Have you ever thought of how to learn knife throwing as a hobby? Well, that may sound dangerous and crazy. But you never know how fun it could be until you try it out.
Is it hard to learn how to throw knives? You may ask. However, it’s fun and easy to learn to throw knives as it can be done using either hunting knives or kitchen knives as long as the knife is sturdy, light-weight, and well-balanced.
Let’s look at some of the easy steps you can follow on how to learn to throw knives.
So let’s get down to it!
7 Easy Steps on How to Learn Knife Throwing
Knife throwing can be a relaxing and fun activity. Follow the following steps on how to learn knife throwing.
Step 1: Choose a Throwing Knife
Many types of knives are ideal for knife throwing. Otherwise, the type of knife you choose should be lightweight, weighing 200g or less, with no sharp edges, sturdy, rounded corners for safety, and fewer perforations to prevent the knife from shattering.
Step 2: Select a Target
Before you throw the knife, it’s crucial to select a good target that you can work with according to your skill level.
The main goal of knife throws is to expose you to a new challenge that will help you build your skills.
Besides, there are different levels of knife throws, including half rotations, full rotations, and advanced throws.
Step 3: Prepare for the Throw
Like any other sports activity, proper preparation is a crucial stage to achieving your goal. In this case, as you prepare for your throw, you need to focus on your body posture and foot.
To begin with, you need to stand in a straight posture to ensure an accurate and straight throw. Your body also needs to be relaxed to avoid bad and inconsistent throwing.
Similarly, focus on how you hold the throwing knife. Hold the knife with your thumb on top of other fingers to prevent them from altering with your throw.
Lastly, if you are right-handed, keep your right foot forward and the left foot behind your right foot and vice versa.
Step 4: The First Throw
At this stage, this is where you make your first into your target with half spin. Once you pass this stage, you will be ready to do more advanced knife throws.
Before you start the throw, observe some safety precautions like wearing hard shoes to prevent you from getting injured in case the throwing knife bounces back.
First off, find an appropriate distance from your target. For a half rotation spin, you need to maintain a distance of six feet from your target.
Next, hold your throw knife with the blade facing you and moderately throw your knife towards the target.
Step 5: First Single Rotation Knife Throw
In this step of single rotation knife throw, you should maintain an optimum distance of ten to eleven feet from your target.
Hold your throw knife from the handle facing the sky and throw it moderately towards your target.
Remember to stand in a straight posture and stay relaxed since this throw is more accurate than a half rotation throw.
Step 6: Advanced Throw
The advanced throw involves more or even no spins at this level. For more spin throws, you should maintain a distance of approximately fifty feet from your target.
Moreover, the no spin technique is more practical as it involves no knife rotation and requires close-distance throwing.
Step 7: Continue Practicing
Lastly, this is the last step of knife throwing, where one is supposed to continue practicing so that one can build and retain the skills learned.
Safety Precautions to Take When Learning Knife Throwing
Before proceeding to knife throwing, it is good to take the following safety precautions to account.
#1. Wear Hard Shoes
Before you start throwing, especially if you are a beginner, wear hard shoes to protect your feet from getting injured in case the throwing knife bounces back.
If you injure yourself, seek first aid services immediately to prevent your wound from getting infected.
#2. Find Suitable Locations for Knife Throwing
Ensure to find suitable locations for knife throwing away from people and pets to prevent injury.
#3. Use Throwing Knives
Use knives that are specifically made for throwing. Throwing knives are supposed to have a dull blade to prevent your hand from getting cut and a sharp tip so that the knife can stick to your target.
#4. Inspect Your Throwing Knife Frequently
Before you use your throwing knife, ensure it is in good shape. If you notice any flaws, make sure to make the repairs on time.
#5. Keep Your Knife Safe
To avoid injuries, If your knife is not in use, cover its blade or store it in a box.
Pro-Tips to Make You a Pro Knife Thrower
The below tips are designed to help a beginner become a pro knife thrower.
#1. Get a Good Sized Throwing Knife
A good throwing knife should be twelve and eighteen inches in length. The distance between the thrower and the target depends on the length of the throwing knife and the technique the thrower uses.
#2. Mark Your Throwing Spots
When the throwing knife sticks at the target, mark the spot exactly where you were standing so you can stand at the exact spot each time you want to throw.
#3. Don’t Snap Your Wrist
Avoid snapping your wrist every time you release your throwing knife because it will be hard to snap it at the exact time you throw it.
#4. Always Watch the Handle of Your Knife
When throwing, watch the handle of your throwing knife. If your throwing knife reaches the target with its handle facing up, that is over-rotating. To avoid this, move a few inches forward so that the knife does not spin too much before reaching the target.
