KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

Learning to throw a shuriken (Japanese throwing star) just might lend a lesson or two to empty-hand (and foot) fighting. This report teaches you one aspect of sticking the star,so you can relate it to a more general application in the martial arts.

It all started...

One of the frustrated students saw a shuriken stuck in the wall of my garage. He started trying to stick it--with no luck. Others tried. They couldn't get the shuriken to stick either.

Then one student asked to try. He walked over to the cedar wall (now marred with shuriken holes). He examined the wall. He grabbed the star, walked back about fifteen feet, and proceeded to stick it on his first throw. Then he did it again. (Way to go Woody!)

Whenever the other students tried, they had no luck. They couldn't figure out what was different about his throws. He wasn't throwing the star with any more force than they were. In fact, his throw looked casual, almost a light toss.

Nope. The light toss didn't work for the other students. I saw the difference instantly. The others didn't.

He finally told them. The grain of the cedar wood flowed horizontally across the wall. The students were throwing the star vertically. Our master wasn't. He was tossing the star like a frisbee-- horizontally-- with the grain. The other students were going against the grain.

Now the Lesson:

A lot of techniques emphasize forcefully moving your opponent's weapon. I'm not saying that these techniques are bad; heck, I use a bunch of them all the time. But just think how much easier it might be to sometimes leave that heavy hand were it is. Instead, you look for an opening. You go with the grain.

Meeting techniques usually go against the grain. I'm talking about blocks, and anything that comes against the opponent's strike from the opposite direction.

Following techniques include passing the attack and pursuing your hit by continuing in the same direction as your opponent's movement. You come in on a new open line. Following is a harder concept to master. It requires more precision of timing.

Now, it's time to think about your own techniques. Which openings can you find, instead of going against the grain? Can you make your opponent falsely believe that he/she is about to hit force, only to meet no resistance, as you come in on a different line. The strategy of martial arts is fascinating, wouldn't you agree?

Good luck in your pursuit of a cleaner path.

      And Train Well!

               --Keith Pascal