Asterisks have a ninja name. Shurikens: characteristics, history and myths. The Philosophy of Making Your Own Shuriken

In recording Hiyori no Ki annals Gosannen no eki("Second Three Years' War", dating from 1083-87) mentions an aimed throw of a blade hidden in the hand, " shuriken ni utsu". Perhaps this is where the term itself originates" shuriken". Throwing objects has no doubt been a common practice for people for thousands of years, and ever since ancient man learned that he could protect himself and get food by throwing stones at living creatures, developed ideas about the throwing technique.

Especially "creatively" if I may say so, this was treated in mysterious Japan, where the technique of using small throwing plates as weapons was most developed. And the most famous among them are, of course, throwing blades, which in Japanese are called "shuriken" .

Technically, the art of throwing shurikens goes back to the technique of throwing various knives - from tanto to the wakizashi short sword, as well as special uchine throwing arrows. It is believed that the predecessors of shurikens were various items of equipment and weapons, which, subject to some skill, could be used for throwing, such as a short dart (ko-yari, te-yari), a pointed file (yajiri), a hand-held point for spurring a horse (uma- bari), etc.

In the public mind, shurikens are inextricably linked with the image of the "shadow man". Therefore, they are often called "ninja stars". However, in reality, all Japanese warriors widely used throwing weapons of this kind, but it was for the ninja that it became, as it were, a "calling card".

The reasons for this, as usual, are extremely simple: stars and arrows can be easily hidden in clothes and used for secret murder on the sly, which predetermined their popularity among the "invisible". Holding shurikens of a suitable shape in both hands, they can prick, tear, rip open like brass knuckles in hand-to-hand combat. In addition, shurikens were used as fire-striking chairs, as aids in climbing trees, etc.

Unlike the movie, in practice, the distance of effective defeat by shuriken was not so great. Basically, it depended on the physical condition and skill of the warrior, and only partly on the design and weight of the weapon itself. In any case, it was no more than twenty meters. And at such a distance, he was effective only if the enemy was without armor and did not see the throw.

Shuriken device

Shurikens consist of bases with or without a hole, teeth with a point, as a rule, with one-sided sharpening.
A feature of the shuriken device is their flat surface, which provides the effect of a "wing" in flight when thrown with a twist, which makes it possible to throw it over a long distance. The presence of numerous teeth, providing almost 100% defeat, unlike single-bladed throwing melee weapons. The relative roundness in general and the symmetry of the elements ensures the stability of the flight, guaranteeing, if you have skills in throwing technique, a good aiming of the throw.

Like most other types of throwing weapons, shurikens were worn in several pieces at once. Most often there were nine, as this number was considered sacred and bringing good luck.
The appearance of the shuriken also showed the Japanese craving for esotericism and mystical symbolism. In order to be convinced of this, it is enough to compare their form with any of the numerous publications devoted to the occult sciences, in which the corresponding symbols are shown. In addition to the information contained in the form itself, mystical signs were sometimes applied to the surface of the weapon. There is no bravado in this, and this was not done for beauty, for the people who made weapons and used them firmly believed that with their help powerful otherworldly forces could be attracted to their side.

In terms of the number of various forms, shurikens are perhaps second only to arrows, however, even among this type of weapon, several general groups of signs can be distinguished, according to which it is customary to classify them:

• a) for the device as a whole: one-piece (solid) and folding, consisting of several prefabricated elements, brought into combat position using a push-button spring mechanism; with a hole in the base and without them;
• b) by design: with a classically expressed base and teeth and with an unexpressed base and teeth, where the base is a direct continuation of the teeth and vice versa without a boundary expressed between them;
• c) by size: small - up to 6 cm in diameter, medium - over 6 cm to 8 cm, large - over 8 cm in diameter up to 12 cm or more;
• d) by the number of teeth: three-toothed, five-toothed, four-toothed, six-toothed, eight-toothed;
• e) according to the shape of the teeth: triangular, polygonal, figured, sickle-shaped;
• f) by the type of teeth: needle-shaped, wedge-shaped, rhomboid, swept;
• g) according to the shape of the bases of the teeth: straight, curved to the left (to the right);
• h) by the presence of sharpening: one-sided and two-sided;
• i) by the presence of blades: single-bladed teeth and double-bladed teeth.

For all of the above types, there are a number of general requirements for them: To effectively hit the target, the weight of small shurikens must be at least 60 g. With an increase in the diameter of the shuriken by 1 cm, the weight must increase by 10 g in direct proportion.

Some, unlike the Japanese (they were originally made from improvised means), believe that the material of manufacture is also of great importance. An indispensable requirement is that it must be rigid and hard enough so as not to deform or collapse when it meets a relatively rigid obstacle when it is thrown with the maximum effort of an adult male from a distance of 3-4 meters. -4 meters to the training target, in the form of wooden board, must enter the barrier to a depth of at least 5mm

The philosophy of making your own shuriken.

