Sidearm Throwing

The throwing techniques already mentioned are used to
throw either forwards or backwards. Similar to throwing a
frisbee or a baseball, sidearm knife throwing is more difficult
to master and requires a great deal of practice and training.
After selecting the proper grip, bring the throwing arm back
into the throwing position. Whether the knife is held to the
inside or the outside of the body, the throwing arm is swung
across the front of the body and released precisely before the
end of the cast. Follow through and recover. Photos 2.23 and
2.24 show a Ninja using a pinch grip in the sidearm throw.
The most difficult part of sidearm throwing is getting the
knife to fly straight at the target. Usually the knife goes to
one side or the other when beginners start practicing this
throw. The problem usually has to do with an improper
release.

The Overhand Throw

After choosing the proper grip, cock the throwing arm just
behind the ear. Shifting the weight as explained in the
description of the throwing stance, cast the throwing arm
forward at the target, releasing the throwing knife just
before the end of the stroke. Follow through and recover.
Photos 2.19 and 2.20 show a Ninja using a blade grip in the
overhand throw.
The Underhand Throw
After selecting the proper grip, cock the throwing arm
back behind the hip. Propel the throwing arm forward,
releasing the throwing knife at the proper moment, just
before the end of the stroke. Follow through and recover.
Photos 2.21 and 2.22 show a Ninja using a palm grip in the
underhand throw. In this particular type of throw, the knife
is thrown straight into the target, usually at close range
(approximately ten feet or less). An interesting variation of
this throw reverses the motion, beginning with the knife in
front of the thrower. Ninja use this technique to throw
knives at pursuers while running.

grip

The Handle Grip
When throwing a knife by the handle, grip the end of the
handle so that it is centered in the hand. The thumb should
rest against the inside of the handle and the rest of the
fingers should curl around the handle securely (see Photos
2.5 thru 2.8). Always throw knives so that they travel
vertically. Knives can be thrown horizontally, but they
travel and strike with less velocity, hitting power, and
penetration at longer distances.


The Blade Grip
To throw a knife by the blade (see Photos 2.9 thru 2.12),
grip the end of the blade with the thumb running parallel to
the length of the blade and the rest of the fingers curled up
against the opposite side. Again, throw the knife vertically.


Two other grips are worth mentioning. These are the pinch
grip (see Photos 2.13 thru 2.15), and the palm grip (see Photos
2.16 thru 2.18). The pinch grip is performed by pinching
either the end of the handle or the point, primarily between
the thumb and forefinger. The palm grip is performed by
cupping the blade or the handle against the open palm, and
holding the knife against the palm with the thumb. These
grips can be used to throw underhand, overhand, sidearm,
vetically, or horizontally. All of these throws should be
practiced according to the guidelines which follow.

NINJA KNIFE THROWING

These are only a few of the possibilities. By now, the reader
has probably come up with some of his or her own ideas. Try
them out; invention and adaptation is an important part of
Ninjitsu.
The Throwing Stance
A Ninja should learn to throw knives accurately from any
position (even lying prone or hanging upside down), but
begin with the “Neko” or cat stance. The feet should form a
ninety degree angle and should be comfortably separated
one to one and a half shoulder widths apart. Most of the
weight should be centered over the rear leg. As part of the
proper throw, the weight should shift to the front leg and the
hips and shoulder should twist into the throw, rocketting the
body’s entire power into the smooth stroke of the throwing
arm. Aiming is calculated through the precise release of the
knife just before the end of the stroke, driving the weapon
with maximum force, velocity, and accuracy into the target.
A smooth follow through should be accompanied by a quick,
agile recovery-leaving the Ninja ready for the next throw.
See Photos 2.1 thru 2.4 for a depiction of the basic stance,
weight shift, follow through and recovery. Practitioners can
use this basic technique for most of the throws described in
this book, or modify the stance to suit their own needs.

