In the world of throwing sports, knife throwing has successfully secured itself a choice position amongst the wide array of skill-based games and throwing sports.
Everyone knows about darts, the emblematic throwing sport, and popular pass time.
Knife throwing has been well established over the past years as a form of entertainment as well as a competitive sport.
The range of individuals that have taken to mastering knife throwing techniques has broadened.
This sport is no longer practiced exclusively by artists that perform incredible circus or television acts.
But before launching yourself into this addictive throwing sport, you must have the proper materials, in particular a set of knives that are specially designed for knife throwing.
Any new activity requires time for your body to develop muscle memory and gain strength.
Be patient, and quit when you feel yourself getting tired or sense that your concentration is slipping.
Throwing Knives:
The first thing that you need to keep in mind is that throwing knives is not at all like the knives you use in the kitchen.
Throwing knives are generally made out of stainless steel with a beveled edge that allows them to penetrate easily through not only the air but also the hardest of woods.
The knifepoints are very fine and designed to stabilize and balance the knife when it is in a fight.
Throwing knives have asymmetrical blades that are slightly arched.
They are specifically designed to have very solid points that do not get worn out, even after repeated use.
This type of knife, used for recreational purposes during throwing sports, is not dangerous, its cutting edge is not sharp, so the blade does not cut.
Knife throwing techniques:
Here are some most accurate techniques…
Choosing the knife:
There are three different kinds of knives that are good for throwing: blade- heavy, handle- heavy, and balanced knives.
Balanced knives are generally the best for beginners as they make switching to the other models easier.
Keep in mind that you want the weight to be thrown first.
If you are throwing a blade- a heavy knife, you will want your blade to be thrown first.
Hold the knife by the handle to throw it and vice versa.
If you are throwing a handle-heavy knife, you will throw it by the blade.
Gripping:
Though knife-throwers often develop their own gripping styles with time and experience, there are three conventional gripping methods that beginners usually chose from (depending on their knife styles and personal preferences).
Not that a firm, but the delicate hold is necessary for all gripping styles, too much grip will hamper your release, whereas too little might cause the knife to fly out of your hand prematurely, potentially hurting someone.
- Grip the handle of the knife like as you would a hammer, place the handle across your open palm, under the knuckles, wrap 4 fingers around the handle and place the thumb over the top. This grip is really useful if you are learning to throw a double-edged blade
- In the same way, there are also gripping techniques for single and double edged blades. Hold your palm out in front of you and move your thumb to create a crease between the fleshy pad of your thumb and the rest of your palm. Place your thumb along one side of the blade and all your fingers except the pinky along the other side, thereby pinching the blade without pressing against the point or sharpened edge. For double edged blade, grasp the knife so that the tip of your thumb is one side of the blade and the tips of all your fingers except the pinky are on the other side.
The angle of the knife:
How you do this will change how rapidly the knife flips through the air, which must be adjusted depending on the distance between you are the target. Adjust the angle of your hold depending on how your knife performs for you with your chosen grip and distance.
- In close range, bend your wrist back towards your forearm. This will allow the knife to turn over in the air more quickly, which is necessary because there is so little distance between you are the target.
- In medium-range, slightly bend your wrist back toward the forearm. This will somewhat increase the speed with which the knife turns over in the air, which is necessary because there isn’t a lot of space between you and your target.
- In long-range, keep your wrist unbent. This will keep the knife from turning over too much in the air, which is necessary because there is plenty of distance between you and your target.
Stance:
Whether throwing by blade or handle, the technique is the same. First, stand at the appropriate distance (more on that in a minute).
Now, balance yourself by standing with the leg opposite your throwing arm forward. Present the knife to the target, sight with it, and smoothly bring it back behind your shoulder.
Keeping your eye on the target, swing the knife in an arching, vertical overhand motion and release it near the top of the arc or just after (it will take practice to develop the feel of this).
The knife should slip easily out of hand. Do not whip your wrist. Follow through until your arm extends in front of you as if you were shaking someone’s hand.
It’s common to transfer your weight from the back foot to the foot during the throw.
There is also a fast spin knife throwing technique when throwing medium to long distances.
This technique gives the knife a gyroscopic effect that stabilizes when it is in flight, creating a centrifuge-like force that is transmitted to the target upon impact.
Knife throwing is more about finesse than strength. It is more important to keep the entire movement fluid and only apply as much force as is needed.
Once you get the hang of it, you will be amazed at how little force is needed. In order to learn and master knife throwing techniques, one must practice regularly.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t succeed right away.
