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The Great Throwzini
Newsletter: Issue #59

by Scott Gracia
sgracia@wi.rr.com
http://www.throwzini.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

1. What's New
2. My Half Spin Technique - Where It All Began
Part 2 of 4 - by Roy Hutchison
3. Recreational Knife Throwing Video by John Bailey
4. Results From The Chucker 2002 - by Carl Geddes
5. Advertising Opportunities
6. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines
7. Subscribe/Unsubscribe
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1. WHAT'S NEW

Hello Knife Throwing Guys and Gals!

Hope you've all been enjoying the Summer and getting lots of throwing in! I have been doing quite a bit lately. My new target range is working great and I already need new targets :)

Last weekend I set up a booth at a private archery club. It was their 50th Anniversary Shoot and about eight hundred people showed up. I had my knife and axe throwing booth last year and it was a big hit and this year it was the same.

The throwing range was about 14 feet across and had a total of eight targets. I even had a swinging target this year that everyone loved! It was a decent sized log (weighed about 20 lbs.) attached to a thick rope.

And at the end of the event we had a small contest to see who could cut the rope throwing a tomahawk!!! We were throwing 1 spin and it took about 20 hits on the rope before the log finally dropped! And I was lucky enough to be the guy that got to deliver the "death blow" :)

It was a great time, just like last year, and I can't wait to do it all again next August! Thanks to everyone that helped out, you guys rock! :)

To check out some pics, like the one of our swinging target, just follow this link:

http://www.throwzini.com/rib-event-2002.html

AOL USERS LINK

Hope everyone has a safe and fun few weeks!

Until next time... Beware of flying metal!!!

Scott Gracia
sgracia@wi.rr.com
101 FREE KNIFE THROWING TIPS
http://www.throwzini.com

SITE UPDATES
There are two new target designs shown under the OUTDOOR TARGETS section. One of them was sent in by David Pritchard and it shows a great way to recycle an old picnic table! There are places to aim from the bottom all the way up to the top! Just follow this link to see some great pictures:

http://www.throwzini.com/outdoor_targets.html

AOL USERS LINK

And then click the link called MODIFIED PICNIC TABLE.

The other addition to the target section is called A PORTABLE TARGET. It was sent in by a thrower from Slovakia named Tomas Antonic, and with his design you can break down your target or set it up in about 7 - 10 minutes, and it will easily fit in any car!

Follow this link to see lots of pics and more details on building one of your own:

http://www.throwzini.com/outdoor-target_tomant.html

AOL USERS LINK

WORLD KNIFE THROWERS GUILD GIVEAWAY #3
John Bailey, President of the WKTG, is giving away some more throwing knives! Yes you heard it right... FREE throwing knives! :) And they're big! Two of the throwers are fifteen inches and the other is twelve inches!

To find out the details of how you can get a chance to win one of these knives just visit the following page:

http://www.throwzini.com/wktg.html

AOL USERS LINK

SPEARS
I finally got the new TOPIC added! To check out the first addition to the new SPEARS section just follow this link:

http://www.throwzini.com/throwers.html

AOL USERS LINK

And then click on the link that says SPEARS.

LOCAL THROWERS
If you are looking for local people to learn from or just hang out with and throw sharp pieces of metal, then this is the place for you. Ya never know, there could be another thrower that lives right in your neighborhood!

Currently there are 107 throwers listed in 33 states, and 17 different countries! And more people are signing up every week. Soon you'll be able to throw with someone no matter where you go!

Going on vacation? Check the LOCAL THROWERS page first to see if there are any people listed near your destination. Its easy to bring your knives just about anywhere you go, and you won't have to haul your targets from home. So c'mon and send in your info!

Follow this link for more details or to see if there are any throwers that live near you:

http://www.throwzini.com/local_throwers.html

AOL USERS LINK

OTHER UPDATES
When you visit the site you'll notice a new QUICK IDEA and lots of interesting posts in our THROWZINI FORUM!

The forum is also a great place to ask questions about ANYTHING that has to do with the sport of throwing. You can learn tons of useful knife and axe throwing tips, or learn about upcoming events or how to make a target, just by visiting our homepage and clicking on the THROWZINI FORUM link.

http://www.throwzini.com

AOL USERS LINK

Thanks again to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!!

