How Do Practice with A Shuriken? Tricks and Techniques!

A shuriken is a Japanese concealed throwing weapon usually constructed from a piece of sharpened iron, steel, or other metal with two holes for the fingers and a lengthwise groove on one side.

This is often called the "ninja star". It's not really a star-shaped weapon, but rather an aerial blood-letting tool. This type of throwing knife (sometimes called "shinobi zaiku") became popular among farmers and others in feudal Japan as one way to cut down on wandering chickens and other scavenging animals without damaging anything else in the surrounding area.

Practicing Ninja Sars: Techniques

If you are an aspiring ninja, or if you just love throwing things at things, then this article is for you. I will show you a few ways to improve your throwing technique using ninja stars. These techniques include:

• Sliding Technique:

This is one of the simplest techniques, it's basically a slice with a slice. The main idea behind this is that shuriken don't come with a lot of stability, so we have to master how to slide them across the target. 

I always recommend doing this one in thin air and using a small blanket to prevent injury. This will also allow you to practice at various directions and speeds. Warning: if you are not careful, you will cut yourself while practicing. Use caution.

• Side-Slipping Technique:

This technique is similar to the previous one but will allow us to practice at angles. The idea behind this is that this is more stable from the side than from the front, so we can slide them between us and the target. I recommend doing this one in thin air and using a small blanket to prevent injury. This will also allow you to practice at various directions and speeds.

• Up & Down Technique:

If you aren't familiar with shuriken, there is an old training saying about how you should never throw it at your feet unless there is a light breeze. This trick is an exception to that rule. 

When you are very close to the target, this technique can be very useful for "hits", i.e. shuriken aimed in front of the torso. If the target is far away, then this technique could be used to aim at the top of the head, or to send them higher than your opponent's chin before delivering a second strike (this will not allow you to avoid damage).

• Throwing in The Air:

This one is useful if you want to hit something small or if you want to practice moving your feet away from a large target. To do this, I recommend practicing (for distance) in thin air and using a small blanket to prevent injury. Of course, this also works for ground targets (but obviously you will be dealing with a lot of wind).

Shuriken Showcase:

Now that we have seen some techniques, I will mention some tips that can make your ninja star more efficient and effective. The first thing I would like to recommend is (once again) the focus on speed. This is a common problem, especially with beginners. It's easy to lose speed by trying to aim, or putting too much power into the throw. Instead, try to think about speed every time you throw them. 

Another thing I would like to mention a bit more briefly is how important distance is in shuriken throwing. The most common mistake made (mostly by newbies) includes throwing them too far or too close to the target.  In any case, it's better to be further away because these stars are more stable if they are thrown further away. 

The target will have more time to react. You'll have time to aim, so you can increase the power and/or accuracy of the throw. When you are close to the target, your opponent can anticipate where your shuriken will go (especially if he is not a beginner). This can lead to some unexpected results. Each ninja star is different and has its own characteristics in terms of speed, rotation, and stability.