What is shuriken (photo)

Brief characteristics of ninja weapons

• considered the main weapon of ninjas in movies and games;
• served to disorient the enemy and strike unprotected parts of the body;
• was not banned in its homeland and was sometimes worn as a hairpin;
• at times used with poison applied to the blade;
• The original has almost never survived to this day due to poor quality raw materials.

How we imagine it - a ninja star in flight

History and myths about shurikens

Despite the fact that the Japanese are a neat people and they have many historical manuscripts, the birth of one of the most famous examples Japanese weapons shrouded in mystery.

No one can say for sure when the first “star” was invented.

However, it was not an asterisk; ninja weapons are throwing shurikens in the classical sense of the word. Initially they looked like a short arrow or a thick needle for working with leather. One can also recall the throwing knives and small swords that were common in Japan in the Middle Ages, but they were still far from the classic shuriken.

The first mention of stars - ninja weapons - was found only in the 17th century, in a treatise by the ganritsu-ryu school of martial arts. In the following centuries, it was used by everyone who needed to have additional weapons in stock. It was difficult to call shurikens deadly, but it was quite possible to distract the enemy or inflict a very unpleasant wound in the area of ​​the eyes or hands.

A new stage in the life of the “stars” began in the twentieth century. Globalization and the fascination with everything mysterious brought a surprise in the form of terrifying-looking weapons brought from the country of the legendary ninjas. This subsequently led to both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Naruto.

Types of shuriken

There are a huge number of types of throwing weapons known in Japan. Shurikens here are divided into two large varieties, Bo-shuriken and Shaken. The first category looks unusual for ninjas accustomed to the star shape. These types of shuriken are essentially small throwing spears or sharpened bars of iron of a certain shape.

What is the name of the big shuriken?

• kugi-gata, the prototype was a nail;
• ari-gata, originating from a needle;
• tango gata, in the form of a knife;
• oko-gata, resembling a spear;
• matsuba-gata, or pine needle, something like a huge splinter.

Shakens, or hira shurikens, are the main varieties. The following are the names of ninja stars:

• hishi-gan, made from small coins;

• coogie-nookie, the base part of a carpenter's tool;

Photo shuriken Kugi-nuki

• tetsumari-shuriken, a pair of metal rings shaped like a windmill;
• manji shuriken possessed poison on the blade to guarantee the defeat of the enemy;
• and what not...

What shurikens look like, photos of different shapes

Shurikens are also divided by shape, from a circle to multi-bladed stars of a curved shape. It is interesting that almost no ancient shurikens have survived to this day. The reason for making them from bad metal is that the weapons are sprockets, essentially disposable.

Use in combat

Since making shuriken did not require much labor or expense, it was actively used by all levels of Japanese society, from samurai to the notorious ninjas and ordinary robbers. It was necessary to be able to throw ninja stars from any position.

Different schools have combined methods of throwing into special list, which every real ninja should know.

Every real ninja should know this list.

How the ninja star was thrown, the names of the techniques are listed below:

• toji no kata, from top to bottom with the hand opposite the forward leg;
• hon-uchi, the same, but with limbs on one side;
• yoko-uchi horizontal throw from the shoulder;
• gyaku-uchi, hon-uchi but turning sideways towards the target;
• za-uchi vertical throw while sitting on your knees;
• hanza toji no kata, toji no kata no when sitting on your knee;
• Hanza hon-uchi, Hanza yoko-uchi, Hanza gyaku-uchi - the throws described above, while on one knee;
• ne-uchi, throw from a prone position;
• juji-uchi, throwing two weapons at the same time different sides;
• onken-uchi, a sudden throw of a hidden blade;
• intyu-uti, from a lying position in the dark;
• haya-uti, the right hand continuously throws blades fed by the left hand.

The methods of throwing a bo-shuriken were very different from throwing an asterisk. The rod was thrown either with or without a twist. In the first case, the shuriken had more force, speed and range of the throw, but could hit the target with its side or back. The second method was more accurate, but did not have the power of the first throw option. To stabilize the gun in flight, feathers or hair were attached to the back.

In Japan, carrying shurikens was not illegal, so almost anyone could carry this weapon, from one to several dozen copies. They were usually stored in stacks of ten pieces. Japanese stars (ninja weapons) wrapped in rags were hidden from prying eyes and did not cause damage to the owner’s hands.

They were put away either in the belt, or in pockets, or in some other way, away from prying eyes. Bo-shuriken could be used as hairpins, which did not conflict with traditional Japanese hairstyles. In this case, even women, for example, geishas, ​​could use weapons. In addition to throwing weapons, the weapon could also be used as a thrust weapon.

