No Spin Throwing - Black Magic Or Not?

Quite often we get students come into the Tenchu Combat Concepts 天誅武道 dojo because they want to learn to no spin throw knives.

Traditionally the Samurai and Ninja alike would throw Bo Shuriken (Spikes) and Tantogata (knives) using a no spin throw as its simply the most affective throwing style to use in combat. 

Now when you first see someone using this technique in a movie or video game you will inherently think thats not possible, I know I did at first but as you learn more about the art of Shurikenjutsu you will inevitably come to know it well.

Now the the problem is how to instruct a student how to throw using the no spin technique who has no experience as there are a lot of subtle movements that go into successfully performing a no spin throw at the start.

Often we will teach them how to rotation throw, then move onto half spin throwing and then we tackle no spin throwing and everything that follows that.

Now you need to be honest with the student and tell them this will not be easy and will take a lot practice to crack it. I generally tell them to throw it at the board and just try to get the point of the knife to at least hit it even if it takes 1000 throws. 

This may sound unfair but it gets them to understand this will take practice, they have to lock in and get it right and there is always a little bit of ego motivation to prove that it wont take you 1000 throws to the instructor.

So how do you perform a successful no spin throw? 

1. Make sure you observe the correct distancing from the target. Generally 3 metres. 
2. The ideal blade length is 10"-12" for western no spin and 7" for Japanese Shurikenjutsu.
3. Be aware you will have to throw harder when no spin throwing. Don't lob it but whip it at the target.
4. Hold the handle of the knife further down than you usually would and run your forefinger down the spine.
5. Bring you right hand just past the right shoulder readying the throw.
6. Then tilt your hand back slightly 34-45 degrees.
7. The trick is in the guidance from the forefinger when you throw, It pushes the tip towards the target guiding is straight and is arguably the hardest part.
8. Refine the micro movements of the release using the forefinger to until the blade sticks with reasonable throwing power (Not full force).
9. Aim to stick 3 knives consistently in a row with the no spin technique.
10. Once done now focus on sticking 6 with a bit more force staying aware of potential bouncebacks.
11. Stick 12 knives with the no spin technique and you have it to an acceptable standard (Has to be repeatable not a fluke).
12. Then aim for no reload no spin! 

A lot of it is a mental process and this is almost harder to explain than the technique itself. We call it Mushin No Shen (The Mind Of No Mind), Your mind has to be empty and the throw has to be performed naturally and almost in a relaxed manner. You can tell if it was a good throw and will stick the moment it leaves your hand and thats why they call it black magic. 

I would personally say its more about Nagare (Flow) and you have to be able to flow and transition between styles to make your Shurikenjutsu effective. 

This will make more sense if you are already an advanced thrower and you will know exactly what I mean, its something instictive that happens in the zero point of the throw that is the deciding factor between success and failure. 

Shurikenjutsu is also not something that is robotic. Western throwers often look at it from this perspective that throwing is for sport and not combat and to them it is. There are a few rotaton throwers that will tell you they are "Combat Throwers" but they aren't as its the wrong technique to be consitent as its based on the rotation of the knife which means inherently the tip is only exposed for a very short time. Any change in distance will be the difference between the blade sticking and the opponent getting hit with a bit of metal and potentially then arming them so rotation throwing is not combat throwing. It is fun and there are some skilled rotation throwers but the Samurai used Shuriken as a weapon using the no spin technique for a reason, because it worked. Also its a nightmare rotation throwing a traditional 7" Bo Shuriken and while possible its basically a party trick with no use whatsoever in terms of practical application in combat. 

Overall it takes practice to master the No Spin Throw but its not black magic at all you just need to force yourself to evolve and learn to make micro movements with the forefinger of the throwing hand and don't stop until you can complete 12 consitant sticks.

It all depends on whether you want to invest the time into the challenge but its a lot of fun and well worth learning.