The Joy of Throwing Knives

Combat Knife throwing innovator/author Ralph Thorn. Image from the Greenville Sun

“I choose to throw knives ... not because but it is easy, but because it is hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win …” (My revision of John F. Kennedy’s “We Choose to Go to The Moon speech.)

Like many boys from my time, I found knives, especially switchblades and pocket knives, to be particularly fascinating. Getting my first cub scout knife was a major occasion for me. In retrospect, I believe that I understood that knives give the owner power and abilities beyond their natural physical capabilities. Being given this potentially dangerous power was a rite of passage that signaled that my parents determined that I was responsible enough to be trusted with a sharp knife (which was probably a significant leap of faith for my parents). Later, my father gave me a couple of World War II era knives that I have always valued.

Originally, I got into knife throwing because I was seeking a way to take advantage of my recently expanded access to open space near my home. I considered taking up croquet, putting golf balls, horse shoes or lawn bowling. I rejected those options because it seems to me that the skills acquired from mastering those activities are not useful for any other purpose.

My decision to try knife throwing was made shortly after the 2016 election. I thought it would be an effective way to burn off some of my anger through physical activity, improve my physical condition and that it could be a useful form of self defense.

What I learned

After I received a set of knives, tried throwing, read a book and on-line articles on the topic and watched several instructional videos on YouTube, I learned the following:

1. Knife throwing isn’t easy. I realized that the challenge of learning a difficult task is the reason why knife throwing is interesting. If knife throwing was too easy it would quickly become boring. That is why I like to remind myself of the JFK quote at the beginning of this story whenever I feel frustrated by my slow progress. Every time I feel like I’m doing well at the knife throwing I only need to step back a bit further away from the target and the task becomes more difficult.

The first goal for a beginner knife thrower is to get the knife to stick in the target. This is harder that it may seem to those who haven’t tried it. Until the knife thrower masters that goal, it is not necessary or desirable to worry about hitting a bulls eye. Depending on the method of throwing and the throwers distance from the target, simply hitting the target and getting the knife to stick consistently can be considered a significant achievement for even a highly experienced knife thrower.

2. Knife throwing is generally not considered an effective form of self defense. The standard reason is that when you throw your knives at a threatening person you are arming your attacker by giving them your knives. One knife thrower responded to that argument with “you just need to have more knives.” That can be true, but how practical is it to carry a large quantity of knives with you?

My moderately informed opinion is that knife throwing is not a particularly efficient or effective way to develop self defense skills, but knowing how to throw knives might be helpful in some situations, especially when combined with other skills.

3. There are two main styles of knife throwing.

The Great Throwdini demonstrates the traditional technique (with a spin). Image from knifethrower.com

The traditional “spin” method allows the knife to spin as it makes it way towards the target. "Thrown in the traditional overhand style, a thrown knife spins end-over-end in flight, because it continues your circular throwing motion. You have to learn just the right throw for your current distance, or your knife will not reach the target tip first, and thus won't stick. These multiple spin throws are employed by the majority of sport throwers." knifethrowing.info

With the traditional technique the thrower needs to adjust their distance from the target so that the point is facing the target at the time of impact. Advanced throwers can also adjust their technique to get the point facing the target.

YouTube star Xolette demonstrates the no-spin trajectory in this composite image from flyingsteel.com

The other method is the spinless technique, also known as instinctive or combat throwing. I think it is actually more accurate to describe ‘spinless” throwing as half spin or arc throwing. As Wikipedia reports “With the much more intricate no spin throwing techniques, the throwing motion is made as linear as possible, the knife's rotation being slowed down even more by an index finger on the spine during release. Thrown no spin, knives will make no revolution or only a quarter spin before reaching the target (point first), but the no spin throws are not as accurate or stable in flight as the spin techniques.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife_throwing

The spinless technique has reportedly been used in Japan martial arts for ages, but was introduced in the west fairly recently by Ralph Thorn, author of Combat Knife Throwing. Thorn developed his own technique that he says is not influenced by the Japanese methods. Thorn has several impressive videos on YouTube demonstrating that he can successfully throw knives quickly, from almost body position and any distance from the target.

