This is really a great tool and can be a trick all by itself but be prepared to have to work at this to be able to perform it smoothly. Well taught although I struggled with the accent, but the explanation was well done. I would rate this intermediate to advanced level.

I am familiar with many other culls, and I would say that if you're making a separation of more than four cards all other methods are terribly outdated, and even if you're only culling a few cards I'd consider this method over all others because of its economy of movement. I feel like everyone should know this move. I even use it if I need to separate the cards for myself just because the method is so efficient. The possibilities for this are endless. My two favorites are for an Out of this World plot after they shuffle and the fact that you can re-order a stack or memorized deck after a shuffle. This is golden!!!

Culling cards is nothing new. There are plenty of methods out there to be had. Two things separate this one from the others. First, when performed properly the move is virtually invisible even when your hands are being burned. Second, and more importantly, the teaching is top-notch. David takes you step-by-step through every move and explains every nuance needed to make this cull perfect. I had my doubts when I first purchased an entire video dedicated to a culling method and now I am so glad that I did. This video is worth more than what I expected. At just over an hour, not a single detail is left out.

First and foremost, David Gonzalez is an excellent teacher. He starts from the very basics of hand position and just moving the cards to the actual cull itself. He then refines the moves, anticipates pitfalls, and shows you how to cover. I found David's accented English pleasant and easy to understand (and as an added bonus, he does the whole thing in Spanish for Spanish speakers).

As a beginner, who had no idea how to cull more than a single card, this was a great introduction to multiple card culling for me. Given my lack of knowledge, I can't speak to how this differs from other methods, but it was easy to learn. It took me about 3 days of playing around with it to start culling fairly quickly and accurately. I have a ways to go, but, to give other beginners something to compare it to, this was much easier to learn (and learn how to cover) than, say, the classic pass.

That said, I am still working on reaching the sweet spot with speed and accuracy. What is really great is that David explains the cull in steps and that he actually does anticipate potential problems.

I appreciated David's examples on how to use the cull a little less. His examples really showed how to apply the principle of the cull to solve different card order problem--for example, how to undo a shuffle (really quite amazing if you haven't done this type of thing before).

The exmaples do sketch out what the cull can do for you. However, he never really shows you a complete routine.

I would have preferred if he had showed how to incorporate these card order solutions into actual routines from start to finish. This might be obvious to a seasoned magician. As a newbie, however, I can see where all this is headed but I still need some guidence as to how to put it all together. (It would also help if there was some performance footage, to help show where to position the audience, how to put the cull together into a routine, and guage the reaction of an audience.)

That said, this is clearly a very powerful technique that will allow you to separate out specific cards or even put the cards in a specific order. It's easy to imagine that there is likely a higher level to culling, where you can even exert more control on card order.

All in all, I was extremely satisfied with the purchase and extremely satisfied with David's instruction.


That said, here are a few things that helped me that weren't specifically on the DVD:
1) IT HELPED ME TO START WITH HALF A DECK: most people comment that I am playing with one, this really helped. Fewer cards to hold allowed me to finish the cull faster (to see how I did) and was less cumbersome at first. You can then work up to 2/3s of a deck and then a full deck.

2) WHEN STARTING USE BOTH PINKY AND RING FINGER AS YOUR LEFT HAND PIVOT POINT: maybe it's the size of my hands or just strength, but man my left pinky really got tired fast. I guess with better technique and strength, I can now use the pinky alone, but this was better at first

3) CULL WITH YOUR LEFT RING FINGER: try as I may, I couldn't get my right pinky to cull easily. He does give the left ring finger as an option, but if the pinky doesn't come easy, start with your ring finger. This may have something to do with the mobility of your pinky or the size of your pinky relative to the cards, etc. but the ring finger option worked best for me.

4) THE POSITION IS AWKWARD AT FIRST: he does say this on the DVD. I think, though, that it's worth repeating. Once you are used to it, however, it starts to feel natural. As you start to loosen up, the cull itself starts to look much better--just like you are quickly taking a look at all the cards.

5) TRY THE CULL IN DIFFERENT WAYS: he mostly goes for culling the black from the red cards or vice versa, but it helps if you mix it up a little. Especially when you start, it is much easier to cull just, say, the 4 aces, and then work up to 8 cards (Aces and kings), then all the royal cards, etc. Again, culling fewer cards is easier but this will keep up you interest by adding variety but also allow more variety.

It also opens up other uses for the cull, such as, say, culling a royal flush or mixing the cards front to back and culling out the backward facing cards for a variation on a triumph routine where the cards are actually mixed up front to back (back to front, front to front...)

David Gonzalez is the kind of person who exudes warmth, charm, and downright charisma, and whose mere introduction of himself instantly won me over. . . His cull bespeaks that marvelous blend of inborn talent and dedicated practice that produces superb magic. . . . Working on his cull reminds me of my working on the Triumph Shuffle or Paul Le Paul's Side Steal Color Change (mentored by Mr. Le Paul himself—yes, I go back that far). They took a lot of time, a lot of practice, a lot of trial and error, but ultimately proved to be worth every bit of the effort.
Now, in my 74th year, I'm completely immersed in the world of new techniques and presentations that the bright young performers of today are offering. My current passion is learning David's Cull. . . . It'll take a while, but not too long. And as with those other gems, it will be well worth the effort. Can't wait to reach the point when I can use it.
To my young gentleman friend (whom I've yet to meet) I say Thank You.

Warning you will have some tough homework.

Fortunely David is an EXCELLENT and you guy know meny of these magician are anything but excellent teachers.David is EXCELLENT!Actually MUY EXCELLENTE!Should I say.

It is a must have and must learn so get it.

for your 20 bucks your going to card univerity and you will not have to worry about all the heavy books that you won't read and all the parking tickets and all the other nonsense that come with univerities, oh you won't have all the hang overs as well and unlike most commie useful idiot professors, David knows what he is talking about.

seriously this DVD is going to get your card magic to the next level far far far past all the annoying guys that watch 10 year old boys explose all the basic card magic on youtube for free and then try to call you out when your doing your double lift move in front of some pretty girls that were enjoying your card magic until you got called out by this chump.You guys get the point, we have all been there,you know what I mean.

Get your card magic to the higher untouchable level.Get this DVD

I'm now able to do all the magic I love with a completely shuffled deck. I used to rely on stacks and awkward setups. Now I can get the cards I want exactly where I want right under the spectators nose. A magician may recognize something fishy if you do it sloppy, but laymen have no idea what to make of it. That being said, what makes this cull great is the close attention to detail the creator gave it, so pay attention and practice this puppy and it will take your card magic to the next level.

David explains his cull extremely thoroughly. It's a tough move and for lay people it may make no difference if you do Lennart Green's separation, but definitely go for this if you just want to be that much cleaner and have the dedication to put into the move.

I ve been fortunate to experience this in live by David during FISM 2012. Since then, I ve been using it to prepare on the fly the cards needed for my tricks. Very useful sleight for the serious card work. Thank you David!

i like this concept ,it looks great however i have found it very hard to do ,i do stuff like bottom deals ,multiple backpalming of coins etc and yet i am struggling with this ,must be a nack thing.i will keep working on it,errol