Again, if your knife reaches the target with its handle facing down, that is under rotating, and hence you should move backward a few inches so that the knife can have more time to spin before hitting the target.
#5. Keep Your Wrist Locked
Always keep your wrist locked when throwing and gently let your hand off your throwing knife.
#6. Keep Your Knife Safe
The throwing knives easily get lost when they miss the target and fall on the grass. To spot them easily, put a layer of bright tape on the knife’s handle so you can spot them more easily.
#7. Throw With Family and Friends
Practice, practice makes perfect. Make it a habit to go throwing with your family and friends during the weekends so that you can have more time for practice and consistency to build your skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Wood is Best for Knife Throwing?
The best tree wood for knife throwing is a softwood which includes; pine, spruce, palm, and poplar. These are great target woods because they are soft; hence, you can easily remove the throwing knife.
What Makes a Knife Ideal for Throwing?
Some knives are specifically designed for throwing. However, a throwing knife should weigh less than 200 grams, have no sharp edges but a sharp point, have fewer perforations to avoid breakages and be thick to prevent the tip from bending, and rounded corners for safety.
What Distance Should I Maintain When Knife Throwing?
The distance between the knife thrower and the target depends on the kind of throw the thrower is doing.
For half-turn throws, the thrower stands between 7 to 8 inches from the target; for a full spin throw, the thrower stands 12 to 15 feet from the target. And finally, for a complete turn, the thrower stands between 18 and 19 feet from the target.
How Long Should a Throwing Knife Be?
A typical throwing knife should measure between 12 to 15 inches long and weigh 200 grams. Short and light knives are hard to hold in your hand because they don’t have enough mass to stick easily.
Long and heavy knives require a lot of muscle energy; hence most beginners can learn to throw with them because they are easy to master.
Should My Throwing Knife Be Sharp
No. A throwing knife should not be sharp. Sharp blades can cut your hands when throwing. However, the tip of your knife is supposed to be sharp to stick well onto the target.
How Hard Am I Supposed to Throw a Throwing Knife?
You are not supposed to throw your knife with all your force. If you use all your force to throw, you will not be able to control the movement of your knife. You need to be relaxed and throw gently and moderately so that the knife can hit the target well.
Can Children Engage in Knife Throwing?
Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to engage in a knife-throwing activity. However, children under 18 years of age can engage in knife-throwing but in the company of an adult to protect them from possible injuries.
Is Knife Throwing a Sport?
Yes, knife throwing is a form of sport that requires the thrower to be a professionally trained artist in knife throwing art.
How Should I Throw a Throwing Knife?
First, you need to keep your shoulders square to the target for maximum efficiency, maintain momentum through your shot to have a controlled and consistent throw, and keep your wrist firm so that you can have a consistent and controlled throw.
Pinch the grip of your knife with your fingers so that you can easily release the knife when throwing. Know the distance between you and the target for an accurate throw; when throwing, look through your shot to visualize a successful throw.
Lastly, raise your hand over your shoulder so the throwing knife is directly beside your head.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Knife Throwing?
How long you learn knife throwing depends on your consistency and the time you take to practice. However, you can learn knife throwing within six months if you train four to six hours a week.
What Do I Need to be a Pro Knife Thrower?
The key to becoming a pro knife thrower is consistency. The knife thrower should ensure that you throw the knife at the same time, position it every time, and wisely choose the distance between you and the target.
Can I Practice Knife Throwing in My Backyard?
No, you cannot practice knife throwing in your backyard because you may injure people or pets passing by. Knife throwing is only carried out in an open sheath but not in a closed area like the backyard.
How Much Should a Throwing Knife Weigh?
A throwing knife meant for learning and practice should weigh 200g or less. The center of the knife should have a balanced gravity between the handle and the blade.
Where Do I Hold My Throwing Knife?
If you are throwing a knife, you start by throwing the weight of the knife first. So will hold your throwing knife by the handle if the knife you are using is blade heavy.
When Was Knife Throwing Recognized as a Sport?
Knife throwing was first widely recognized as a sport in the 1800s when knife throwing was for entertainment and recreation through wild west shows and circus performances. Today it is used in competitions in America each year.
Conclusion
All in all, how to learn knife throwing and become successful in it requires you to maintain consistency and take enough time to practice at least six hours per week.
Remember, knife throwing is a sports activity just like other sports activities, and it can be rewarding and fun to learn as a hobby. However, as a beginner, you must take certain precautions when learning.
Note that not all knives are used as throwing knives, and with the right throwing knives, this activity can be fun and relaxing and not forget the goal being consistency and controlled throws.
