Ninja stars, also sometimes known as shuriken, are somewhat easier to throw than throwing knives, and there is certainly a shorter learning curve associated with becoming proficient with them. 

But it still takes some skill to use, and inconsistencies with how you hold and throw them can have an adverse effect on your accuracy, not to mention they may result in fewer stars that stick in your intended target. 

This short post should help with some of that. 

How to Hold the Ninja Star

The first step in successfully throwing a ninja star is knowing how to hold it. Most ninja stars have several blades or points, and you’ll want to hold one of these in a pinch grip. 

Make sure that your fingers don’t overrun the cutting edge of whatever point you’re gripping, because if they do, you will likely cut yourself as the shuriken leaves your grip when you throw it. 

The pinch grip should be clean, and should not allow any of the cutting edges in contact with your skin. Just secure the point between your fingers. 

Throwing the Shuriken: Form and Tips for Success

Before we get into the proper form for throwing a ninja star, it is important to disclaim that there is more than one right way to throw one. We will only cover one method that is appropriate for beginners and others that are not yet comfortable with throwing knives and stars. 

We will cover an overhand throwing technique that is relatively easy to learn how to do, replicable, and which will be confidence so that other throwing techniques, like sidearm throwing can eventually be learned. 

With the shuriken in the aforementioned pinch grip, bring it back up towards the side of your head on your dominant side, so that your elbow is raised and pointed towards the intended target. 

When you bring your elbow down to throw the ninja star, try to make sure that the path of motion that the hand holding the throwing star takes is straight. You want a two-dimensional arc, but you don’t want your wrist to follow a third line of motion off to one side or the other of your elbow. 

If the path your wrist follows is not perfectly straight, that can make the ninja star wobble, which can throw off accuracy, and even if it doesn’t, it will result in the throwing star veering off slightly to the right or left, which is also undesirable. 

Release your pinch grip as your elbow comes down and the ninja star should fly towards, strike, and stick in your target. If it doesn’t or falls short, get a little closer to your target. For starters, if you’ve never thrown one before, it’s better to be a little closer to the target. 

Try starting at roughly 20 paces away. Too close and it’s a bit risky because you don’t want any stars that bounce off the target to come back and strike you, but too far away may become frustrating if you can’t connect with the target. 

Otherwise, this is a game of practice. Get out there and throw some stars until you start to see what sticks.

Where to Get Ninja Stars?

Need a set of ninja stars so you can practice throwing them? You can get them (and throwing knives) online at BUDK. They carry throwing stars and a wide range of other knives, weapons, and cool stuff. 

Visit their website and if you have any questions, get in touch with them directly and they’ll assist before you buy.

For more information about Crossbows and Push Button Automatic Knife Please visit: BudK Worldwide Inc.