On this footage from Google Video, it seems that a soldier is able to twist his head a full 180 degrees.

One of the tags for the video says 'fake', and I can't work out whether or not it is (partially due to the problems I'm having with my computer, which means that video tends to make it shut down).

My gut feeling says it isn't real, though.

weird as heck...

doesn't look possible to me either

There was an old Ripley's newsreel of a man who could do this. He wasn't this limber and it required him doing it in short moves, but he could do it.

And though Ripley's wasn't generally known for it's trustworthiness, this was an actual newsreel and of very good quality. It was fascinating, but it didn't look fake or impossible, so I won't rule this crappy quality video out yet.

Wow - if it's real, I'd advise that guy not to do this too often. Would be the stupidest way to paralyze himself one day...

You can't really see his face very well - this could be resolution or it could be b/c it's a trick & the poor image helps conceal it. I dunno - he does it awful quickly...I can barely TURN my head that fast...let alone turn it around backwards.

I think its fake. Just doesnt seem possibly to do it that quickly without breaking your neck. But Im no expert on anything like this, so, who knows.

If you watch his shoulders, you'll see that the bit with his hands allows him to actually turn his shoulders quite a bit, so he's not rotating his head a full 180 degrees. I think he's just extra bendy and has come up with a routine that makes the movement look more than it is, like a magician using misdirection.

I'd like to see him do this in something other than BDUs because those are so loose that his torso could be twisted to help with the movement.

I agree with some of the other comments here. I think it's a real video and he's quite bendy and has found a way to make it look likes he's turning it all the way aorund when he's not really.

Yep. I think it's an optical delusion accomplished with lots of wriggling and twisting, with the head and hand motions as distractions. Tricky, but not impossible.

Like Charybdis said, I also recently saw one guy in Ripley's that could do the same. There are people who born with the ability to turn some parts of their body. I had a girl classmate who turns her wrist touching her fingers with her forearm, so I think maybe is posible.

The "soldier" in question is actually an Airman. He is an AMMO troop, and this video was shot while in tech school. As for the skeptics out there, a good buddy of mine was in the room at the time of filming. There is no trick photography involved, but as for the tricky movements, who knows. I can say this much: He was subsequently ordered by the commander to NEVER attempt this trick again. According to the student, he is unable to breathe until he has righted himself. Yes, I am in the Air Force, too. Yes, I know the person who filmed this. NO, I am not at liberty to divulge that info. Sorry.

I just took a look at the clip again, looking for details concerning stripes and other patterns on the uniform but the poor quality defeated me. I am retired Air Force and this uniform does not look like the BDUs I see on base but the poor quality of the video may the cause. However, if this guy is Air Force, it is logical that he is a BB Stacker. In twenty years of active duty, I never heard of one that was very bright.

There is no insignia on his uniform because, as I stated previously, he is in tech school. At the time he was an airman basic and air force personnel are not authorized patches (except for name and service tabs) until they report to their first duty station. As far as the pattern is concerned, I can't offer anything to convince you other than to say look again...sir.

I ain't an officer, I'm an NCO. DON'T CALL ME SIR! I have never liked it. And, if I remember correctly. gratuation from Basic involves promotion to E-2, whatever the hell it's called now (it was Airman when I did it, I just missed A3C due to the timing of the change back then).

Not anymore. Airmen are now required to wait up to 20 weeks for their first set of stripes. If you come in with some college or eagle scouts (the latter of the two being total BS in my opinion) then you can come out of basic as an Airman (E2) or Airman First Class (E3). If the tech school you attend is less than 20 weeks, and you signed up for 6 years, you get A1C at graduation from tech school. If your tech school is longer than 20 weeks, but you signed up for 4 years then you get Amn after 20 weeks have passed. Confusing? Yeah, I know. Also, it is now customary for NCO's to be referred to as "sir." Per AFI 36-2618 {Enlisted Force Structure}, it is not required but it has become commonplace. I'm not defending it, mind you, as I side with you. I'm just explaining my use of the word.

Defintely AF.
Definately an AF Tech School class room.

Definately more freaks in the AF than I ever thought.

Good idea that the Airman not be allowed to perform this trick too often. Love to have seen the look on his commanders face when he did this for his benefit.

SSgt B.

When I was in Jr. High school (remember that term?) a guy named John Cordoba was famous around the campus for this ability. We used to hang around him sometimes, and whenever he would get a large enough crowd, he would turn his head a full 180 degrees and then lock it into place by raising-up his shoulder blades! A bizarre sight to say the least!

it is real i can still do it and I dont see anything wrong with it. whom ever filmed this without my permission to post it on the internet without saying who did it is gay I know it was one of those NCO's in the back, how can you ask me to do something and then tell me I can't....STUPID. anyways, I'll do it soon as I am done responding to this garbage. and by the way it's in tech school block 5.