No one knows the exact date when the throwing stars were developed though It is believed that these ninja throwing stars were originated back in the 17th century. The Sworn mystery was one of the most important key codes in the ninja world that was somehow a justifying reason for the unknown creation of famous ninja weapon. Shuriken refers to the Japanese throwing stars. This ninja weapon was primarily used for tossing, stabbing and cutting. Throwing a ninja star was not only used to cause pain to the enemy rather it is found that feces and venom were coated on the weapon. They are thrown to the opponent so the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause deadly illness such as tetanus. Another tricky attack was to implant them in the ground and wait for your enemy to step on them. At times, they were also enfolded in a fuse, lit with fire and thrown to the poor soul. The traditional ninja shuriken was made from flat plates of metal. Though today they can be manufactured from many ordinary tools that are commonly found in knives and nails. Ninja throwing stars were designed in a number of shapes, some are listed below. They were considered as supplementary tools for the sword and other Japanese weapons. The art of soldering this tool is called as Shurikenjutsu. This skill was considered top-secret as according to Japanese history, there were several self-governing exponents of the skill of throwing long thin objects. Many martial art schools offer training sessions for this kind of weapon.
Different types of Shuriken
There are several types of ninja throwing stars and here we have listed the popular ones that can do much damage:
The Bo Shuriken
The weapon has a close resemblance to the steel spike. It features a long, thin and sharp pointy end. There are further many forms of bo shuriken such as Biao (Pin form), Kunai-gata (Utility tool form), Kankyuto (Piercing tool form), Kugi-gata (Nail form), Hari-gata (Needle form), Matsubara-gata ( Pine Needle form), Teppan (Plate metal) and Tanto-gata (Spear form). Every form has its individual throwing technique. Some may require you to throw overhand or underhand with the star gliding out between fingers.
The Hira Shuriken
The type of ninja throwing star is made with flat plates of metal such as coins and nail removers. The sides are filed down to a very sharp edge which helps in transforming the weapon into a deadly blade. These blades feature holes in the center which might be initially used for other purposes. It is found that the hole can make for excellent aerodynamics when thrown for longer distances.
Straight
Straight throwing stars are available in round, square, triangular or octagon shapes. Nevertheless, you can also find two-pointed shapes as well. Their weight primarily depends on their length and diameters. These star shapes are relatively easy to create and conceal.
Special Type
The special type or needle shape shuriken are closely similar to a large needle. This weapon is constructed from straight iron or steel. They are mostly four-sided ninja throwing stars but can also be found in a round or octagon shapes. Some types have points on both ends as well. These can be thrown in many ways such as underarm, sideward, backward, and overhead. Regardless of the throwing style, the blade glides out of the hand through the fingers in a smooth controlled way.
Conclusion
There is a lot more to be learned about these charming blades of destruction. What would be your first target a squirrel, a tree or any other? Do share with us. In the meantime, you can also get a historical ninja weapon on swordswords.com and practice with your ninja throwing stars from today.