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2. GUEST COLUMN:

MY 1/2 SPIN TECHNIQUE - WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
by Roy Hutchison

Part 2 of 4

... I have now left school at the age of 16 and got a job in a local engineering company. It wasn't long before I was rummaging through the scrap metal for possible knife material, much to the annoyance of the foreman. But I survived his telling offs, and managed to make myself some good knives from power-hacksaw blades.

These were nice hard tool steel, very prone to snapping but perfect for me at the time because they were plentiful.

I left that boring company after a year and went to an instrument making company which was okay. And the foreman didn't mind me using the machines in my own time (Handy That!) so I was able to make many weird and wonderful knives.

Also, the foreman used to like having a go at throwing, and got an old wooden door into the workshop, just for that purpose! It was heaven!!!

He was no good at all at throwing and used to mess up some of my knives, but it was a small price to pay considering the free hand and use of metal and machines that I had.

By this time I remember I was getting quite good, in fact a couple of the old boys who worked in the machine shop would come and watch me practice, and generally take the mickey, with sayings like, "Who do you think you are, Tonto?" But I was only a boy so I just laughed along with them :-)

If I remember rightly the knives that I used, and that I made myself, were quite short by todays standards. Maybe only about 6 or 7 inches overall. The reason my knives were so small was because at that time I didn't know any different and had no reason to experiment further cause I was able to stick them most of the time automatically at any distance up to about 10 feet.

I don't think I ever tried a longer throw, or even wanted to at that time. I carried on throwing on a daily basis all the time that I was at that company, in the same fashion and with the same knives until I was to receive my national service call up papers. (Everyone was required to do two years in the armed forces at that time.)

While in the Army I continued to throw, but I had much more time to do so, and to my pleasure some of my Army pals were interested as well. So I was in my element and sort of doing a bit of teaching although some of them got fed up after a couple weeks cause they couldn't get sticks every time. But my pal "Smudger" never got fed up! (Wonder if he is still throwing?)

After finishing my two years of service I went back to engineering but at a different company, where I was to start my involvement in the design of sporting guns.

This had nothing to do with the company. It was something I did in my spare time. I was also able to get some serious knives on the go, and it was the following ten years at that company where I learned to extend my range of the half spin out to twenty feet plus. This was due mostly to my dabbling with longer knives and more suitable weights. I think that the knives I throw nowadays are the same types that I developed those 35 years ago!

Looking back at those days I realize that the boss of that company must have been very easy going, because there was not one door, floor board, piece of wood, or anything else that didn't have knife marks in it!

Over these years I had experimented with multiple spins, especially when I was struggling with the long half spin. My method was to use one and a half spins, cause I didn't like holding the handles for throwing as my knives all had proper handles, and some were bulky which made them difficult to throw by the handle.

The only reason I didn't keep practicing this one and a half spin technique, was because of the awkward calculations that I knew would never come automatically.

There would be no "view and throw" as there was with the half spin, yet the half spin has a heavy price (in my case), that being, BAD ACCURACY at the longer distances. But I had never tried to be more accurate, I have always thrown just for fun. I am beginning to regret that now though...

Part 3 of 4 Continued in our next issue.

Article Contributed by:

Roy Hutchison
London, England

Stay Tuned! In one of the upcoming parts to this story, Roy explains his half spin technique that he uses for all distances, from 1 to 20+ feet!

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3. RECREATIONAL KNIFE THROWING VIDEO

If you want to learn the insider SECRETS, TIPS and TRICKS that the masters use to hit their mark every time, then John Bailey's Recreational Knife Throwing Video is for you.

Here is a taste of what you'll get:

- 9 inexpensive target designs
- 11 demonstrations
- How to eliminate the most common throwing error
- Master grips, stances and throws

and so much more!

For a limited time, you can have the ultimate knife throwing video for only $19.95. By acting now, you'll save 33% off the regular price of $29.95

For a full description and ordering details, follow this link:

http://www.throwzini.com/tgt_video.html

AOL USERS LINK

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4. RESULTS FROM THE CHUCKER 2002
by Carl Geddes

The day was clear with the temperatures hovering in the high seventies. Another perfect day in paradise!

