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Ninja Training - Beginner's Guide To Throwing Stars
One of the weapons most associated specifically with ninja training is the throwing star, also known as the shuriken. While movies depict ninjas using throwing stars with deadly accuracy, most beginners will be lucky to be able to hit the side of a barn 10 feet in front of them, and luckier still to have the throwing star actually stick in the side of the barn rather than ricochet off at any number of angles, or even bounce right back at the thrower's face.
One of the weapons most associated specifically with ninja training is the throwing star, also known as the shuriken. While movies depict ninjas using throwing stars with deadly accuracy, most beginners will be lucky to be able to hit the side of a barn 10 feet in front of them, and luckier still to have the throwing star actually stick in the side of the barn rather than ricochet off at any number of angles, or even bounce right back at the thrower’s face.
The only way to gain skill with throwing stars is to practice frequently, as is the case with any type of ninja training. I recommend using a large target, at least 4 feet square made from pine boards attached to a piece of plywood. When you are just starting out, the larger your target is, the better. Be sure to keep your training area well clear from people or property that could be damaged by a thrown star or a ricochet from the target. As you develop some skill, you can use a smaller target atteched or drawn onto the large target to further work on your accuracy
In movies and television shows, ninjas are often shown throwing stars side-arm, like a deadly frisbee. It is of course possible to throw a star in this way, but developing accuracy with this technique is extremely challenging. If you want to practice throwing side-arm, you need to allow a lot of extra room around the target to allow for big misses, and you’ll probably be spending quite a bit of time looking for your lost stars.
To develop throwing accuracy relatively fast, and to get the most efficient use of your ninja training time, I recommend that beginners work on learning to throw stars overhand, similar to the technique used for throwing knives.
If you do go with the overhand technique, I suggest setting up your target with pine boards aligned so that the grain of the wood is perpendicular to the ground. This will make it easier for the stars to stick in the target rather than bounce off.
When just starting out, I recommend that you allow a distance of about 20 feet between you and your target, as this will give you a reasonably good chance to hit the target consistently yet you’ll be far enough back that you should not get seriously hurt by stars bouncng off of the target. All the same, eye protection is highly recommended any time you are throwing stars.
In order to develop accuracy in a short amount of time, it is important to learn to focus on your target. With the eye on the side of your throwing arm, look straight ahead at the target and keep your eye focused intently on the target at all times.
Holding the star (not too tightly!) between your thumb and index finger, you next raise your arm straight out in front of you to bring the star into your line of vision between your eye on your throwing arm side and the target. Bring your throwing hand above your head, keeping your upper arm still and just bending your elbow. Be sure to focus in again on the target and then quickly bring your hand forward and down and release the star at the instant it enters your line of vision between your eye and the target. Practice and repetition will now be the key to getting accuracy and skill, just as with any other aspect of ninja training.
As you get used to the feel of the technique and start to improve, you can increase the difficulty by either throwing at a smaller target, or you can increase the distance between you and the target. If you are going to increase distance to the target, be careful not to go too far and wind up trying to “muscle” the throw, as this will drastically reduce your accuracy.
Practice and time will improve your throwing star abilities. With some practice and improvment, I believe that throwing stars will become a favorite aspect of your ninja training.