Fire breathing
From Freepedia
Image:Lightmatter firebreath02.jpg Image:FirebreathingBM2005.JPG Image:Firebreathingtorch.JPG Fire breathing is the act of creating a large flame by spraying, with one's breath, a flammable liquid upon an open flame. The flame is usually held right in front of the mouth and the spray should be both powerful and misty.
While not a difficult skill, it is the most dangerous of all the fire arts, and not just due to the obvious risk of serious burns. The fuels that create the most spectacular flames are often extremely poisonous and carcinogenic. To heighten safety, fire breathers must avoid highly explosive fuels such as alcohol, spirit-based fuels, and most petrochemicals, instead using safer combustibles with a high flash point (>50C) and relatively low burn temperature. Due to its relatively safe (~90C) flash point, paraffin or ultra pure lamp oil, is the safest fuel for fire breathing.
A favourite among audiences, fire breathing often features as a dramatic highlight in climactic performances. A number of legendary creatures are said to possess innate capabilities for fire breathing, most notably dragons. Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS is arguably the most famous human firebreather and regularly spouts fireballs during KISS shows.
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Fire breathing stunts
These are aranged in alphabetical order. Don't try these at home.
Vapor stunts
Vapor Stunts use the vapors (as opposed to liquid fuel) collected in the mouth (usually during an extingush, see: fire eating) to light or keep a flame burning for what are usually smaller stunts. Vapor stunts include:
- Human Candle - slowly feed a candle sized flame with vapors you hold
- Cigarette Light - light a cigarette with a slightly larger human candle
- Vapor Transfer - ignite one torch with the vapor from another
- Volcano - shoot vapors straight up
One person blasts
One Person Blasts consist of a person spraying and igniting an atomized liquid fuel into the air to create a fire blast effect. One person blasts include:
- 45 Degree Fire Blast - 45 degree up angle
- Camp Fire - bounce the flame off the ground
- Carousel - long horizontal blast while rotating through a full circle
- Forward Fire Blast - parallel to the ground
- Lift - 2 or more Repeating Blasts lit off of one torch ignition
- Marlboro Man - light your blast off the Marlboro you shoot out with the blast
- Repeating Blasts - 3 or more short blasts without refueling
- Torch to Torch Light - light a torch held 3' from their ignition torch with a short blast
- Upward Fire Blast - shoot upwards
Group fire stunts
Group Fire Stunts are fire breathing stunts that involve 2 or more people fire breathing togeather to create larger, usually more impressive stunts. Group fire stunts are usually highly choreographed, and can take years to master. Group stunts include:
- Biggest Blast Ever - 2 or more simultaneous blasts straight up
- Box - 9 people, combined skills allow passing l>r, r>l, front> volcano, volcano to front
- A Circus Tent - 4 or more blasts 45 degrees upwards, lighting off a high central point
- Crucifixion - Forward Fire blast done over the length of a second performer's body, while the second performer is lying on a table. This is typically done with the flame mere inches from the second performer's body
- Eight - also known as "double circles" is when you have one kneeling circle blowing a horizontal blast, and a second standing circle (directly behind the first circle) blowing a vertical blast simultaneously
- End to End/Rainbow - 2 simultaneous Fire Blasts, both lit off a high central point
- Grandfather/Elder - 3 off center, simultaneous campfire blasts. Creates a very tall fire vortex
- Group Carousel - Star Blast with group rotation
- Machine - short blasts on the sides, long center blast, reconfigure, repeat
- Multi Blast Carousel - Group Carousel with many short blasts instead of one long one
- Star Blast - 4 or more full blasts, all breathers standing back to back and blowing out
- Straight Pass - 3 or more people passing flames without secondary torch ignitions
- The Most Dangerous Trick in the World - Fire blast lit off of partner's volcano
- Wheel - 3 simultaneous blasts, center straight up, ends out to the sides and up 45 degrees
See also
External links
- Fire Breathing Arts World-wide resources for fire breathing trainers & performers
- Fire Breathing Photo Gallery Fire dancers performing fire breathing stunts
- North American Fire Arts Association
