Introduction
Throwing knives is a unique and exciting hobby. At first, it may sound a little "out there." But when you think about it, throwing knives is really much less dangerous / "out there" than shooting a gun or bow and arrow, or many of the other activities people today consider to be normal.
What makes throwing knives so interesting is that it is challenging yet simple. You are working with one of the most fundamental tools human kind has benefited from for thousands of years. Really, when it comes down to it, a knife is not a complex instrument. It is a piece of metal, or obsidian, or even wood, that is designed to cut. Sure, there are knives that are more advanced than that, but the fundamental concept is the same.
While the instrument is basic, the art of throwing is not. It is extremely difficult to throw a knife over a long distance and have it “stick” it’s target. Depending on your individual talent, it could even take weeks before you are able to nail this down (no pun intended) on your own. But when you do, you will immediately feel the reward. There is something in us that naturally reacts positively to the success of sticking a blade. Maybe it is because this is the kind of thing we had to do to survive for thousands of years. Maybe it is just a more typical sense of accomplishment. I myself am not entirely sure, but I can tell you it is there.
Hold the knife between your index finger and your thumb. Hold it by the point of the blade, as close to the tip as you feel is possible. It is more important to have control of the knife than it is too look cool, so be sure that you are holding enough of the blade. Dropping it on your foot can be painful.
You should have the cutting edge of the blade towards you, as you bring the handle of the knife near to your ear, so that the knife is just shy of being parallel with the ground. The knife should not be touching your head, but also not too far away. Your forearm should be on the same alignment as your body.
Throw the knife by bringing you arm down sharply, and parting your fingers. Keep your arm towards the target, and be careful not to drop the knife as you throw forwards. You will not need to throw as hard as you imagine, since the momentum of the knife will cause if to travel for some distance.
Tips to keep in mind:
-- Knife throwing is more about finesse than sheer strength. It is most important to keep the entire movement fluid, and only apply as much force as is needed. Once you get the hang of it, you will be amazed at how little force is needed to be accurate and deadly (why else would you need to throw a knife?)
-- Different knives will have differing blade to handle weight ratios, and thus the location of their fulcrums will differ. Knives that have the center of gravity located directly at the hilt (where the blade meets the handle) are better suited for learning to throw. They tend to be easier to control. So don't try this with a Bowie knife right off.
-- As always, heavier objects will require more force to propel them at the desired speed over the required distance. Instead of increasing the strength of your throw beyond the point of losing fluidity and control, you might consider aiming for a point slightly above your intended target when throwing with larger/heavier knives.
-- It helps to count your paces away from the target (assuming it is stationary) so that you get a feel for how hard you have to throw the knife and can use the distance for a reference.
-- If you find that you hit the target with the butt of the knife instead of the blade, adjust one pace forward or backward. DO NOT change the amount of force applied in your throw. You simply need to allow more or less distance for rotation. A good rule of thumb is that 1 pace equals 1/2 rotation of the knife. You want to be at the correct distance (or multiple) for the blade to be pointing at the target when the knife reaches it.
-- You want the knife to fly with a smooth rotation, which if should not be a problem if you grip it at the fulcrum.
-- Practice, Practice, Practice!
-- After completing a practice session, always clean the blade of the knife. Oils from your hand can degrade the metal in the blade and cause it to rust.
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