How to Throw a Knife

As the name suggests, a throwing knife is designed specifically for precise throws. These knives are not overly light, are balanced at the center, and are extremely sturdy, making them difficult to break. Various cultures across the world have their own techniques for throwing knives, with differences in the type and size of knives used.

Choose your knife. There are three types of knives suitable for throwing: a heavy-bladed knife, a heavy-handled knife, or a balanced knife. A balanced knife is the best choice for beginners, as it works well with various throwing styles.

• Remember that you should always throw the heavy side first. For a heavy-bladed knife, throw the blade first by holding the handle and throwing. On the other hand, for a heavy-handled knife, hold the blade and throw it.

Choose a target. You need to select a target that is thick enough to prevent the knife from going through, yet soft enough for the knife to easily stick. You can use cardboard or cereal box sides as targets during practice, which are great for helping you aim accurately. Experienced knife throwers often prefer using softwoods, like willow, birch, or pine. You should measure the distance by counting steps from the target (assuming it's fixed) to estimate the right throwing force. Additionally, you can use this measurement to adjust the distance if needed.

• Secure the target by hanging or fixing it.

Assume the throwing stance. Position your body weight on the dominant leg, raise the non-dominant leg forward (without resting your body on it), extend your dominant arm forward to create a right angle with the ground, then bend your elbow so that the knife is aligned parallel to your head. Keep the knife at a safe distance from your head to avoid injury when releasing it.

Throw the knife forward. Shift your body weight from the dominant leg to the non-dominant one to build momentum towards the target. At the same time, straighten your elbow and extend your arm forward; this is the moment when you must release the knife. You need to practice this motion repeatedly to master the throwing technique.

• Avoid throwing the knife like a basketball. In a basketball throw, the arm extends sideways, while in a knife throw, the arm moves straight forward, upward, and then downward, ensuring the knife doesn't fly at an angle. To prevent your arm from extending like a basketball throw, imagine you're chopping wood.
• If the knife flies upward, make sure to keep your wrist straight when releasing the throw.

Release the knife and follow through with your body. Simply allow the knife to slide off your hand while your arm points straight toward the target, and make sure your wrist is fully extended. Your body will naturally lean forward (due to shifting your center of gravity), and your arm will continue its downward motion. If you release at the right moment, the knife will travel horizontally and hit the target.

• The key to knife throwing is precision rather than strength. What matters most is executing the motion smoothly, using just enough force. Once you've mastered the technique, you'll be surprised by how little force is needed.

Analyze the mistakes and make adjustments for better knife throwing. If the handle of the knife hits the target instead of the blade, you need to adjust both the angle of your wrist and your positioning (either move forward or backward). Do not increase your throwing force, instead, modify the number of rotations of the knife. The general rule is that one step forward or backward is equivalent to half a rotation of the knife.

• Generally, the heavier the object, the more force is needed to achieve the desired speed and distance. Instead of overexerting yourself to generate more power than you can control or compromising the smoothness of your throw, aim slightly above the target when throwing a larger or heavier knife.

Clean the knife blade after throwing. Remember to clean the blade after each practice session. Sweat from your hands can cause rust on the metal of the knife.

• Additionally, you should clean the blade if your target is something like meat, as the fats in the meat can degrade the quality of the knife blade.

• Each knife has a different weight ratio between the blade and the handle, meaning the center of balance (pivot point) varies. Some argue that knives with a central balance point are the easiest to throw, while others claim that imbalance provides the necessary force for the knife to hit the target. You should experiment with both types of knives to see which one you control better.
• A good throwing knife doesn't require a special handle, but it should have a moderate weight. The lighter the knife, the easier it will be to hit your target.
• Use your eyes to decide which knives are suited for specific targets. For example, knives can usually penetrate glass but may dull the blade upon impact.
• You don’t need to worry much about getting cut. Throwing knives have dull blades with sharp tips, allowing them to embed in the target without cutting your hand.
• Knives are dangerous, so always be cautious when handling them.
• Make sure there is no one in front of you when throwing a knife!

• Do not use kitchen knives for throwing as you will damage or dull them after practice.
• Do not use folding knives without a locking mechanism. Beginners should only practice with fixed-blade knives.
• A knife can bounce back if you miss the target, so always stand back and keep your eyes on the knife until it comes to a complete stop.
• Do not practice with excessively sharp knives. All you need is a knife with a sharp tip, the edge does not need to be sharp.
• When practicing throws, don’t grip the blade too tightly as it can cut your hand.
• Throwing knives, even dull ones, is extremely dangerous. Always be cautious: never aim at another person or practice throwing in a place where you could injure someone or damage property. If teaching children, ensure an adult supervises.
• Do not practice indoors. Even if you throw slowly or with light force, the knife can still pierce windows or other glass objects with deadly precision. To avoid damaging your home, practice outdoors and away from windows.

• Use knives with fixed blades, and avoid brands like Swiss Army or Leatherman.
• Wood blocks or other appropriate targets that are soft enough for the knife to embed in but sturdy enough to prevent it from passing through completely.
• A first aid kit; it's always a good idea to have one nearby whenever practicing with knives.