There are many commercial sites on the Internet offering beautifully made, expensive blades. By various indications, I feel that they lack the true spirit of the shuriken. Looking at how blades have been made historically, there are a lot of innovations that I think are often overlooked by most people who visit these sites. In fact, shuriken are nothing more than metal objects adapted to become throwing weapons, and they were made from scrap materials that were most available and cheap at the time in Japan. For example, senban shuriken, which are square shape blades, were made from a simple metal plate placed under a nail head during the construction of buildings. Since they had a shape that was already close and comfortable to throw, its edges were simply sharpened and it was ready to use. In the same way, square and triangular in cross section, bo shuriken had such a shape because they were made from nails and other improvised materials. It was an expression of the search for what was functionally available to accomplish the task at hand with a minimum of rework, and it was an expression of morale more than the expensive and aesthetic waste of perfectly made and beautiful looking blades. This mercantilism does not correspond to the Japanese idea of ​​simplicity, naturalness and practicality, the desire to do only what is necessary and without excess to achieve best results. Secondly, I think you can get a lot more satisfaction by making shurikens yourself. I am sure that the ancient ninja, ronin and bushi made such weapons with their own hands rather than bought them in forges or anywhere else. Part of developing this technical skill is to explore the properties of different materials and different shapes to find out which ones are better and make adjustments to your own products accordingly. Making blades yourself also allows you to develop a deeper understanding of weapons and art. Looking at the incredible variety of blades that have been used in shuriken jutsu, we can see that there really is no "ideal shape", rather what was readily available and could be sharpened into a sharp, practical and effective weapon was used. , which was easy to learn to throw with proper training.

THROWING TECHNIQUE

Unlike the western arrow (dart), the center of gravity of which was located closer to the pointed end, and the flight of which was really a flight, the weight of the shuriken was evenly distributed over its entire area. Therefore, a special gripping method was required to ensure that the first throw was hit and not to hit the target at an obtuse angle, which would significantly reduce the strength and effectiveness of the strike.
The shuriken was held (shuriken mochikata) in the palm of the hand, pressed tightly with the thumb. It lay between outstretched index and middle fingers. The greater the distance to the target, the deeper the shuriken fit into the palm before throwing.

The shuriken is thrown (shuriken nagekata) with a slashing motion that starts from the shoulder and, passing through the forearm, ends at the fingertips. There are two main types of grip. With a direct (masugu) grip, the tip of the shuriken lying in the hand is turned outward. In the reverse grip version (kaiten), the point is turned away from the opponent and rests under the thumb.
Shuriken can be thrown by throws: top (omote), side (wako) and bottom (gyaku). The top one is the simplest and most powerful. Side and bottom throws are not as powerful, but since they are more difficult to notice and predict, they are quite unexpected for the enemy. With any method, the shuriken can be thrown straight or with a half turn.
Shurikens are thrown from various positions (ichi). Ninja practice throwing while standing, running, kneeling, sitting, lying on their stomach or back, as well as throwing two shurikens simultaneously in two different directions.

Epilogue

The shuriken is just perfect for throwing, so it's not as difficult to do it as, for example, when throwing a knife. Its design is such that it easily sticks itself, and its owner only has to learn how to just get where it is needed :).

When writing the article, materials were used (C) (C) and also excerpts from the book "Armament of the Samurai" by K.S. Nosova

Surprisingly, among the huge variety of Japanese edged weapons, two of its types have received the greatest (one might say, world-wide) fame: the traditional katana sword and shuriken throwing stars. And if the popularity of the katana does not raise any special questions, then the loud glory of the "flying stars" seems a little inadequate. Shuriken gained their fame thanks to a huge number of Hollywood films that tell the Western layman about the invincible Japanese ninja spy warriors, throwing "stars" at their opponents without a miss.

In fact, everything is not so simple: the shuriken has never been exclusively a ninja weapon. In addition, in medieval Japan there were a huge number of various kinds of these weapons, sometimes very different from those that were replicated by the cinema.

Shuriken is a fairly large group (dozens of varieties are known) of cold throwing weapons, which is intended primarily for concealed carry. Moreover, it can not only be thrown at the enemy, but also used with great success in close combat, inflicting stabbing or cutting blows on the enemy. It is not for nothing that the name "shuriken" itself is translated from Japanese as "a blade hidden in the hand." In Japan, the possession of shurikens developed into a separate martial art - shuriken-jutsu, it was studied (and is being studied) in the largest martial arts schools. Although, it should be noted that in the arsenal of a Japanese warrior this throwing weapon has always been a secondary, a kind of addition to a sword or spear.

Ninjas really often used shurikens, but these weapons were no less popular among samurai.

Shuriken can be divided into two types:

• shakens;
• bo-shurikens.

The well-known "stars" belong to the syakens - to an extensive group of throwing weapons, which includes flat metal discs of various shapes with a sharp cutting edge.