A ninja star held between his fingers in close combat could cause serious lacerations. It was also used as a kind of anti-personnel mine. One sharpened end of the weapon was stuck into the ground so that the rest would stick out from the ground. Since heavy shoes were rare, inattention led to very unpleasant and serious foot injuries.

Techniques for holding shuriken

Throwing stars - DIY shurikens

It is also important to remember what happens to yard ninjas who are overly self-confident in their abilities.

To do throwing stars, a small assortment of tools is required:

• center punch;
• drill with metal drills;
• grinder (or hacksaw for the toughest ninjas);
• grinding machine or wheel;
• a file or whetstone as an analogue of a grinding wheel.

Making ninja throwing stars requires several stages:

• first draw on paper what you want to get in the end;
• transfer a drawing from paper to a piece of metal;
• use a center punch to make precise marks for future drilling;
• use a grinder or hacksaw to remove all excess;
• Use a grinding wheel or file to remove any remaining metal and then sharpen the product.

The resulting star can be thrown.

It is important to remember safety, because such a product can penetrate a fairly thick wooden board.

When using a star, you need to remember safety.

In general, making real metal shuriken stars is quite a dangerous task, even at the preparation stage. Using them can lead to accidents for which the manufacturer will have to take responsibility. One of the episodes of the American animated series “South Park” can serve as a typical illustration.

But making this paper product will help improve hand motor skills and make your child (or yourself) happy with a wonderful skill. In order to make the simplest ninja throwing stars from paper, you need to do the following:

• a sheet of paper is cut into two equal parts;
• the resulting rectangles are bent to make narrower rectangles;
• the upper and lower corners are bent from different sides;
• they bend in the opposite direction;
• both parts are applied to each other, inserted and secured with sharp corners;
• With reverse side the same thing is done.

Shurikens, photo made from paper

The paper shuriken is ready. There are more difficult paths, more advanced battle stars that you can make yourself.

Shuriken (Japanese 手裏剣literal translation: blade hidden in the hand) is a Japanese concealed throwing weapon (although sometimes used for strikes). They are small blades made like everyday things: stars, needles, nails, knives, coins, and so on.

Appearance shuriken reflects the Japanese interest in mysticism. That various signs were also applied to the surface of the weapon itself, since both the craftsmen who made the weapon and those who used it believed that in this way they could attract powerful otherworldly forces to their side

Ninjas are famous masters of throwing shuriken, or “stars” as they are also called. Throwing them is much easier than knives, but without practicing correct technique and there’s no way around it. Many people made shurikens from metal plates or gramophone records as children, so they know how unpredictable the flight path of a flat throwing object can be.

Therefore, shurikens must be compact in size and heavy enough to fly straight and not deviate from their target. In Japan, there were a huge number of shuriken throwing techniques. Each martial arts school sacredly kept its secrets and shared them only for big money.

Moreover, the Japanese showed any techniques only once in medieval times. The master took the money, showed the technique and left satisfied. Whether you remember it or not is your personal problem. Only a powerful Japanese daimyo could afford to hire a permanent teacher. Now we will tell you the main points of throwing “stars” and “combat arrows”, shaken and bo-shuriken, if in a scientific way.

Features of shuriken throwing technique

All bo-shuriken are thrown using spinning or non-spinning techniques. Non-revolving was used at short distances up to 3-5 meters, reverse - up to 10 meters. At the same time, you need to be aware that the bo-shuriken is quite light, and its damaging abilities depend directly on the distance. Heavier models will fly further and vice versa.

The technique for throwing bo-shuriks looks like this:

• First, the weapon must be placed in the palm of your hand and held between the index finger and thumb. In this case, the blunt end should rest against the base of the palm;
• Then you need to carefully aim at the enemy;
• When throwing, your hand should stop just above the point at which you aimed, and you seem to follow the projectile forward as it leaves your palm.

For the reverse technique, the two ends of the bo-shuriken were often sharpened, but they were thrown in the same way as the one with one sharpened end. I don’t know how the ancient Japanese were, but in our yard they always threw pieces of sharpened reinforcement using their own method. To do this, the projectile was simply taken between the large and index finger, and was sent to the target with a powerful movement. It flew very well, and stuck into a tree even without being sharpened.

