3 Ways To Throw A Kunai Throwing Knife
Ninja may have stopped existing since the end of the 17th century, but the ninja weapons remain the most iconic objects to come out of Japan.
True, samurai have their honor and legendary swords, but it is the ninja weapons that have a modern thrilling factor. A kunai throwing knife is one such weapon.
A kunai throwing knife remains one of the vital ninja weapons to be used in modern ninjutsu- the art of ninja combat. Many martial arts schools specializing in ninja combat utilize kunai throwing knives as part of their training.
There are various ways of throwing a way, many of which were introduced to us by ninja themselves. Let’s have a look at three of these methods of throwing a kunai.
Non-Spin Throw
You don’t have to be in Naruto to practice with a kunai throwing knives. You can train with these throwing knives everyday until you can learn your own style. But if you have no idea which throwing style would best hit the target, this non spin throw may be the best throw to begin with.
A non-spin throw can lose out on accuracy in the start but lands on target better than other throws here. First, you need to figure out the throwing distance to test the kunai throwing knife. An average distance of 20 ft. or more is good enough.
Then you need to position yourself in the correct manner before throwing a kunai throwing knife. The best posture is to tilt sideways a little. Stand at an angle and keep one foot (the one opposite to your throwing hand) forward with the knee bending a little and the other foot backwards.
For this throw, you need to grip your kunai throwing knife where the middle and ring finger lay on the back of the blade pointing towards the blade point. The kunai should be held straight in the palm. Then drag your arm from behind and thrust the kunai throwing knife with all your power towards the target.
This throw is to minimize the spin on the kunai knife during its flight. The less the spin, the high the accuracy of the kunai throwing knife. Master this throw and you can move onto the more advanced knife throwing tricks.
Russian Throw
This style of throwing a knife became popular way after the ninja became extinct. The modern knife throwers brought their own techniques to hold the kunai throwing knife to maximize the accuracy of the throw.
To grip the kunai, your thumb should be at the back of the blade, laying one the bolster with the other four fingers clutching all the way to the front of the kunai throwing knife. Don’t grab the kunai too tight.
Now, get into the posture as described above keeping an optimal distance from the target. Make sure your target is a large, preferably round plaque standing ninety degrees to the ground. Now the kunai throwing knife should be darted out in a sideways throw.
Many people call it a shuriken style throw but the unique construction of a kunai throwing knife makes the aerodynamics of this ninja weapon different from that of a shooting star.
The kunai was used to land on target, not as a distraction weapon, hence this throw is aimed for accuracy in relation to the specific Centre of balance of kunai throwing knives.
Spear-Style Throw
The last throw on our list is a straight throw. Back in the days, the ninja would screw or attach a kunai throwing knife onto the head of a spear and this ninja weapon to stab in a close range combat or to throw the spear over long distances.
The spear throwing has become a thing of the past but the kunai throwing knives are very much the modern day sport. So a spear throw is basically a modern day variation of the ninja throw of the bygone days.
To achieve a perfect spear throw with just a kunai throwing knife, place your index and middle finger at the back of the blade with your other fingers protruding out to balance the kunai.
Never throw a kunai over the head-this was done only by the ninja when the kunai was attached to some other weapon-throw it forward or sideways.
Make sure that your kunai throwing knife has a Centre of balance off the Centre. A balanced throwing knife won’t land on target with this throwing technique. Hopefully, your kunai will!