Although both styles involve throwing knives in a manner similar to pitching a baseball, traditional spin-method throwing is more akin to archery. Spinless throwing is harder to learn, more athletic and is somewhat less accurate. Many throwers report that spinless throwing is only effective for short distances, but some of the best spinless throwers can throw from 30 feet or further away from the target. However, it is not the technique you will usually see used for long distances or throwing for the classic circus type performance involving knives thrown adjacent to a live person without actually hitting them.

However, as seen in Ralph Thorn’s videos, spinless throwing is much more impressive to watch and more likely to be useful for combat or hunting. In other words, it is much more bad-ass. That is why I decided to learn the spinless method.

It is more challenging to do spinless throwing without hurting your shoulders, arm or back, so I have to be careful not to throw for too long in one session, especially since I’m a bit old to be taking up a new sport. On the other hand, I am getting more exercise.

When considering the physical fitness aspect of throwing, keep in mind that the activity also requires frequently retrieving the thrown knives, which requires pulling them out of the target as well as finding stray knives and picking them up. You can control the amount of exercise you get by varying your distance from the target and/or the number of times that you throw the knives within a period of time. It can be an easy, relaxing activity or a faster paced, more aerobic form of exercise depending on your abilities or preference.

The Sounds of Success and Failure
As I mentioned above, just getting a knife to stick in a target is an achievement for a beginning knife thrower. Part of the reward for that success is a pleasing audible “thuuump” sound when the knife penetrates the target. When the knife does not stick, you are "penalized" by the resulting metallic, clanging sound from the knife hitting the target and landing on the ground. The frequent clanging sound from throwing made my neighbors think that I was playing horseshoes.

A Zen Thing
I thought knife throwing might help me burn off some of my excess anger, but I quickly discovered that my throwing is much, much worse when I am angry. Instead knife throwing has helped me learn how to calm down a bit and concentrate on the task at hand in spite of my anger. (Which is actually a better life lesson.)

Knife throwing is definitely what people call one of those “zen” things. When you throw, you have to avoid throwing too hard or too soft, too fast or too slow, and use a grip that is not too tight or too loose. It is a bit like parallel parking in that following the established formula for a good throw is the most efficient method. But, on the other hand, too much thinking and concentration can be counterproductive. I find that a middle ground between conscious concentration and just following your instincts is the key to better throwing.

Benefits of Knife Throwing
A fun way to get exercise
Little environmental damage
Plenty of exercise from both throwing and retrieving your knives
Cheap to get started (you can get a decent set of three knives for about $35.)
You can do it alone
You can compete with others
You can be as lazy or as athletic as you want
It is safer than many other sports
Can be done outdoors or inside (if you prepare a safe space)

Disadvantages of Knife Throwing
Need sufficient space to throw safely
Not the most efficient way to get in shape. Many skilled throwers do not look like athletes
Risk of pain and/or injury to shoulder, arm etc. due to the baseball pitch type throwing motion
Risk of damaging objects and harming people or animals if you do have a sufficiently safe space to throw

Skull and Knives Sticker available from redbubble.com

Warnings!

There are many excellent sources of information on knife throwing available on-line, including many instructional videos available on YouTube. To be safe, do some reading and/or watch some videos before you begin throwing knives.

I don’t find knife throwing to be a particularly dangerous activity, but it is not suitable for unsupervised children, drunks, stupid or careless people. Especially when you are beginner, but routinely even for skilled throwers, your knives will miss the target and go flying or bouncing off in a direction that you did not intend. That is why a carefully selected and outfitted space for safe throwing is essential.

Please do not throw your knives at living things. Larger trees may survive a few knife sticks, but too many will kill a tree. I do not support using knives for hunting in most circumstances. The odds are that if you manage to hit an animal with your knife it will only injure the critter and it is likely to escape with an injury that will kill it slowly and painfully. There are several other methods of hunting that are less likely to result in the prey dying a slow, painful death. In my opinion, hunting by knife throwing is only ethical if you are on the brink of starvation and very highly skilled and equipped with a type of knife that will result in a quick kill.

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