In order to increase the chances of the reinforcement hitting the target, I connected the two pieces crosswise, fastening them with wire. To prevent them from falling apart, I had to use a file to select the grooves in the middle. Then the sticking percentage increased to 95%! Shakens or “stars” were also thrown using different methods. On short distance they were thrown straight, with the blades pointed at the ground. Then the throw was fast and powerful. Only with accuracy on long distances in this case it was rather weak. Another way of throwing a shakken is when it is thrown flat. At the moment of throwing, the hand must spin the combat “star” so that the flight is more effective. In this case, the shuriken seems to rest its plane on the air and flies much further. True, the lethality of the weapon will be significantly less. But since the shurikens were sharpened very carefully and were most often thrown at the face, this was enough to force the enemy to abandon pursuit or attack.

In Japanese instructions on shuriken-jutsu you can find information that an experienced warrior should throw five throwing knives or stars during a standard inhalation/exhalation cycle. According to another ancient source, five knives had to be thrown in 10-15 seconds.

From my modest practice of practicing ninjutsu, I will notice that throwing shakens-stars is much easier and faster. Take a stack of “stars” and place them on left palm, and the right hand throws them. With proper skill, the “rate of fire” is quite impressive. The enemy who has received a series of stars will definitely no longer want to attack. By the way, in films you can often see how shakens are stuck directly into the enemy’s forehead. This has nothing to do with reality. Not every knife will pierce the frontal bone, and there is nothing to say about “stars”. But despite this, they were still often thrown at the forehead to inflict bleeding wounds. This can be explained very simply - blood will flood the eyes, blocking the enemy’s view. In general, when throwing shurikens at the face, they tried to hit the enemy in the eye.

Ninjas and battle stars

Shakens were auxiliary and distracting weapons of ninjas. The main weapon was, of course, the sword. But, sometimes, samurai used kusarikama, although the stars were really popular among medieval Japanese spies. But the ninjas didn’t try to use any weapons at all. Their main task was reconnaissance and espionage, often assassination a certain person. In any case, it was more profitable for the spy to poison the victim than to organize a bloody meat grinder, which would certainly attract the attention of the soldiers.

Modern schools ninjas say that a real shadow warrior must throw shakiens from any position, no matter whether he is standing or running over rough terrain. In addition to throwing, shurikens were used for close combat, as piercing and cutting devices, with their help they cut through walls in traditional Japanese houses, picked out nails or made holes for observation. Shurikens were often hidden in the folds of ninja clothing; the method of wearing them behind the cuffs of the sleeves was considered especially popular. Like any martial art, throwing shuriken requires concentration and patience.

In addition to the katana, throwing blades, which were “ business card"Ninja assassins and spies - shurikens.

Shuriken weapon

Shurikens are often called the ninja star, since they were used mainly by warriors of the night. They became widespread among Japanese assassins due to the fact that pointed plates, stars with sharp edges and thin blades can easily be hidden under clothing and suddenly, surreptitiously used against the enemy. Taking shurikens of the required shape in two hands, the ninja could not only throw them, but also cut and stab them in close combat. In addition, shurikens helped in climbing trees and were used as chairs when making a fire.

Types of shuriken

Shuriken are divided into many types, usually these ninja throwing weapons are classified into two types: bo-shuriken throwing arrows, and sharpened stars or shakien plates.

Bo shurikens, in turn, come in the form of a stick (hashijo), a sharp wedge (kusabigata), a spindle (bosuigata), needles (harigata), knives (tantogata), etc. There are about fifty types of bo.

Bo shuriken

Most often, ninjas used the well-known throwing “stars,” otherwise called shaken. The variety of shakens is very large (several dozen types): in the shape of a cross, multi-pointed stars or swastikas, in the shape of an iron ring (tekkan).

The most interesting among the shareken are tetsumari-shuriken and manji-shuriken. Tetsumari shuriken was made from two metal rings in the shape of a windmill wheel. Poison was applied to the pointed parts of the manji shuriken.

Shuriken throwing

The technique of throwing shurikens comes from the skill of throwing all kinds of knives - tanto, etc., and special arrows for throwing utine.

Shuriken throwing techniques

Bo-shuriken is thrown using a half-turn throw (hankaiten-daho) and a no-turn throw (choku-daho). When performing a throw, they try to completely eliminate rotation around the transverse axis. A properly balanced bojo shuriken moves almost straight.

Shakens were usually thrown in batches with high speed one by one. When throwing, a twist is required, which is done by gripping the shaken closer to the edges and moving the hand, which resembles a snap of the fingers. With this twist, the movement of the shaken is more accurate, and during a throw in the horizontal plane, a wing effect is created, which increases the flight distance.

The warrior of the night was obliged to be able to throw shurikens not only accurately, but also unexpectedly, from any position of the body.

