What gets a card worker caught more than often is the shuffle. Why? Because people KNOW we are manipulating the cards. So, if we can take away some of the "I know they are tricking me" out of the equation, our trickery looks more and more like magic.

This shuffle system is a great groundwork to work off of. Already I have started to apply the theory into other areas of card work and the results have been great. I just devastated two of my card working friends with the ease of the shuffle system and was able to locate both of their cards with a bit of their very own moves but set up by what I just learned. They couldn't believe it.

I rated it 4 stars because I felt the video took a long time to get to the point but I understand why Aaron has to set up the system for new card workers.

Overall 4.5 stars. I'm so looking forward to lesson two!

PS I agree with the first review, it would be nice to have a summary at the end so you don't have to search the whole lesson to find the main points.

Worth it.
I've studied the same techniques in the past, on a couple of the best books out there, but i gave up becouse i couldn't get any better, no matter how much time i invested trying and excercising.
Watching it is a whole different thing and with a little practice following the excercises in the video, i already feel more confident.
Weeks and months (years maybe?) are needed to master every technique, but this is the right way.

Just one thing that would make it perfect: a quick summary at the end with the excercises to do, becouse having to jump back and forth in the video is a bit annoying.

I have been looking for a foundation course in card magic for some time. I Have read through Royal Road to Card Magic and have the fantastic DVD set by R. Paul Wilson

Aaron Fisher's Pathways is the breakdown of each of the fundamental skill needed in card magic. So often sleight of hand is not broken down into digestible bits that can be practiced until learned.

This first lesson on the overhand shuffle covers small things that simply can't be put into a book. I plan to work on this lesson for several weeks if not months but then I plan to continue with this series. Highly recommended.

For a student to learn a dexterity skill efficiently, he/she needs to be focused on the task at hand. Aaron does not use economy of words. The learning process becomes slowed and tedious. If you can learn past that obstacle then the teaching of the technique is solid. This is where details can be a good thing.

Please respect my time, more doesn't always mean better value. He also tends to be overly expressive or dramatic which doesn't make this anymore interesting. Acting 101, relax your face, breath, talk to me like you talk to your friends. I feel like I'm watching someone who's amped up ;) You may create tension in some viewer, which is not helping the learning when we mirror you.

He doesn't pick up the deck until 13 minutes into it. That's 25% of the video. What can you possible have to say about shuffling as an intro that takes 13 minutes of someone life, that will make a difference to shuffling? For example, after he picks up the cards, it's almost another 1 minute to tell us - "all the finger positions are important don't skip any". Why don't you just say that and move on arg!!

I want to take a few more of his lesson's but I'm cringing. Over all it's worth it, but can we get the readers digest version as a summary note, somewhere to reinforce the learning, at a pace that is more appropriate, if you real must talk so much? I can't believe I spent all this time on that annoying point for my review, that should tell you something.

He's really good at what he does, teaching the technique, but you're killing me slowly!

I have improved my overhand shuffle control 10 fold. I have problems running cards and only getting only one at a time.. Now its starting to make sense. Buy this series its well worth your money :)

After trying to learn from the popular books (Expert at the Card Table, Royal Road, etc) I was still having some trouble with the finer points. Searched YouTube, it was little help as every video seemed to have a different method. Forums, people were arguing about the best method. This video is incredibly detailed and a perfect companion if you’re trying to get the basics down in a strong way.

As far as the complaints about the long intro; well, it’s part of the package. He’s explaining important aspects about the method. Also, you can scrub forward.

Once I get some practice in and feel properly comfortable, I’ll purchase the next in the series.

Recommended.

I'm seriously back in magic since more than one year now, i wish i had this video (and the other ones from Aaron) sooner... I first learned with Giobbi, Daryl and Harry Lorayne, their stuff is very good but THIS video is THE ONE where i found so accurate and useful informations about the overhand shuffle and the basis of card magic. For example, Aaron explain how to run exactly one card at each time, and it works. I never learned that anywhere else. All the material taught here is so precious, i think everyone should look at it, even those who think they know everything about the shuffle system.
Thanks Aaron!

I subscribed to the first Pathways to Mastery video thinking I could cancel later if I didn't like the series or Aaron Fisher's teaching Style. I'm on Lesson 10 now and don't plan to cancel my subscription because Aaron Fisher is not just another great magician, he is a great magic teacher who knows there are a lot of very green beginners out there who need the thorough explanations that he provides. Also I like the way he covers specific subject in each lesson in an orderly logical way. I also have purchased all of Aaron's great card effects, Panic, Widespread and Machine and love them all.

I've been a fan of card magic for over 30years and have the essential books: Royal Road, Expert at the Card Table, and Card College. I have practiced the Overhand Shuffle for years but could never understand why I never improved. After watching Aaron's explanation I realized INSTANTLY what I was doing wrong creating my sloppy uncomfortable approach. Now don't get me wrong about the books I mentioned as being unhelpful, I am not saying that at all nor would I ever consider those books as anything BUT essential. That being said, I believe, from the results I have experienced, this video is another invaluable resource benefitial to ANYONE interested in learning the foundations to successful card magic.

I am no longer just a fan and student of card magic, I am a fan of Aaron Fisher as a card MASTER.

I highly recommend, not only this video, but the entire Card Mastery course.

Well done. Great value.