Survival Skills: Learn to Throw a Knife

Often relegated to the balloon-popping world of a sideshow act or a pivotal scene in an action flick, knife throwing does have a legitimate place in your real world self-defense skills. And while you don't usually want to throw away your weapon, there are times when you might need to fight at a distance or skewer a small game animal, both of which can be accomplished with the art of knife throwing.

Underhanded or Overhanded?

Only experience will tell you whether you are naturally better at underhanded or overhanded knife throwing. Both can work, and both should be practiced, but it makes sense to know where your strengths lie. Select a well-balanced knife or, better yet, a set of throwing knives. Spend a few hours practicing to develop your aiming and throwing skills, and then keep it up until you become proficient. Every knife throws differently, and range has a great bearing on your throwing as well. A close range throw may only require a light flick of the knife, while a longer range one will be more like a baseball throw.

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Overhanded Technique

Grip a normal knife by the blade, with the knife's spine (the square edge) against your hand. Hold the knife up, with the knife handle up by your ear. Take aim at your target, and bring your arm down as if you were swinging a hammer to drive a nail. The timing of the knife release is critical, and after a few minutes, you'll start to get the hang of it. Pay close attention to the distance from your target, and get a feel for throwing at different distances. If you are using a throwing knife, you will want to learn to throw by both the handle and the blade.

Underhanded Technique

This can allow you to attempt something of a surprise attack, as the knife is often hard to spot when held in this low position. Grip the blade similarly to the overhanded technique, this time holding the knife down by your knee, with the handle pointed toward the ground. Move your arm quickly upward, and release just before your arm lines up with the target.