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by Scott Gracia sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com ======================================= This newsletter is a FREE service you requested. You are on this list because: * You subscribed at our Great Throwzini web site * You inquired about our products or promotions * You requested our free knife throwing tips or other information. If you'd like to be removed from this list, simply reply to this message with 'remove' in the subject. ======================================= IN THIS ISSUE 1. What's New 2. Throwing Stars - by Phil West 3. Recreational Knife Throwing Video 4. Another Type of Throwing Event by Larry Czekaj 5. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines ======================================= 1. WHAT'S NEW Cold weather and rain. And I mean lots of rain! We had to take a few detours the other night on our ride home from a night of indoor knife throwing at my buddy Chris's house. The roads were flooded all over the city! Being the optimist that I am, I'm just happy my targets are getting a bath. They were getting a bit dry from the temperature change outside. Well, let's see what else is new... OTHER UPDATES When you visit the site you'll also notice a brand new QUICK IDEA and lots of great new posts on our Great Throwzini Discussion Forum! Be sure to check them out! http://www.throwzini.com NEW WEB POLL Be sure to stop by and cast your vote in our newly updated Web Poll. It's right on the home page. Bottom right. Thanks!! (Results of our last Web Poll are listed below.) PREVIOUS WEB POLL RESULTS How many spins do you usually practice throwing? My favorite is 1 turn, (right about 12'). Since this is where they throw from in most competitions, I figure this is a good spot. This is also where I am the most consistent. (Its just not as fun when your knives are bouncing back at you :) Don't get me wrong though, if I am throwing with one of my friends and we're both doing good, somebody always starts moving back... it must be that competitive thing!!! Anyway, thanks to everyone who participated. The final results were as follows: How Many Spins Do You Usually Practice Throwing? 1/2 spin: 5.3% 1 spin: 34.0% 1 1/2 spins: 10.6% 2 spin: 11.7% 3 or more: 6.4% Don't Count: 31.9% Total # of votes: 401 If you want to be a more versatile thrower you should definitely practice from other distances. But if you just want to have fun... then throw from wherever you can stick them the most :) UPCOMING EVENT The Annual AKTA National Championships is being held Oct. 13-14th, in Awendaw, SC. There's still time to sign up for a chance to win over $1000 in cash and prizes!!! If you want more details just click on the EVENTS link on our homepage, and then the AKTA link. http://www.throwzini.com Scott Gracia sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com Thanks again to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!! ======================================== 2. GUEST COLUMN: THROWING STARS by Phil West The first time I encountered throwing stars, (aka Hira-shuriken or Shaken), it was in a context that had nothing to do with Japan or the Orient. I was reading a Sword and Sorcery book and in one section the heroine (Raven, the Swordsmistress of Chaos) defends herself with "Xandian throwing stars", hitting her foe in the throat and through the vision slot of his helm. Years later I discovered that these fantastical weapons had a historical basis. Throwing Stars are not uniquely Japanese, as can be seen in certain designs of Chinese Piau. There are many theories about the origins of Shaken, but I'll not recite them here. The idea must have occurred to nearly anyone who has ever tried to throw a knife. I remember classmates making throwing stars in metalwork, and back then they'd never heard of Ninjitsu, or Raven, for that matter. Nowadays there are numerous designs of Shaken available, though in some states or parts of the world their possession is a serious crime. Where legal, Shaken throwing can be an entertaining diversion. The most famous users of the Shaken are the Ninja. Legend has it that they had many styles of throwing, including throwing when running and throwing with the minimum of movement. I'll detail just the basic throws - the variations you can have fun working out yourself. TYPES OF THROWS THE VERTICAL THROW Used for long range throwing, up to 15 meters. This is basically an overhand throw much like throwing a knife. In Ninjitsu it is often done by starting in a "Horse" stance. Hold the Shaken in the rear hand up near the ear. Make the throw as you step forward with the rear foot into a Front stance. Release the star just as your arm reaches horizontal and release with the