How to Throw a Ninja Star
The shinobi(ninja) has many tools that can be used to neutralize or even kill an enemy. Even the simplest-looking tools can be used as lethal and effective weapons. The shuriken, which is more popularly known as the ninja star, is a very effective weapon that could be used for self-defense or for sport.
The Shuriken at a Glance
The shinobi established a reputation for using ordinary objects as weaponry, modified for purposes of stealth and combat. Throwing weapons are important tools for shinobi, because they can be easily concealed in clothing or kept very close to the body. The shuriken is a good example of ninja weaponry, because it can be fashioned out of any small, ordinary object.
Many types of throwing weapons were used by the ninja because of their efficiency and stealth, and can be thrown over long distances by a very skilled person. The bo-shuriken, for example, is a steel spike half a foot long that can be used for throwing or stabbing. Most people are familiar with throwing-stars, or hira-shuriken, that are fashioned from flat pieces of metal like disks and coins. The shape of the shuriken allows it to be thrown accurately over long distances silently, quietly, and effectively.
Throwing a Shuriken
The throwing technique for a shuriken depends on the teachings of the school of the dojo who trains the shinobi in hand-to-hand combat. For people who use shuriken for sport or for fun, here are ways to handle and throw it properly:
ninja star
Hold the shuriken safely in a hand protected by a leather glove, or a glove made with thick fabric. The blades of the shuriken can injure your hand. For a four-pointed shuriken, you can hold the weapon at one blade.
One way to throw a shuriken is to throw it with a flick of the wrist. Draw your wrist inwards, and flick your wrist as you throw the shuriken to the target. Flicking the shuriken away from you gives a quick, effective short-ranged attack.
For long distances, you can use one of two modes of attack. For a sideways throw, move your throwing arm towards your abdomen, with the shuriken to the side. Throw the shuriken as your arm is in front of you for a direct launch. Do not forget the natural follow through of your arm.
For an overhead throw, cock your throwing arm in such a way that the shuriken is level with the back of your head. Throw the shuriken as you would a baseball, releasing the blade at the apex of the throw and completing the follow-through.
The ninja’s weapons may have given way to other more sophisticated weapons, but a ninja star still holds it own in combat when handled by a skilled person well-versed in the ways of the shinobi.
* After creating your ninja star, time for you to learn how to make a ninja costume, so that you’ll be ready for battle.