‘I practiced 15,000 times over four years to be able to fit a sword down my throat’

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. It’s a dangerous skill not for the faint-hearted and only less than a few dozen daredevils take part across the world. We are talking about sword swallowing.

Tracing its origins back to 2,000 BC in India, the ancient art is known across the globe for the grizzly images of blade gobblers across the world. Fast forward several centuries and World Sword Swallowers Day is celebrated today (February 22) at 2.22 pm, to honour the skill and the performers who gorge on metal.

The first World Sword Swallowers Day was established in 2007 by renowned human sheath Dan Meyer, who is the President of the World Sword Swallowers Association. It is a reminder to the public about the dangers of the performance but also gives artists a chance to take part in synchronised sword-swallowing events all at once.

From his home in Arizona, Dan, 67, who has performed in 60 countries told Metro what inspired him to get into the unusual practice. He said: ‘I never grew up in a circus family, never lived in an environment where anything out of the ordinary was practiced.

‘I grew up in a poor family in Indiana, living in extreme fear. I was scared, shy, I was bullied and would often stutter. ‘My dream was to perform magic that bullies couldn’t do and at the age of 20, I moved to India where I first witnessed sword swallowing.

‘Just before my 21st birthday I almost died of malaria and prayed to God I would no longer live in fear. ‘I survived and travelled the globe and slowly but surely took up the courage to try sword swallowing.’. Dan explained that the technique takes years of practice and warned people not to try this at home.

While some believe that sword swallowing is not real, Dan explained the complex technique behind a successful sword swallow. Performers lean their heads back and relax the upper oesophagal sphincter while the sword is inserted into the mouth and past the pharynx.

The sword then passes the oesophagus while the stomach, at an angle to the oesophagus, is brought into line while the sword enters the cardiac opening. ‘During my shows, people’s favourite part is when I nudge my heart with the sword and the audience can see the blade beat with it,’ Dan revealed.

Dan started practicing sword swallowing 10 to 12 times a day from 1997 but it wasn’t until four years later that he managed to get a whole sword down his throat. On February 12, 2001, was the moment that Dan realised he could finally swallow a sword.

‘I changed my focus, changed my posture, tried with two hands instead of one, and suddenly it was down my throat,’ he said. ‘It felt very weird, it went down six inches and it felt like I had punctured my lung.’. Sword swallowing is dangerous and people can get seriously injured if they are too daring.

The most common side effect of taking part in it is a sore throat. More serious effects include the swelling of the oesophagus if multiple swords are swallowed. A minor injury can also lead to more serious injuries like the piercing of the oesophagus, stomach, heart, lungs, and other organs in the path of the sword.

Despite Dan’s vast experience, he still said that he is cautious every single day he swallows a sword. He said: ‘I do worry. My motto is I have to treat each time as if it were my first time, or it might be my last. ‘In 2005, I started showing off and put five swords down my throat but punctured my stomach. I almost considered quitting.

‘I also hit my oesophagus in 2010 and in 2013 when I managed to get 29 swords down my throat I hit my stomach again. ‘As President of the World Sword Swallowers Association I receive three to five phone calls a year from people with serious injuries.’.

World Sword Swallowers Day coincides this year with the launch of Dan’s new book co-authored with historian Marc Hartzman, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing. It is the first book ever released that delves deep into the history of sword swallowing.

Dan said it is the definitive guide for those looking to find out more about the lives of famous sword swallowers throughout history. While it does not focus on technique, co-author of the book Marc Hartzman told Metro he hopes people appreciate the artform from this book.

He said: ‘Having written about sword swallowers who’ve died from injuries and spoken to many modern-day performers who’ve injured themselves, I can tell you it’s 100% real and 110% dangerous. ‘What these performers do for our sheer entertainment is absolutely amazing. They risk their lives with every swallow—and that’s no exaggeration. I’ve written about numerous performers who died from injuries.

‘Sword swallowers exhibit a rare blend of curiosity, fearlessness, and a love of entertaining. With only a few left performing this dangerous stunt, having the chance to see them live—and risking their lives—at Ripley’s is a unique opportunity.