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Newsletter: Issue #85 by Scott Gracia sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com ======================================= IN THIS ISSUE 1. What's New 2. Preparing For A Tournament - by Burl Carl 3. Recreational Knife Throwing Video - by John Bailey 4. Advertising Opportunities 5. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines 6. Subscribe and Unsubscribe Information ======================================= 1. WHAT'S NEW Hey Folks! The weather in Wisconsin is slowly changing and making it more difficult to throw. The "weather guy" (technical term) on TV says that we are a month ahead of schedule. Meaning the temps we are experiencing now, really shouldn't be here for another month! And its also been raining so needless to say, I haven't been out to throw much. But that will all end soon! We're leaving in a few days for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the 2nd Annual 2003 Central US Knife Championships event in Austin, TX!!! Knives, hawks, spears, old friends, new friends, contests, food, fun, new tips and tricks, and best of all... lots of "thunking" sounds!!! :-) Here is the final "plug" for the Austin event, this year :-) If you're thinking about checking it out, then just go ahead and do it! I promise you will have the time of your life! And don't even start to think that you aren't ready for a competition. You'll have fun and you'll learn a bunch! The following is a quote from Joe Darrah: "If you're coming to Texas be prepared for meeting some great people, making some new friends, being a part of knife throwing history and more than likely getting whooped by one of your new friends!" I like the way you're thinking Joe! Here is the place to find all the info about these events: http://www.throwzini.com/events.html AOL USERS LINK When you get to that page just click the first link called "2nd Annual 2003 Central US Knife Championships". Hope to see you there! SITE UPDATE I received a knife the other day in the mail. I just love it when I see the delivery truck stopping in front of my house. Christmas in October is not a bad thing! :-) So anyway, here's the story of how this knife became part of my personal collection... I have a friend in Illinois named Paul Elliott. (Paul is one of the fine throwers that drove up here in August to help me with the throwing event at RIB (Racine Instinctive Bowmen). Check this page to see some great pictures of knives, arrows and atlatls in action! http://www.throwzini.com/rib-event-2003.html AOL USERS LINK Back to the story... Paul is also a friend of Joe Darrah and you all should remember Joe. (He makes, and throws pretty much anything with a point!) Well Paul sent Joe an original Cold Steel TFT - aka "True Flight Thrower". (Those are the ones with the sharp blade and green paracord wrapped around the handle.) Anyway, like Joe usually does, he saw something "slightly different" in the steel and got out the old grinder and polishing wheel! The next thing I know there is a package at MY door from Joe. Inside the box was the customized knife and it really is sweet! I have pics of an original TFT and also one of the "aftermath" after Joe got his hands on it :-) Very cool stuff indeed! You are the man Joe! To check them out, just go to this page: http://www.throwzini.com/customdesigns.html AOL USERS LINK Once you're there, click the first link you see titled "A Customized Cold Steel Thrower". So a big thanks to both of you guys! (Paul Elliott and Joe Darrah). I look forward to beating both of you at Mike Bainton's historical throwing event in Austin, TX... Oh c'mon... its nice to visit "Fantasy Land" every once in a while :-)))) See you guys soon! ANOTHER WKTG GIVEAWAY The fifth free prize "drawing" for W.K.T.G. members will be held on November 27, 2003. This time it will be for a "Mini Bokri" throwing knife and the new Beil-Ax that was designed by John Bailey and is in "preproduction" right now at the Boker company. The description, a picture of the Mini Bokri, and membership forms can be found here: http://www.throwzini.com/wktg.html AOL USERS LINK The winner will be announced on November 30th, 2003 so if you're not already a member, you better kick it in gear! Thats all for now. Have fun, stay safe and be well!!! Scott Gracia 101 FREE KNIFE THROWING TIPS http://www.throwzini.com AOL USERS LINK 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 down the street! Currently there are 164 throwers listed in 40 states, and 19 different countries! And more people are signing up every week! Soon you'll be able to throw with someone no matter where you go! Follow this link for more details or to see if there are any throwers that live in your neighborhood: http://www.throwzini.com/local_throwers.html AOL USERS LINK Thanks again to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!! ======================================== 2. GUEST COLUMN: PREPARING FOR A TOURNAMENT By Burl Carl I prepare for tournaments by combining mild weight training along with the knife throwing practice sessions (not necessarily on the same