By now, you’re probably already familiar with throwing stars.  These are the quintessential ninja weapons apart from the katana and no ninjitsu practitioner should ever be without it.  The throwing star, also known as the shuriken, can be a formidable self-defense weapon but only if you’re someone who knows how to use it.  To be able to deploy shuriken efficiently and safely, learn how to use them.  Here are tips on how to practice using the throwing star:

Understand the weapon Throwing stars are not always deadly.  In fact, they were generally used to temporarily disable an enemy, make it difficult for them to move or use their weapons or at least discourage them from attacking.  Only if they hit the target in places such as the throat or neck can the throwing star actually become lethal. A throwing star has 6 to 8 sharp points.  When thrown properly, it can hit the target vertically, horizontally or diagonally from 10 to about 30 feet.

Holding and concealing the throwing star To begin practicing using throwing stars, learn how to hold them properly.  The first skill you need to learn is how to conceal them.  Do this by keeping the shooting star in the palm of your hand.  Practice holding it firmly enough so you don’t drop it and it doesn’t cut your hand.  From this original position, you can begin learning how to slip the throwing star from your palm to fit between your forefinger and thumb.  These two fingers are often used to hold a tip of the shuriken prior to a throw.

Throwing the shuriken There are several ways you can actually use the throwing stars.  The most common include the overhand (the same manner you’d use if you were throwing a dart), the underhand and the sidearm.  The movement involved in the sidearm throw is similar to the movement you’d be using if you were throwing a frisbee — your hand comes from your chest and your arm straightens as you release the star. The underhand throw requires a little bit of skill and strength but it can be quite effective and such, should be practiced as well.  The throwing star is held between two fingers with the palm facing backward, arm straight on the side of the body.  As you draw the arm out from underneath, you release the star as soon as your arm is parallel to the ground.

Learning to gauge the distance The only way a throwing star becomes effective is if it actually hits the target.  Practice using it at different distances — 5 feet, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 feet.  You’ll find that the force necessary to reach a target will increase as the distance increases.  Through muscle memory, you’ll be able to determine how much force or effort to put into your throw depending on the distance involved. To practice using throwing stars efficiently, use a cardboard target, a plyboard or a piece of wood.  Make sure these are propped against a concrete wall to avoid any accidents.

By: Phil Washington About the Author: