The key to mastering throwing stars, as with any kind of ninja training is practice, and lots of it. The key to safe practice is having a well-constructed target with lots of space around it and no people or property that can be damaged anywhere within the range of the thrown star or a ricochet. I suggest using pine boards attached to a sheet of plywood. It's a good idea to have a total target size at least 4 feet square to minimize lost stars from wild throws. The bigger your target the better when your are a beginner. You can of course draw a smaller target or attach a smaller target on the large one when you are ready to work for more accuracy.



Most movies depict ninjas throwing stars side-arm like a pointy frisbee, with the star held parallel to the ground. While they can certainly be thrown this way, throwing a star side-arm with accuracy is extremely difficult. If you are intent upon learning to throw stars side-arm, make sure to allow lots and lots of room around your target, and be prepared to do a lot of searching for the stars that will likely be flying off in all directions.

Rather than the side-arm technique, I recommend that beginners first learn to throw stars overhand, similar to the way one would throw a knife. This will allow for efficient ninja training and faster development of throwing accuracy.

For those who opt to practice the overhand technique, It is recommended to set up the target with the grain of the pine boards running up and down rather than side to side, as this will allow the stars to stick in the wood better instead of bouncing off.

When starting to throw your stars, I suggest standing approximately twenty feet from the target. This will be relatively close to allow you to hit the target consistently and gain confidence, but it is still far enough away that ricochets are not likely to do any serious harm if you get hit. Eye protection is a good idea just in case.

The basic throwing technique that I have found to lend itself to developing accuracy fairly quickly begins with fixing the gaze of your eyes on the target. In particular, you want the eye on the side of your throwing arm to be looking straight ahead at the target and focus on it intently. You want to maintain your focus on the target at all times.

Holding the star (not too tightly!) between your thumb and index finger, you next raise your arm straight out in front of you to bring the star into your line of vision between your eye on your throwing arm side and the target. Bring your throwing hand above your head, keeping your upper arm still and just bending your elbow. Be sure to focus in again on the target and then quickly bring your hand forward and down and release the star at the instant it enters your line of vision between your eye and the target. Practice and repetition will now be the key to getting accuracy and skill, just as with any other aspect of ninja training.

As you get better with throwing stars, you can use smaller targets, or you can try throwing from a longer distance. If you choose to try longer distance throws, it is important to maintain good form and not force the throws to go further, as this will greatly decrease your ability to hit the target.

With repeated practice, you will improve considerably in your throwing star skills. I think you will find throwing stars to be one of the most fun parts of your ninja training.