days). The weight training helps lessen the pain from some old shoulder and back injuries I acquired years ago. My practice sessions usually last about 1 to 1 1/2 hours and consist of a combination of warming up the shoulder/arm, and working on technique. Working on technique involves a lot of things depending on how I'm doing that particular day and what I need to work on. Some of these 'things' involve changing the position of my grip on the handle/blade (moving my hand up or down to impart proper rotation); pressure on the knife as I'm releasing it (minor adjustment to rotation); making sure my arm doesn't cross over too much to my left side as I release; timing of the release; speed of the throw in relation to all of the above; controlling my upper body to avoid rotation; follow through; etc. etc... anyway, you get the idea. I work on each of these one at a time so I can find out what works and what doesn't for that day. I've gone through this process enough times that nowadays I can quickly get to the accuracy part of the session without giving too much thought about technique adjustments. I don't really bear down on accuracy until about 1/2 hr to an hour into the session. By this time I can pretty much tell the general area my knives are grouping. At this point I can focus or 'zone in' my point of aim on a specific spot on the target. If I'm throwing from 8 - 12 feet my point of aim "reference spot" is about the size of a fifty cent piece to that of a silver dollar. I mentally pick a spot on the target to compensate for where my knives are grouping. Example, If my knives have been hitting low at say 6 o'clock position, I adjust my focus point a little above the bullseye and aim there. At 18 feet and beyond the aiming spot is considerably larger but the elevation/windage compensation concept is the same. I use 4 to 5 tree rounds and each are 10 inches in diameter. I have an eight inch circle with a 2 1/2" bullseye painted on the tree rounds (just like the tournament targets). Only difference is the outer ring is missing (16 inch ring). Don't need it. I figure if I can't average every stick going into at least the 8 inch ring, I might as well forget about having a chance of winning. At the tournament I try shooting for an average score of 80. Anything less is unacceptable. Some of my practice sessions I've been scoring in the low 90's. Tournaments put a whole lot of mental stress and distractions on you. That's why I practice at home to score 80 as par (for AKTA/PKT type tournaments). Article Contributed By: Burl Carl The UnderHand Man Burl_Carl@hotmail.com ============================================= 3. RECREATIONAL KNIFE THROWING VIDEO by John L. Bailey 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! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Scott: "The best thing I ever did to help myself get into knife throwing and help my friends get good within a short time, was to buy the video, "Recreational Knife Throwing" by John Bailey. John's video over delivers. He makes everything simple!" Carl Geddes San Diego, CA (2002 Pacific Knife Throwers Champion) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 visit: http://www.throwzini.com/tgt_video.html VIDEO LINK ============================================= 4. ADVERTISE WITH US Run an ad in this newsletter and expose your business to over 12,562+ 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. ============================================= A FEW WORDS FROM OUR SPONSORS Worlds Easiest To Use Throwing Knife! The Easy-Stik Pro. You will throw like an expert in just a few tries. Order from the 'net or send a check or money order for $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping to: Accuflight Inc. P.O. Box 25 Pennsburg PA. 18073-0025 See the video of this knife in action at: www.accuflightinc.com Dealers inquires invited. Thank you, Clyde Hoch --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Thrower List: A list about throwing weapons, for sport, survival, and self defense. We talk a lot about throwing knives but any sort of thrown weapon including axes and hatchets, spears, atlatl, boomerangs, bola, sticks, steel balls, and casting weapons like whips are also discussed. The list also covers events, promoters, calendars, competitions, etc. of interest to throwing enthusiasts. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thrower/ AOL USERS LINK ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ** The above advertising claims and offers are the sole responsibility of the individual sponsors listed. Please contact them for more information about their offers.** ============================================ 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 2003, 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 ****************************************************** AOL USERS: USE THESE CLICKABLE LINKS TO VISIT OUR WEB SITE The Great Throwzini Web site Recreational Knife Throwing Video Part I. ****************************************************** It's free, and there's no obligation. |
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