spirit of "pressing" the weapon into the target. Don't allow the wrist to snap or flick. THE HORIZONTAL THROW Used for shorter range throws since it makes you less of a target. More like a Frisbee throw. Again start from a Horse stance, but hold the star in the forward hand and place this hand near the rear hip. Swing the hand outward, palm up, as you sway forward. Release the star as the arm points towards the target and once again, "press" it towards its destination. THE HIP POCKET THROW The Hip Pocket throw is another horizontal throw, but made with an inward motion, as if the weapon has been drawn from a pocket then thrown. The hand is swung inward in a quarter arc and the star released with a snap of the wrist. There are lots of other ways to throw shaken, and inspiration will be found in other sections on the Thrower pages. Like a knife, a star must be spun on its shortest axis to ensure that it arrives edge on. A properly designed star has a hole in its center or is thickened in this area to ensure correct balance and aerodynamics. If your Shaken is hitting side on then the fault may be in your grip. GRIPS For horizontal throws the star is often pinched between the thumb and forefinger, making use of the center hole. A simple Pinch Grip on one of the points may work for vertical throws. If not, then try pointing your forefinger forward and holding it with thumb pressure and your second or lower fingers wrapped around a point. A variation of this is to hold the star as described but hook the forefinger around another point. Different holds will suit different throws or designs of star. Experiment. Article Contributed by: Phil West uncle-phil@bigfoot.com http://www.sonic.net/~quine/piau.html ============================================= 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 ============================================= 4. ANOTHER TYPE OF THROWING EVENT by Larry Czekaj I attended a SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) thrown weapons event. The Society has a different means for scoring knife and tomahawk throwing contests. Their procedures are as follows: TARGET SURFACE The target surface is broken down into three, concentric circles (the bullseye, a secondary ring and an outer ring... similar to AKTA standards but larger). DISTANCES Distances from the target are 10', 20', 30' and 40'. SCORING Scoring is as follows: A clean bullseye is five (5) points. A stick which cuts the line between the bullseye and the secondary ring is four (4) points. A clean stick in the secondary ring is three (3) points. A stick which cuts the line between the secondary and outer rings is two (2) points. A clean stick in the outer ring is one (1) point. A stick which cuts the line between the outer ring and the rest of the log is zero (0) points. A stick cleanly outside of the outer ring is zero (0) points. Now, for the distances... A stick from behind the 10' distance is straight scoring (as listed above). A stick made from behind the 20' distance is +1 to any of the above-listed scores. A stick made from behind the 30' distance is +2 to any of the above-listed scores. A stick made from behind the 40' distance is +3 to any of the above-listed scores. Competitors are allowed to throw from behind whichever line they wish. That's all... Article Contributed by: Lawrence Czekaj madinmd@hotmail.com ============================================= If you have any questions about throwing that you would like answered in one of our upcoming issues, 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 2000, 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 FREE 101 KNIFE THROWING TIPS and Newsletter, filled with lots of great throwing tips and ideas to help you with your throwing game, at The Great Throwzini web site. http://www.throwzini.com ============================================= Scott Gracia, The Great Throwzini, 5321 4 Mile Rd. Racine, WI 53402-9791 Phone 262-681-7942, E mail: sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com It's free, and there's no obligation. |
Want to improve your accuracy?CLICK HERE "...the ability of David to throw different turns at different distances was outstanding and the impalement acts were 1st rate..." Chuck Fogarty Countryside, IL FREE STUFF CLICK HERE for FREE 101 Knife Throwing Tips Info-Pak Want hundreds of great knife throwing tips, ideas, articles and interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport of knife throwing? Get our FREE, twice-a-month Great Throwzini Online Newsletter. Just click below and send. CLICK HERE for FREE Online Newsletter or send e-mail to: sgracia@wi.rr.com with SUBSCRIBE in the Subject Line. I respect your privacy and will never share or sell your e-mail address to anyone. |