Methods of throwing shuriken

• Toji no kata - a throw was made from top to bottom with the hand that was opposite to the leg extended forward.
• Hon-uchi - the same as Toji no kata, but the arm and leg were of the same name
• Yoko-uchi - throwing shuriken in a horizontal plane from the shoulder;
• Gyaku-uchi - hon-uchi with the body turned sideways;
• Dza-uti - throw in a vertical plane while sitting on your knees;
• Hanza toji no kata - toji no kata sitting on one knee;
• Hanza hon-uti - hon-uti sitting on one knee;
• Hanza yoko-uchi - yoko-uchi sitting on one knee;
• Hanza gyaku-uchi - gyaku-uchi sitting on one knee.
• Ne-uchi - throwing a shuriken while lying on the ground;
• Juji-uchi - throwing two shurikens in different directions at once;
• Onken-uchi (“hidden blade”) - an unexpected sharp throw of a shuriken from a hidden pocket;
• Inyu-uti - throwing while lying down in the dark;
• Haya-uti (“speed throwing”) - alternate throws with high speed right hand, left hand at the same time, he squeezes a pack of shuriken and with his thumb pushes them out to be handed to his right hand.

Shurikens were often thrown several at a time per throw, which made it possible to deprive an enemy of his sight or to plunge shurikens into both legs.

Shurikens were difficult to throw over long distances, so they were used mainly to delay pursuers or wound an opponent and then engage in hand-to-hand combat.

Basically, shurikens were thrown at the eyes, temples, neck, and areas of the arteries. Due to the fact that shurikens were often thrown at the head, throwing was practiced on a round twenty-centimeter target.

Shurikens also performed auxiliary functions - they were used as master keys, nail pullers, and they cut holes for surveillance.

Carrying shurikens

Assassins carried shurikens in a special pouch on their belts, as well as in numerous hidden compartments in their clothes or sword hilts. The ninja carried about twenty to thirty throwing blades with him.

Article genre - Ninja

In Japan, hand throwing weapons - spears, darts, hatchets, etc. — has not received much development. The only exception is, perhaps, the famous throwing blades, which are called in Japanese.

Shuriken throwing techniques

In the ryu that have survived to this day, the training program of which includes shuriken jutsu— Katori Shinto-ryu, Negishi-ryu, etc., a variety of different ones are used. Throws are performed from different positions, along different trajectories.

In throwing technique bojo-shuriken distinguish between a throw with a half-turn ( hankaiten-daho) and throw without turnover ( tTku-daho). When throwing, they try to minimize rotation around the transverse axis. A well-balanced bojo shuriken flies in an almost straight line. The easiest way is to stick it into the target, sharpened at both ends.

Shakens they threw, as a rule, in series, very quickly, one after another. They must be thrown “with a twist”, which is ensured by the displacement of the grip to the periphery of the projectile and the “clicking” movement of the hand. Thanks to rotation, the flight of the plate becomes more stable, and when thrown horizontally, the plane of the plate rests on the air (wing effect), which significantly increases the range and accuracy of the throw.

However Nawa Yumio notes that in ancient manuals we will not find anywhere descriptions of methods for throwing shurikens. This fact can probably be interpreted in two ways. On the one hand, they could be considered secret weapon, and in this case the student received instructions about their use only from the lips of his mentor. However, given the widespread use of shurikens among Japanese warriors, this seems unlikely. Rather, the methods of throwing a blade were simply not codified, and each fighter developed his own methods of throwing.

Ways to carry shurikens

Making shakens

Shaken stars made the most different sizes. The size depended on the owner's height, weight, physical strength, throwing distance, etc. Most often there are samples with a diameter from 115 mm to 175 mm. Accordingly, the weight of the sprocket varied in the range from 5 to 30 mme.

Nawa Yumio describes in detail process of making juji-shuriken(cross-shaped shuriken) weighing 20 momme. To do this, they took a steel blank weighing about 23 mme. It was heated intensely and flattened into a round cake. Then, trying not to thin the blank in the central part, gradually 4 antennae were made with hammer blows, giving the blank general shape juji-shuriken with a thick central part and gradually thinning towards the tips of the blade. Then the excess metal was removed from the workpiece with a file, bringing the weight of the sprocket to the required 20 mme, grinding the shape so that the “star” was free of irregularities and nicks, and sharpening the tips of the blades.

If it was made eight-beam shuriken, then they did it first cross-shaped shuriken, and then using a chisel they divided the blades of the well-heated blank in half and moved them slightly to the sides. The blades had to be sharpened evenly on both sides, otherwise the accuracy of the throws would be extremely low.

