Guide to Ninja Stars
Ninjas have an incredible history - from the origins of their name to a leader who defeated an army of 100,000 with just 16 men. Discover how ninjas changed the course of history, and learn about their famous techniques.  The word "ninja" is an older word for the profession, meaning "those who act at night". 

It derives from a verb meaning “to act in stealth” or “to be absent or missing” according to some scholars. Others suggest that it comes from their ancient practice of “jutsus” or skills.
The most famous ninja was Hattori Hanzo (1542-1596 A.D.) who was hired by Tokugawa Ieyasu to oversee the construction of his new castle in Edo (present-day Tokyo). He also served as a military leader and fought in many battles.

Every good ninja needs a secret hideout. They used caves, tombs, and other natural settings for their bases referred to as “shinobi-ga-Hara” or ninja villages. Many ninjas would build lookout towers and complex traps to protect their base. The most important things are their weapons. These include ninja stars, ninja swords, and many more!

What are Ninja Throwing Stars?

Ninja stars, also known as shuriken, and sometimes referred to as throwing stars are small metallic weapons with a wide variety of uses. They can be thrown at an opponent in order to injure or kill them. These weapons are typically around 5 inches (12 cm) in diameter with three sharp points on the ends to allow for more significant damage if they hit the target. 

They vary greatly in length and thickness depending on their intended use. A throwing star is generally made from any type of metal but usually thin pieces of iron with two or four sides hammered into a symmetrical shape, giving it eight-sided symmetry similar to a dodecahedron (the twelve-sided polyhedron). 

The three sharp tips make them more dangerous when thrown by a ninja than a simple straightened piece of metal. They are often made of iron, though steel is also used. An average star's average weight is about 2–3 ounces (56–87 g) although weights up to 20 ounces (591 g) have been recorded for large kama and shuriken. 

In Japan, the word "shuriken" might be associated with throwing stars — albeit these are not ninja stars — but the term "ninja or throwing star" usually refers to the original plate-shaped Japanese article from at least 200 AD to the 19th century.

Ninja Throwing Stars

Design and Construction of Shuriken

Ninja stars are colorful, sharp-tipped weapons used in martial arts. They are also sometimes called shuriken or throwing stars. They have a long history and many artists have depicted them being used in historical fighting arts, including Hattori Hanzo, the fictional ninja character appearing in the manga "Naruto", and those seen in various films based on manga.

The Science of Throwing Stars is traditionally made with three layers of metal attached to a 4-6" (10-15 cm) long stick: two thin iron plates covering a hard core of soft steel. The metal layers are welded or riveted together. The core is sometimes filled with air or a small amount of lead for weight.

They are used in martial arts and the movies "The Last Starfighter" (1984), "Highlander" (1986), the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" films, and the video game "Ninja Gaiden". They are also used as minor weapons by various characters in the American comic book superhero team The Inhumans.

In a typical training scenario, a martial artist will throw several throwing stars in rapid succession to simulate combat situations, most notably training for throwing needles with a dart board.

The Purpose and Uses of Ninja Stars

Ninja stars are not only good for these purposes, but they’re also very convenient for covert activities. You can hide them easily and pull one out quickly with your finger. They can also be used to blind opponents as well as trip them up during an ambush upon a group of enemies during combat. 

There are many different types of throwing stars including certain types that will break glass and cut open metal panels with ease, whereas others are designed exclusively as self defense weapons rather than for attack purposes. The type of throwing star you’ll need for your purpose depends entirely upon your needs.

These types are depending on the types of metal used in their manufacture. The most common kind uses tine metal as a handle and a core made from iron. This type is known as the chokuto or kunai and is popular for training purposes only because it doesn’t properly split wood or draw blood when used for combat purposes

This is made in a cone shape and is sharpened on either side. This type is ideal for cutting through small objects such as rope and clothing which are used to restrain or tie up your foe. This will cut through most materials just like an ordinary pocket knife, but you should be careful not to accidentally slice another person’s face or hand by slicing off part of their fingers or nails in the process.

Dangers of Ninja Stars

Many people see throwing stars as cool toys. In reality, they are much more dangerous than they seem. These tools have been banned in some countries because of the risk that they pose to life and limb. They are even a challenge for those who use them for sports, with the difficulty increasing with the size and weight of these potentially deadly weapons. 

Just how lethal can these seemingly harmless toys become? Consider this: when used correctly, a throwing star can be thrown fast enough to rotate 50 times per second and hit its target within under seven seconds. The smaller weapons can be thrown with more velocity but can be slowed down more easily by the target. When used correctly, a shuriken causes some serious damage.

The impact of the throwing star can range from a bruise to skull fractures and even paralysis in rare cases. It is not uncommon for persons to sustain broken bones or need surgeries after being struck by one of these lethal implements, which are particularly dangerous if you are clumsy and dull-witted as well. 

How to Safely Throw Ninja Stars?

Ninja stars have been a common tool in the military and novices for years now. However, their popularity has skyrocketed recently due to their black market potential. The use of throwing stars as weapons have seen an increase in recent years and this article will recount some of the safety tips that can be used when throwing these dangerous objects around. 

  • Move slowly when using throwing stars.
  • Keep a safe distance from the target. Ninjas are not exactly known for their accuracy and you will be doing more damage if you skittle someone in the foot than you will, say, aiming at their lungs and cutting them to pieces. Try to keep a gap of at least six feet between yourself and your potential attacker.
  • Be aware of where you are throwing ninja stars; the most common mistake is to throw them into buildings, trees, or other objects that pose a risk of resulting in collateral accidents (think: broken neck). 
  • If you wish to hurl throwing stars into trees, try standing on the ground and throwing them upwards. For buildings, be sure to keep a close eye on the weather conditions: nothing is more likely to ruin a ninja star wedding than a sturdy throwing star flying at your head and landing in a window pane.
  • Remember that your aim will not be as good as a trained professional – if you have time to aim, then you are taking too long escaping from the situation and need to rethink your strategy. One way around this is to throw several throwing stars in quick succession: even if you miss with one or two, there is a good chance that one of them will hit at least something painful!
  • Report the use of these weapons to the police immediately. They cannot be used for anything other than killing: so if you are about to make an arrest, or are in a hurry, leave your ninja stars at home as they will just slow you down.
  • If you see someone else with ninja stars, be careful – they may not be as aware of safety tips as you are! Be sure to notify them of this article and advise them to read it too.