Once again, it was time for the Chucker 2002 in San Diego, CA. We had 17 competitors and friends for a total of 32 people. This was a special tournament for me because the person I named the tournament after, Chuck Fogarty, was in attendance.

Chuck is a genuinely kind man who travels throughout the US and throws with anyone. He imparts his genuine love of the sport and his "pearls of wisdom" to everyone he meets. Chuck is the person who "turned me on" to tournament throwing and the pleasures of meeting and throwing with other people.

The throwers were an interesting mix of people. We had everything from serious throwers to guys who were just there for the camaraderie. Everyone always asks me why I do all the stuff I do for throwers. The answer is simple... I like the people who throw knives. Knife throwing tournaments seem to bring out the best in people.

The winner of the accuracy event, Harold Baker, is a craftsman, a golfer, a fixer of anything that's broken, a black powder guy, and an occasional knife thrower.

Like they say in baseball, he's a "natural." He steps up to the line, throws five knives in the blink of an eye and steps away from the line. He's a quiet man who let's his actions speak for him.

After the accuracy event we had hamburgers and hot dogs that were prepared by my buddies, Fred Caminite and Bob Giles. In addition, Jane Fogarty, Chuck's wife, made sure everyone got his or her food in a timely manner.

You can tell she had six kids, she moved people through the food line with gentle authority. Jane is so sweet. I think a small amount of her kindness has rubbed off on Chuck. Boy, these people are nice!

We had the trophy presentation with "Miss Chucker" (aka my daughter Libby), and the raffle after the barbecue.

OBSTACLE COURSE
Once everyone was revitalized with good food we moved on to the Obstacle Course. You had to "qualify" to enter the course but once you qualified it became a timed event.

Young Andrew Woodfine flew through the course in a little over 16 seconds. Proving once again, youth and speed can sometimes beat age and cunning. David, the old guy, did take a very respectable third place and was only 5 seconds the speedster, Andrew.

You also had to qualify for the Spear Chucker. You had to pop a balloon at 21' with a seven-foot javelin type spear. Once again, Andrew was the only one who could even hit the balloon at that distance!

We had enough raffle prizes for everyone to get at least one prize and many people won multiple prizes. Everyone left with a prize!

I could say nice things about all the competitors but this article would be too long. They all came to the tournament to enjoy themselves and to enjoy the fellowship of other throwers. I believe all the throwers left with a good feeling about themselves and their fellow man.

Life is good!

Article Contributed By:

Carl Geddes
San Diego, CA
cgeddes@mindspring.com

For more details on the rules/scores of the events, and to see lots of great pictures from Carls home range, just follow this link:

http://www.throwzini.com/chucker2002_event.html

AOL USERS LINK


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ADVERTISE WITH US
Run an ad in this newsletter and expose your business to over 11,000+ potential customers! Send an e-mail to sgracia@wi.rr.com with "NEWSLETTER AD" in the Subject line, for more details.

You'll also receive a FREE REPORT, 12 Sure-Fire Ways to Get Maximum Response to Your Ads.

=============================================
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If you have any questions about throwing that you would like answered in one of our upcoming issues, or if you have an article or story about throwing that you would like to share, simply send an e-mail to:

sgracia@wi.rr.com

with QUESTION FOR NEWSLETTER in the Subject Line, and your name and question in the body.

============================================
(Copyright 2002, Scott Gracia,
The Great Throwzini.)
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:

Reprinted with permission from Scott Gracia's
The Great Throwzini Newsletter.
Get your 101 FREE KNIFE THROWING TIPS and Newsletter, filled with throwing tips and ideas to help you learn about this fun target sport, at The Great Throwzini web site:
http://www.throwzini.com

=============================================
Scott Gracia,
The Great Throwzini,
3765 S Ahmedi Ave.
St. Francis, WI 53235-4151
Phone 414-744-8689,
E mail: sgracia@wi.rr.com
http://www.throwzini.com

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