Here are some of thebasic methods of carrying and concealing throwing knives:

1. Carry the knife strapped to the leg or the arm, or tucked
in a boot or armband.
2. Carry the knife at the waist, in a sheath or tucked in
under a belt, sash, etc.
3. Suspend the knife behind the neck or beneath an armpit
by means of a loop of thread which should snap easily,
releasing the knife for use.
4. Carry the knife in the headband/mask wrappings.
5. Carry the knife concealed, but readily accessible, in
secret pouches or storage compartments in briefcases, packs,
books, etc.

Throwing Methods

The two basic ways of gripping a throwing knife are by the
handle and by the blade. The two basic throws are the
underhand and the overhand throw. Other more complicated
throws are performed with a sidearm motion. All of these
techniques, along with some variations, will be presented
and discussed in detail in this section. But first, how to carry
and conceal throwing knives must be discussed.
Carrying and Concealing Throwing Knives
Obviously, Ninja must either carry throwing knives on
them or have them accessible in some way in order for the
knives to be useful. There are a variety of carrying and
concealment methods, and many more which an inventive
Ninja can develop for his or her own use. The most important
factor is that the knife must be able to be drawn quickly. The
method of transporting a throwing knife must also be safe
and comfortable to the wearer. If concealment is a concern,
the knife should be invisible and silent.

One other caution remains to be explained. Knife throwing
is a difficult skill to learn which requires dedication,
determination and constant practice. Study the following
throwing and training methods and practice them con-
sistently. But once in combat, never throw a knife or other
weapon unless there is a good chance of distracting,
wounding, or slaying one’s opponent. A knife which misses
and does not affect an opponent results in wasted effort. And
it may even supply one’s enemy with a weapon he did not
have before.

The general

rule of thumb is to find the center of balance of an object, and
understand how it flies. For example, a screwdriver can be
treated like a knife. If the handle is heavier, throw the object
by the blade, using full rotations. If the blade is heavier,
throw it by the handle, using half rotations. Practice with
such irregular items on large cardboard boxes. It will be
surprising just how many “household” items can be trans-
formed into deadly throwing weapons in the hands of a
Ninja who has mastered the art of throwing. But be careful;
items not designed to be thrown may be damaged or ruined
by such practice and training. It is often enough just to know
that the principles of Ninja knife throwing can be applied to
other objects as well.

Blade-thrown

knives are slightly more
difficult to master for beginners.
Other facts about throwing knives.
Do not be surprised if throwing knives do not resemble
regular combat knives. Many throwing knives are flat and
do not have regular wood or plastic handles. They can be
used in hand-to-hand combat, but that is not their primary
function.
A note on throwing ordinary knives and miscellaneous
objects:
Any knife (or any object which can be picked up) can be
thrown effectively, once a Ninja understands both how an
object is balanced, and the basics of throwing: judging
distance, throwing methods and rotations. This includes
knives and objects not specifically designed for throwing:
hunting knives, kitchen knives, and even items seldom
considered to have potential as weapons, such as ice picks,
scissors and screwdrivers. Once the basics of knife throwing
contained in this book are learned, a Ninja can apply those
same principles to throwing almost anything.

NINJA KNIFE THROWING

Other knives are meant to be thrown by holding the
handle. These knives have blade ends which are heavier
than the ends of the handles. The balancing point will often
NINJA KNIFE THROWING
be found approximately in the center of the knife or up to one
inch toward the handle. Such knives require round numbers
of spins in order to hit a target point first. Thus a knife
thrown by the handle must make one, two, three-up to five
or six complete revolutions in order to strike home. Any
increment of half revolutions will not strike the target point
first. If this is not clear at this point, the matter will be
explained in the section on throwing methods.
Still other throwing knives are designed to be thrown by
holding the blade. Such knives have lighter blades and
heavier handles. The blade’s center of gravity will be found
anywhere from approximate center up to a inch toward the
point of the blade. These knives must be thrown in half
increment rotations. Therefore, in order to land point first,
knives thrown by holding the blade must make anywhere
from l/2 up to 5% and 6% revolutions in order to hit home.
The universal throwing knife is the most versatile and
easiest knife to begin training with. Handle-thrown knives
are the second best.

