Welcome to A Cut Above, our monthly newsletter featuring cardistry highlights from the past month, guest articles and interviews, moves of the month, and general updates on the community.

This month, we have a guest article from renowned cardist, Silas Busk. Enjoy.

Our good friend and cardist, Silas Busk, has been part of the cardistry scene for well over a decade, earning a reputation for consistently posting some of the cleanest combos out there.

Unlike many cardists who spend hundreds of hours perfecting a single move before sharing it, Silas takes a different approach — he doesn’t wait for the perfect idea. Instead, he finds joy in consistently sharing anything fun he’s working on, using different decks and filming in various locations. His content feels natural, unfiltered, and true to his style.

Since this approach differs from the way most cardists post, we wanted to hear his perspective on content creation and self-expression. We believe there’s a lot to learn from him in this regard. Here’s what he had to say:

Posting What You Like to Post

This sounds like something all cardists do, but in reality, I think many are very concerned/aware of what they post, sometimes to the point where they let their view of how they want to stand out on their Instagram page prevent them from sharing what they truly want.

One of the most common things I have experienced among cardists is that they only want to post original moves. While originality is important, this mindset excludes a lot of great performances that could have been shared and appreciated.

My Posting Style

When I practice moves, I often record myself performing them. I feel like I am better at being critical of which parts need improvement and what adjustments I should make to refine the move. Luckily, I often find myself with clips of good takes, and at some point (around 2017, I think), I started posting these clips. It did not matter whether it was a performance of a combo I did all the time or a new move that I had just gotten down.

Since then, I’ve felt quite “free” with what I post on Instagram. I often find myself in a cool setting or discovering a tiny new move to incorporate into a combo, and I’ll record and post it right away.

Another benefit I have discovered from this approach is that it encourages me to use a variety of decks because I feel like my clips are kind of boring if I were to use the same deck over and over. So, whenever I capture something worth posting, I prefer to use a visually interesting deck rather than an old poop deck I have lying around.

Practicing Other People’s Moves

I love practicing moves that I have not created myself. Seeing a move and appreciating its mechanics is one thing, but actually learning it gives me a deeper understanding of the nuances that one does not notice by simply viewing it. Understanding a move’s difficulty by trying to learn it also improves my appreciation of seeing other people perform that move.

Something I miss from my early days in cardistry is how certain moves would gain widespread recognition. For example, when someone posted a clean performance of Very Bad Habit by Brian Tudor, it received a lot of appreciation because so many people had tried to learn it themselves. They understood how much practice was required to get a good performance.

Now, cardists mostly only post their own moves, and often just once in an Instagram post or a performance video. At conventions like Cardistry-Con or Cardistry XP, I’ve met people I’ve known for years, when suddenly they do a perfect performance of a move I never knew they could do. Maybe if they had posted it at some point, I might have been inspired to learn it myself.

— Silas

So go for it, share your cardistry with the world! Whether it’s a fresh new move or one of your favorite classics, you never know who you might inspire.

1. Move by Samuel Pratt

Is it just me or is this video five hours long? Leave it to Sam to make and perform moves that you can simply never get tired of watching.

Continuing to be a shining example of his Cardistry-Con talk on the art of “sprezzatura,” Sam shows off his effortless flow and style in this new four-packet cut. The rhythmic motion back and forth is essential to keeping move’s momentum, as Sam tops the move off with a comfy, satisfying closer.

Simply put, Sam just doesn’t miss. Bonus points, of course, for the Spacedunes.

2. Wuji by @dr.olong

A consistently cool moment in a cardistry move is when packets seemingly appear out of nowhere. In his move, Wuji, @dr.olong makes that a theme, with multiple occasions of these “surprise packets.”

That isn’t the only theme of the move, as he consistently uses a double-corner grip on the short edge packets to rotate them 180°. Having that type of consistency in a move makes it feel whole and well-thought out.

Add in a couple more moving packets, sick cards, and some camera-mounted lighting, and you’ve got yourself a Move of the Month.

3. Blender by Maks

Between Cardistry Core and Lotusinhand Singles going on, it was difficult to select only three moves this month. But this banger from Maks made the job a bit easier.

It can be difficult to pull off a mechanical-looking move like this, but Maks makes it look simple. The packets move like synchronized swimmers, dancing about in his hands before locking together for a smooth closer. It’s one of those moves that knows exactly what it is, crafted with a clear vision and executed flawlessly.

Well done, Maks, and best of luck in future rounds.

Honorable Mentions

With all the recent motivators to post content (Cardistry Core, Lotus Singles, etc), there were an abundance of high-quality moves posted in February:

Quick Bites

TikTok is on the rise. Cardistry is picking up momentum across various accounts on the social media site, and it’s encouraging to see the community branch out, explore new platforms, and showcase their moves to a wider audience.
Lotusinhand Singles heats up as Upper Bracket Round 2 and Lower Bracket Round 1 results are in! Congratulations to everyone advancing — best of luck in the next round!
Want to keep your hands feeling good and moving smoothly for cardistry? Hand Health for Cardists breaks down why cracking feels good, how to prevent stiffness, and simple ways to keep your hands in top shape.
Bizau Cristian’s 365-Day Challenge continues as @namesbiz has now posted an incredible 276 cardistry moves in his year-long challenge! Learning that many moves — let alone performing them smoothly — is no easy feat. Major respect for the dedication!
Want to be showcased alongside the best cardists? Simply DM @cardistrycore a high-quality performance of an original or unoriginal move for a chance to be featured. Don’t miss the opportunity to share your skills with the community!