Resources
Safety is not gatekeeping
Fire can hurt you. I'll be honest with you about that. Here's what I tell every student before we light anything.
Free course
Start with safety
I'd rather give the safety for free, because I think everyone should learn safety. Every student starts with my safety training: the protocols I use as an insured professional, the common mistakes that cause injuries, and a fuel guide.
Safety basics
Before you light anything
These aren't instructions. They're the things I want every fire curious person to know before they start.
Never practice alone
Always have a safety person, a fire blanket and an extinguisher within reach. Your safety person trains free in the program, because their job matters as much as yours.
Cotton, no synthetics
Cotton, no synthetics. Closed-toe shoes. Facial hair? Yes you can, and it adds risk.
The danger isn't your face
"People can die from fire breathing. And the danger is not burning your face. The danger is someone breathing in the fuel." That's why my safety training for fire breathing alone runs an hour and a half to two hours.
The telephone game
A lot of people learned bits and pieces from someone who learned bits and pieces from someone self-taught. The technique gets lost on the way, and so does the safety.
Know why it works
Fuel, heat, breath and timing. When you understand the mechanism, you stop guessing. You should not get burned if you're doing it right.
Don't buy blind
The wrong torch or the wrong fuel makes everything harder and less safe. Students get exact gear recommendations before they spend a dollar.
Where beginners start
The beginner ladder
This is the order I teach in, always with a teacher watching. Each step makes the next one less scary.
Fire bubbles
The fear on-ramp. Your first quick win, no expensive equipment needed.
Dry runs
Drills without fire. We go through the motions so many times before we even light it.
Hands
Palm extinguish. Your first move with real fire, and the one you'll use the most.
Mouth
The fire eat, then the jellyfish, then vapor tricks. Only after the basics are solid.
Beginner questions
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Yes. Playing with fire is dangerous by default, so you're right to ask. That's why every student starts with in-depth safety training, a test, and a safety person, before anything else.
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YouTube can only take you so far. A video can't see what you're doing. Fire will let you know very fast if you're doing something wrong, but it won't tell you how to fix it.
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Good. That healthy respect is part of doing this safely. We start with fire bubbles and dry runs, and we go through the motions many times before anything is lit.
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Yes you can. It adds risk, and we plan for it. And yes, my beard somehow survives all that fire eating.
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Get the free safety training. If you want a teacher, apply for the Online Masterclass or come to a workshop.
Keep going
Learn it properly
When you're ready for a real teacher, apply for the Online Masterclass or bring a workshop to your city.