The weight

of a throwing knife is also important. Among
trained knife throwers, a well known approximate ratio of
one inch to the ounce is standard knowledge. Therefore, a
nine-inch throwing knife should weigh approximately nine
ounces, and a sixteen-inch throwing knife should weigh
approximately sixteen ounces. If a knife is too light, it will
have poor flight characteristics and not enough hitting
power.If a knife is too heavy, it is difficult to throw, has a
shorter range and is slow. An old Ninja maxim states that,
“A thrown knife should not fly like a feather or a rock, but
like the beak of a hawk.”
Last but not least, balance is another important factor
determined by a throwing knife’s design. It is inherently
related to the other two factors. The finest and most versatile
throwing knives can be thrown either by the handle or by the
blade. They are balanced exactly in the center of the knife.
Test this by balancing the knife on the end of one finger to
find its center of gravity.

NINJA KNIFE THROWING

Another important factor to consider is design. A Ninja
may wish to own more than one type of throwing knife.
Many of the current designs throw well, with practice, but
the most important factors with regard to throwing knives
are:
Length
Weight
Balance
Length is the first crucial factor. For a throwing knife to
have good flight characteristics, power and penetration, it
must be at least nine and no more than sixteen inches in
length. A knife any shorter than nine inches will often result
in poor penetration; any length beyond sixteen inches will
cause the knife to be awkward and difficult to throw. Smaller
throwing knives may be used as distractions, but they
seldom cause serious wounds, and they are virtually
nonlethal.

Obtaining and Maintaining Throwing Knives

To obtain throwing knives, look through the pages of any
martial arts magazines and you can usually find a supplier.
Knives may also be found in surplus shops, at gun shows
and at flea markets
How many throwing knives should a Ninja own? For
effective practice, a Ninja should own at least a dozen knives
of the same kind. That is a minimum number. If they cannot
be acquired all at once, they should be purchased a few at a
time over a short period. Twenty or two dozen knives would
be more advantageous for the Ninja who can afford them.
This will cover any knives which are damaged, lost, etc.
Throwing knives are relatively easy to maintain. They
should be kept clean, dry and rust free. Some throwing
knives do not have to be sharpened. Others can be sharpened
with a mill-bastard file. Still others require the use of an oil
stone. Take the appropriate sharpening measures, depending
upon which type of throwing knives are owned.
Throwing knives are difficult to destroy under normal use.
If they become bent, they can be hammered or bent flat once
more. On the rare occasion that a throwing knife does break,
it should be thrown away and replaced.

“That you shall never do,” Kenji said. He circled around
the Samurai, who put his back to a tree. “For you see,
Samurai, my blades are poisoned. Even now you feel the
sharp fingers of its grip, which will soon crush your heart.
Even if I let you go, and you ran as fast as you can-you
would not make it back to the castle. And there is no
antidote.”
The Samurai leaned more heavily against the tree. “Then
I will shout until one of the patrols hear me!”
The Samurai opened his mouth to yell, but it was filled
with Kenji’s fifth dagger. Expertly thrown, the blade pierced
the back of the man’s throat, effectively nailing his head to
the tree. The corpse convulsed and sagged. Kenji retrieved
his knives, stripped the bodies, and hid them as bandits
would. The men would not be missed or found until the next
day at the earliest. By that time, the counterattack on the
invaders would have begun.

Samurai

“It is you who shall die, Samurai. I was trained as a child
in Tanto-jitsu. I can hit a flying sparrow at thirty paces with
my blades, and bring it to the ground alive.”
“We shall see,” the leader said. “But this much is certain.
One of us shall not survive.” With that he charged. Kenji
threw his third knife, and the Samurai swatted it away. But
the fourth knife followed quickly, spinning in the moonlight
to strike the man in the chest. Kenji drew the dagger from his
waist.
The Samnurai halted and laughed boldly, pulling the
dagger from his chest and hurling it away into the darkness.
“I have you now, Ninja. You only have one knife left, and
your last blade did not cause a serious wound. Surrender
your life and I shall make the end quick. I will not stop until I
kill you.”

