Martial Arts

Although ninja training involves the use of several different weapons, no weapon is as uniquely ninja as the throwing star, or shuriken. In movies, ninjas are shown throwing stars with increadible accuracy, but a beginner would be doing well to hit the side of a van parked twenty feet away.

As is the case with any type of ninja training, practice is the key to gaining skill with throwing stars. It is important to set up a safe area to practice that includes a large, sturdy target with plenty of room and without any people, pets, or property that could be damaged within range of the thrown star or a bounce-back from the target. Pine boards attached to a sheet of plywood will make a good target, and I suggest a minimum size of at least four feet square in order reduce the chances of losing stars to off-target throws. When you are just beginning to learn to throw stars, the larger the target is, the better. You can of course create a smaller target on the large one to work on your aim as you improve.

Most movies depict ninjas throwing stars side-arm like a pointy frisbee, with the star held parallel to the ground. While they can certainly be thrown this way, throwing a star side-arm with accuracy is extremely difficult. If you are intent upon learning to throw stars side-arm, make sure to allow lots and lots of room around your target, and be prepared to do a lot of searching for the stars that will likely be flying off in all directions.

To develop throwing accuracy relatively fast, and to get the most efficient use of your ninja training time, I recommend that beginners work on learning to throw stars overhand, similar to the technique used for throwing knives.

If you do go with the overhand technique, I suggest setting up your target with pine boards aligned so that the grain of the wood is perpendicular to the ground. This will make it easier for the stars to stick in the target rather than bounce off.

When starting to throw your stars, I suggest standing approximately twenty feet from the target. This will be relatively close to allow you to hit the target consistently and gain confidence, but it is still far enough away that ricochets are not likely to do any serious harm if you get hit. Eye protection is a good idea just in case.

In order to develop accuracy in a short amount of time, it is important to learn to focus on your target. With the eye on the side of your throwing arm, look straight ahead at the target and keep your eye focused intently on the target at all times.

While gripping the star loosely between your thumb and first finger, bring your arm straight out in front of you until the star is lined up between your eye and the target. Next, raise your hand above your head by bending your elbow. Refocus your vision on the target and then quickly throw the star by straightening your elbow and letting the star go at the moment it enters your line of sight to the target. As with any form of ninja training, once you learn the basic technique, with practice comes skill.

As you get better with throwing stars, you can use smaller targets, or you can try throwing from a longer distance. If you choose to try longer distance throws, it is important to maintain good form and not force the throws to go further, as this will greatly decrease your ability to hit the target.

With repeated practice, you will improve considerably in your throwing star skills. I think you will find throwing stars to be one of the most fun parts of your ninja training.

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Shuri Ken is an avid practitioner of the ninja arts. To obtain more beginner’s training tips on throwing stars and other ninja weapons and techniques, he recommends you visit ninja training. Click here for other unique ninja training articles.