Particularly difficult in the manufacture of “stars” was the hardening of the blades. All “rays” had to be given the same degree of hardness, since otherwise they could break or bend, making it impossible to use the “asterisk”. Of course, in order to heat the workpiece and throw it into cold water or oil, great mind was not required, but with this technology the blades often broke, and all the work went down the drain. Therefore, it was necessary to find some more gentle method of hardening. In addition, it is necessary to harden only the very tips of the “rays” of the “star” so that it does not lose its strength and does not break into pieces when strong impact on a hard surface.

The option of alternately heating and hardening the beams was not suitable due to the small size of the product: try to harden one beam, and then heat the other so that the first one remains cold. Therefore, the ninja made a small round hole in the center of the “star”, into which a thin long steel rod was passed. By placing it in a horizontal position and quickly rotating a hot “star” on it, its rays were lowered into cold oil, thereby ensuring that only the necessary parts of the blade were hardened.

The hole in the center of the “star” was usually not sealed, since a cord can be passed through it to string several more shaken on it and make a bundle that is easy to carry. However, due to the fact that a shaken with a hole makes a slight whistle in flight, sometimes the hole was sealed with lead to completely mask the noise.

How to throw shuriken correctly

Traditional ninja weapons are throwing stars and shuriken arrows. The term "shuriken" is a general term for these two types of throwing weapons. Speaking specifically about throwing plate- an asterisk, then its more correct name is “shaken”, however, the strong influence of Western terminology has practically assigned the term “shuriken” to it, so we will use both of these terms as equivalent.

This weapon became firmly established in the ninja's arsenal, especially since it did not require stationary workshops and did not require spending a lot of time. At the same time, it was simple and cheap, easy to hide and could be used instantly. The diameter of the shaken is from 5 to 10 cm, the thickness is 3-5 mm, and the weight is up to 300 g. The method of throwing depends on the situation and the purpose for which the throwing is carried out, so it cannot be specific rules in working with shurikens.

However, general points exist and allow you to acquire basic star throwing skills. It should be noted that the classic, so to speak, throwing of shuriken is throwing in a kneeling position. In this case, the throw itself is carried out from the belt with a hand movement reminiscent of a distribution playing cards(This is why shurikens are sometimes called "death cards"). The similarity is all the more enhanced by the fact that such throwing is usually carried out in a series of several shuriken in a row.

To produce such throwing it is necessary to take shurikens with one hand, prepared for throwing, kneel down and with the other hand, one after the other, make a series of throws with the hand movement described above. Throws are performed while exhaling. Throwing can be done with a simultaneous turn of the torso towards the target (or without it - with a sharp movement of the hand). The movement of the torso is, as it were, interrupted at the moment the weapon leaves the fingers, in order to transfer to it the entire impulse of movement. At the end point of the trajectory described by the hand with the shuriken, the fingers should open with a movement resembling a click. The turn of the torso, the movement of the arms, the final movement of the hand - all this is done in a harmonious sequence and the undifferentiation of all elements of the throw.

In this case, an important role is played by the fingers of the hand holding shurikens prepared for throwing, - they carry out timely submission (extension) of the next shuriken from the palm to a position convenient for grasping the weapon with the fingers of the throwing hand. The most important thing in this throwing technique is not the force of the throw, but the coordination of movements, which allows you to cover a significant sector of destruction with a “burst” of shuriken.

There are other variations of throws from the knee: throw from the head, throw with emphasis on the hand, throw from behind the head. However, it is not always possible to throw from the knee, so ninjas, more often, during combat operations, throw from a standing position.

Let's look at the most common throws in ninjutsu from this position.

• Throw from behind. With this throw, the elbow is raised, the hand with the shuriken is pointing down, the arm is behind the body. The shuriken is thrown while turning the body with a sharp movement of the hand.
• Throwing from behind the head. The hand with the shuriken is raised above the head. By moving the hand from top to bottom and forward, a strong throw is made, which is quite accurate, because with such a throw, the shuriken is sent to the target in a straight line.
• Side throw. The hand with the shuriken is located on the opposite side of the body. Shuriken is thrown by throwing the arm forward while simultaneously shifting the body weight towards the target.
• Throw with a body turn.Taking several shuriken in one hand, make a 360 degree turn while simultaneously throwing the shuriken with the other hand. Repeat this throwing several times in a row.Such throwing with body rotation, even with an unsuccessful throw, has a strong impact on the opponent. psychological impact because of its surprise.
• Throw with a mirror grip. Shuriken is taken in the usual way. By turning the hand over, a mirror (reverse) grip is formed. With a sharp wave of the hand forward, the shuriken is thrown at the target.