Kenji

Springing to his feet, Kenji saw the third guard charging
at him, while the leader drew his own sword and maneuvered
behind the Ninja. Without hesitation, Kenji threw his
dagger underhand style into the charging man’s right thigh
and stepped aside. The dagger buried itself deeply in the
guard’s leg, causing him to howl and topple forward,
impaling himself on the thrusting sword of the leader. Kenji
charged them unexpectedly and shoved them to the ground.
Drawing his second throwing knife by the blade, and
snapping the thread that suspended it behind his neck,
Kenji threw it at the second guard who had been wounded in
the groin. The man was struggling to rise as Kenji’s knife
pierced his throat, dropping him instantly. Kenji drew his
final two throwing knives from the wrappings around his
ankles, as the leader disentangled himself from the corpse of
the third man. He rose and faced Kenji warily.
“You have killed two of my men,” the leader said, “good
men as well. Only a Ninja could do what you have done. But
the element of surprise upon which you rely is gone. And I
have my sword, while you only have three knives. Are you
ready to die, Ninja?”

“Here we must leave you,”

the leader said. That must have
been the signal. Instantly the other two Samurai whipped
out their swords.
“Pig! Dog!” the second Samurai raged. “You caused us to
lose face before our lord. Honor requires your life!”
“Give us your money and your goods,” said the third, “and
perhaps we shall let you live. And do not attempt to touch
your dagger. Our skilled swords will cut you down before you
can draw it.”
Kenji fell to the ground, trembling and begging for
forgiveness. Slowly he reached into his pack, gripping the
handle of one of his throwing knives concealed there. In one
swift motion, he flung the heavy pack into the leader,
knocking him to the ground. Diving and rolling beneath the
swords of the other two Samurai, he ripped upwards with his
dagger, slashing the second man viciously in the groin. The
Samurai groaned and fell.

Strangely enough,

the same drunken Samurai guards who
had bullied him were at the gate when he went to leave. Kenji
was on his guard, He had his knives concealed on him still.
“Well, merchant,” the leader of the guards said, “did you
do well?”
“Yes, great warrior, your lord was most gracious. I am on
my way to board a ship now. I have passage to leave.”
“Very well then. But there are brigands and ronin about,
waiting to cut the throats of fortunate merchants. Our lord
gave us charge to see that no harm befell you within the
gates. Let us escort you beyond them as well. You are only
armed with that puny dagger, a pitiful weapon against an
enemy.”
“You are most kind,” Kenji said. The leader and two other
NINJA KNIFE THROWING
Samurai lead him out of the city and down the road. After
they had travelled far away from the castle, the three bushi
stopped.

Upon reaching the general’s quarters, he found them as he
had expected them to be-heavily guarded. Kenji was forced
to make his way silently up onto the roof and cautiously
down into the rafters above the general’s room. Once there,
the young Ninja listened for a great while, detecting the
sounds of two people sleeping. He could tell from the way
that they were breathing that they were deep in slumber.
Kenji could not see much from his vantage point, despite the
dim moonlight bathing the chamber. He had to climb down
into the chamber. Silently he lowered himself slowly into the
chamber by means of a thin strong rope. Immediately he
caught sight of two guards sitting by the door. As soon as his
feet touched the floor, he drew two of his throwing knives,
retreated, and crouched in the shadows of the room. But
neither of the guards moved; it was they who were sleeping.
Quickly he made his way to the general’s bed. The general
lay in the bed, but he was stone dead. It was a ruse to fool
spies. The general’s body had even been embalmed and
covered with a thin layer of wax. For proof, Kenji took the
general’s ring. Quickly but carefully, he made his way back
to his quarters and gathered his things. He had the
information for which he had come, and he would leave that
very night to inform his clients.

Once inside, he was directed to the rooms of the lord who
had taken interest in his goods. He made an appointment
and took his meal, doing nothing to attract suspicion. In the
evening, he met the lord, and made a fine sale. Appearing
pleased and tired, he was given a place among the servants
for the night.
Once night fell, Kenji’s real work began. He turned his
clothing inside-out and changed from his merchant disguise
into his black Ninja uniform. For weapons he had the
merchant dagger in his belt and the four throwing knives
from the wooden box. He had caught sight of the standard of
the enemy’s top general earlier in the day. Cautiously he
made his way through the shadows of the captured castle
toward the general’s quarters in order to spy on the general’s
condition.

