 1:17 or 1:18, Randi brings the middle portion of the rope up into his palm with his fingers and thumb. From then on, 'til the finger-flex, these digits are not seen past the 2nd knuckle of the right hand. I believe it was at that moment that he made sufficient slack for the escape. Bear in mind, this took me several viewings and I may not even be correct on the technique. That is why HE'S Amazing and I'm not - or is it "knot"?

[37view37]

Wow, on 2nd viewing I see that Randi's right thumb AND 4 fingers above the 2nd knuckle are curled back out of view as he ties the first tie. He makes a show of flexing these digits after the other men's knots - as though to say, "ouch, there's numbness here." I now think he is holding a goodly amount of slack in his palm with thumb AND fingers (easy to do but it took careful watching and a second viewing to see this). I want to incorporate this one into my own amateur (for kids) act. GoRandi!

[37view37]

It appeares to me that Randi makes a bit of slack on the rope on the palm-side of his right hand as he ties it on the back side of the same hand (this refer's to the first trick ). As long as he maintains that little bit of slack as the men tighten their first tie he is home free as he can now slip out his right hand, then his left. A chain lock version of this idea can be bought at magic shops for about $5. What makes it work is Randi's awesome showmanship and professionalism. He's awesome!

[beautifulspam]

Ok it looks like there's no knot on the first hand, so all he has to do is pass one hand under the first loop and the whole thing opens up.

[beautifulspam]

There must be a reason that Randi tied the first loop himself.

[zensho1]

The swap occured at 1.25

[rascalpuppy]

It's all about the entertainment ;P No accomplices and no trick rope. Thing is, once the trick is explained the "magic" of it is gone ;P

[zensho1]

At about 1 minute, why doesnd puut the watch in one pocket, change his mind and put it into the other pocket?

[zensho1]

The two assistants must have been part of the act. One of them seems to anticiptae Randi's next intruction.

[qwer4o]

No. The trick is very simple and requires no accomplices.

[zensho1]

Please, please tell me how it is done!!!!

[grumbel45]

1) Notice that the way the rope is used is determined by the instruction Randi gives, so its not the assistants choice how the hands are tied

2) Notice that the knot is never actually opened by Randi until after the act is already done

[qwer4o]

So?

[fknugly222]

@grumbel45 You say so much without saying anything.

[howla012]

he's short, but tough

[xerc1]

I like that guy!

[ihatebobsaget1989]

what the hell randi is tiny

[mathmexican4234]

I'd say only the top was tied and he can turn his arms a little to loosen the hold of the rope and slip his arms out.

ORRRRRR...he's a witch!!!...turned me into a newt...

[zensho1]

How did he do it?

[zensho1]

OK, but I accedpt it is atrick, so well done Randi and whoever else ca do it.

[zensho1]

At 1.24 it appears there are TWO separated pieces of rope. Randi very cleverly and quickly conceals this point. Butl, that is his point!

[qwer4o]

Two pieces?! Now you really killed me :) This trick is much, much simpler than that. One piece of regular rope is all it requires. I cannot give out the secret but it's not MUCH of a secret, really. Watch carefully and you will see. :)

[zensho1]

The two guys are part of the act. That was what Randi is trying to say.

[zensho1]

The two assistants are part of the ACT!!!

[qwer4o]

Nope. The assistant does not start taking off his jacket earlier. Watch it again.

And the trick does not require assistants :) I now know how it is done.

[zensho1]

The rope was always two pieces of rope. I can see that part!

[zensho1]

Agreed. He suggests slipping off the jacket a split second before the guy starts it. Nevertheless, it appears that the stage hand was expecting this command.

[qwer4o]

Yes, it does look like that, I agree. But this is not essential for the trick. It really requires no insiders :)

[zensho1]

At 2.24. James is asking for his assistant to slip off his jacket. BUT, the assistant appears to be starting to do this BEFORE James mentions 'Jacket'. Why?

[HumanStrategy]

Easy but effective. Good trick^^

[dothack200]

looool

[Muchodelcrazy]

Randi is an amazing person in all respects.

[soupdragon42]

Cool

[qwer4o]

Easiest trick? Damn! It looks difficult to me. I do amateur magic and I was never able to find out how this trick is done :(

[Aaron518]

Really? If you just do exactly what he has the people do you should be able to figure it out-thats how i did. If you really do magic and want to know shoot me a message and I'll tell you.You'll slap your head =)

[c6gunner]

Yeah, I agree with him, it's an extremely simple trick. I'm amazed that people have such a tough time figuring it out.

[Aaron518]

Randi shows how even the easiest trick can be greatly entertaining.