Kunai Techniques

[Nicholas Berkeley]

Hello, I am new to this forum, and I had several questions. I tried finding more resources on the internet, but it seems specific training ideas and such are hard to find.

At any rate, though I do not practice ninjitsu, I have heard about a throwing knife they use called a kunai. While it is also used as a makeshift shovel and tool, I've seen reference to them throwing it as a projectile. I was wondering how to throw one of these. The kunai only has 1 point, so throwing it the same way as a shuriken seems like it would be ineffective because it spins, and, more likely than not, would probably not strike someone with that point. Is there a special way you would throw a kunai, or is there something in the design that prevents the spin? Thank you for any insight you might be able to give me.

Nicholas

[peacefulwarrior]

well i do not practice ninjitsu ether, but i do throw alot of bladed weapons. I could see it being thrown much in the same way you would throw a tomahawk or military entrenching tool, grab the handle and throw at target. If you had a picture i could tell you .

[DragonMind]

Think more like a Phillipine knife than a shovel. Here is a picture of one. The throwing technique should be apparent. http://www.bujingear.com/bujingear_006.htm

[peacefulwarrior]

ok then, looks like a regular throwing knife to me.

[Nicholas Berkeley]

How would you keep it from spinning then? Or would you simply have to time the spin to hit the target point first? I'm not entirely up on knife throwing techniques, so any help would be appreciated.

[DragonMind]

How would you keep it from spinning then? Or would you simply have to time the spin to hit the target point first? I'm not entirely up on knife throwing techniques, so any help would be appreciated.

To be perfectly honest, throwing a knife is a bad idea outside of Hollywood. Hit rate is poor, targeting is tricky and if you don't do serious damage to your opponent, you just GAVE HIM A KNIFE!

[Nicholas Berkeley]

Sorry..I didn't explain my reasoning clearly enough. I run around in a LARP group that uses foam weapons to recreate battles. I thought that kunai would be an interesting type of throwing knife to use. And, yes, the end of the throwing knife is not pointed, and would be designed large enough to not go into someone's eye. So, it's like I'm using them in a real fight, so no one has to worry about that. I was wondering about how to throw it to make sure I'm doing everything correctly.

Nicholas

[peacefulwarrior]

yes that is right, you must time the spin, it is not as hard as you would think. also if you are within 15 feet i would recomend that you grab the blade and thow it that way, it puts the blade half way through it's spin and increases the chance of puting the point in.

DragonMind, i must partly disagree with you. Many people i know can hit what ever they want with a knife at close to 20-30 feet, and even if they don't hit the target(often a spot on a playing card) they have always got a point first stick into the back drop. Now would i ever throw my knife in combat? NOPE, and if i did it would only to be a distraction while i ran.

[DragonMind]

DragonMind, i must partly disagree with you. Many people i know can hit what ever they want with a knife at close to 20-30 feet, and even if they don't hit the target(often a spot on a playing card) they have always got a point first stick into the back drop. Now would i ever throw my knife in combat? NOPE, and if i did it would only to be a distraction while i ran.

That is certainly your right. I tend to think in terms of practical application rather than target practice. I've seen plenty of knife throwers who can do amazing things against a stationary or carefully timed target. Add in a moving non-cooperative target, adrenal stress and some low light or multiple assailants just for fun and knife throwing becomes a really bad idea. I wouldn't even throw it as a distraction, as long as it has a working blade it is better in your hand than theirs.

[silent snake]

hold the blade flat, concealed from view. From doko no kamae, accelerate the blade and let it leave your hand. Do not throw it or you will release late and nail your foot to the ground. It should fly in a straight line.

[Grei]

That is certainly your right. I tend to think in terms of practical application rather than target practice. I've seen plenty of knife throwers who can do amazing things against a stationary or carefully timed target. Add in a moving non-cooperative target, adrenal stress and some low light or multiple assailants just for fun and knife throwing becomes a really bad idea. I wouldn't even throw it as a distraction, as long as it has a working blade it is better in your hand than theirs.

Well certainly if all you have is your knife you aren't going to throw it. That's just stupid. But if you have other more efficient weapons and a brace of throwing knives, throwing becomes more feasable.

Not that anyone these days is going to carry around a brace of knives on top of other weapons... and if they were going to there are a million more efficient weapons to carry than knives... But throwing a knife will not always be a horrible idea, even if it's not necessarily a bright one.

[Kokuryuu]

Hi everyone, I`m practicing with a kunai I bougth in japan and after 2 weeks I realiced I didn`t had any idea of how to throw it, but I tried throwing while holding it horizontally and it actualy worked out on seval trees...

[Kokuryuu]

I bougth a kunai and I got no idea on how to use it...

[Nicholas Berkeley]

Let it leave your hand, but do not throw it...that seems like a fine line...