“Yes, mighty lord,”

Kenji muttered through his tears. He
did not dare look up.
“Guard!” the leader snapped. “Bring one of those.” He
pointed at the handguards which had spilled from the box
onto the stones. Hurriedly the brutal guard picked up one
tsuba, bowed, and handed it to the rider, who examined its
workmanship closely.
“Hmmm, it is indeed the work of that famous artisan; I
know his skill well. It is old, from the days before the peak of
his mastery, but good work nevertheless. You will be given a
pass for food and lodging for one night. Seek out the
retainers of my house this evening, where you see my
standard. I will examine your merchandise more closely at
that time.” The rider turned once more to the guards. “Do as I
have said with this merchant, and see that no harm comes to
him within these walls. Trouble him no more or I shall hear
of it. The artistry he bears is worth more than the lot of you!
Now stand your posts. Stop drinking. The enemy is still in
the mountains. They may yet try to regain the castle.”
“Thank you, gracious lord,” Kenji said, bowing repeatedly.
The rider spurred his horse and rode into the castle. Kenji
was left to gather up his belongings. What was taken was
not returned, and the guards scowled at him when he took
his pass from them. Slinging his pack over his shoulder, he
scurried off onto the castle grounds.

“Dog!”

one of the guards screamed at him, ripping Kenji’s
pack off his shoulders. “What garbage have you come to
peddle?” The man was half drunk.
Kenji bowed unceasingly as he trembled to his knees.
“Mighty warriors, most honorable lords, I come to you
bearing many fine tsuba, fashioned by the reknowned
artisan, Mitsunari of Mido. Perhaps you have heard of him?
They would be most worthy of your. . .”
The back of an armored hand cuffed him. His pack was
emptied on top of him, and the guard began to pick through
the merchant’s possessions, flinging items to the laughing
soldiers nearby. “There is nothing of value here,” the guard
howled. “Only junk. We will throw it away for you and
relieve you of the burden of carrying it.”
“Hold it, you fool,” an authorative voice said. Out of the
corner of his eye, Kenji saw an older Samurai on horseback,
snapping a resplendent fan at the guards, who sprang to
attention as quickly as they could. The rider turned to Kenii.
.v.. w-- v-.x.. - . . . ..V . . . . . u
“Did I hear you say Mitsunari of Mido?”

NINJA KNIFE THROWING

The Ninja Clan to which he belonged was allied with the
other side. He was being sent to gather information. Rumor
had it that the invader’s finest general, who had orchestrated
the successful seige of Hon Castle, had been seriously
wounded by an arrow during the final battle. If the rumor
proved to be true, with late reinforcements, the defending
armies would launch a counterattack, regain the castle and
crush the enemy. Without their finest leader, the invaders
would be routed.
Knowing that he would be thoroughly searched, Kenji was
only lightly armed with the tanto dagger which most
traveling merchants were allowed to carry. He also carried
four flat, superbly balanced throwing knives, which were
cleverly concealed in the sides of a wooden box which he
used to carry some of his wares. He was selling decorative
handguards for swords. Each of the tsuba were made by a
famous artisan. Along with those items and the clothes on
his back, Kenji carried nothing out of the ordinary for which
a merchant would be found. He prepared himself mentally
as he approached the outer gate. His performance had to be
calculated and perfect.

The young Ninja knew that he might suffer great
indignities at the hands of the invaders, but only if they tried
to slay him would he be forced to defend himself and try to
escape. But that must not happen; he might escape or he
might be killed, but either way his mission would fail, and it
would then be even more difficult for the next Ninja spy to
get in. The enemy would increase their security.
His only hope was to slip in and complete his mission
while the invaders were still occupied by sacking the
countryside and celebrating their victory. They were not
even aware that in triumph they were vulnerable. Kenji
hoped to teach the invaders a bitter lesson for invading his
homeland.