In Europe, there were practically no analogues to the Japanese shuriken. An exception may be perhaps the so-called German throwing cross, which was also called a throwing ax. He was in use very long time, from the XII-XVII century. Despite this, this weapon is practically unknown to the general public, moreover, it is not mentioned in any work of art. It is believed that this weapon was "ignoble", that is, it was not used by knights, so after the end of the Middle Ages it was thoroughly forgotten.

Shurikens have now become a fashionable toy in the US and Europe, and can be easily purchased at any gun shop. It is not difficult to make this weapon yourself, there are enough materials on the Internet on this topic. However, one should not forget that shuriken is quite dangerous weapon and should be treated accordingly. According to Russian law, if the beam length of the “ninja star” exceeds 8 mm, then the shuriken is already considered a melee weapon and its owner may have serious problems. In some countries, the sale of shurikens is generally prohibited by law.

Story

In Japan, unlike, for example, medieval Europe or ancient world, throwing weapons were not very common. Medieval tracts describe how warriors hit opponents by throwing a wide variety of objects at them: arrows for a bow or wakidazashi short swords.

The most ancient Japanese written treatise "Kojiki" describes how to properly throw stones at the enemy, in other ancient sources you can find instructions on throwing arrows. The first mention of shuriken is found in the War Tale of Osaka Castle. One of the heroes of this work, the warrior Tadamasa, later became the founder of the art of throwing shurikens - shuriken-jutsu.

In the early periods Japanese history the most popular projectiles were ordinary stones. They were thrown at the enemy simply with their hands or using the traditional Japanese heshihajiki sling. And we are talking not only about individual fights. In ancient chronicles, one can often find descriptions of the use of stones in fairly significant battles. In the Japanese armies, there were special detachments of stone-throwers, and the use of this simplest projectile was called "inji-uchi", which means "stone-throwing battle". Warriors who used stones to defeat the enemy were called "advanced stone throwers" (mukai tsubute no mono). Apparently, they walked ahead of the troops and fired at the enemy infantry (like the slingers of the Romans).

Later, from about the 13th century, simple stones began to be supplemented with special metal projectiles, which were called inji-yari, and in their shape resembled a spearhead. It is likely that the ballistic and penetrating characteristics of the new weapons were significantly higher than those of conventional cobblestones. Around the 16th century, another type of Japanese throwing weapon appeared - tsubute, which was a sharpened metal plate of a square or polygonal shape.

Tsubute was a very popular weapon, it is also mentioned in the so-called ninja treatises. It was hard to kill with it, especially an armored enemy, but inflicting a wound on an unprotected part of the body or simply distracting the enemy was easy.

There is an assumption that it was the inji-yari that became the predecessors of the bo-shurikens, and the stars-shakens “came” from the tsubute plates. This assumption is confirmed even by the translation of the word "shuriken" - "a blade hidden in the hand." It is likely that the first shurikens were more like an elongated blade than a sharpened polygonal star.

There is another version of the origin of shurikens. According to her, these weapons came from ordinary household items that they thought of using for defense or attack. In support of this hypothesis, one can cite the fact that many types of shuriken retained the names of their "ancestors" in their names: kugi-gata (in the form of a nail), ari-gata (in the form of a needle), tango-gata (in the form of a knife).

One way or another, but by the middle of the Edo era, shuriken-jutsu - or throwing shurikens - had become quite a popular and developed martial art. Where and how it originated is still a mystery to historians.

The popularity of shurikens in medieval Japan is easy to explain, because these weapons were relatively simple, very cheap and at the same time quite effective. In addition, shurikens were perfect for covert wearing (no wonder ninja shinobi loved them so much), so with the help of shuriken it was always possible to unpleasantly “surprise” the enemy. For the manufacture of this weapon, medium-quality steel was suitable, and the blacksmith's qualifications might not be the highest. In addition, shurikens can also be used in close combat, when there were no other options left.

Sometimes on the surface of shurikens were applied various signs, usually they were mystical in nature and were intended to more effectively use these weapons.

Description of weapons, their classification and application features

It is quite difficult to give a description of any "average" shuriken, because this weapon is very many-sided. In addition to the well-known "stars", there were other forms of shurikens, resembling blades, rods, needles, etc. As mentioned above, shurikens can be divided into two large groups: bo-shurikens and shakens.

Bo-shuriken is a throwing weapon, shaped like a rod, which could have a round, tetrahedral or polyhedral section. They were made of steel and could be sharpened on one or both sides. There were also bo-shurikens, the shape of which resembled the tip of a spear or a small knife. The length of the bo-shuriken varied from 10 to 25 cm, and the weight - from 25 to 150 grams. Currently, more than 50 varieties of this weapon are known.

Bo-shurikens were thrown in different ways. This art was studied in many samurai schools, each of which had its own peculiarities in the use of this weapon. However, the general technique was similar. The pointed rod of the bo-shuriken was clamped between the thumb and forefinger so that its blunt end rested against the palm, and the hand was sharply thrown out in the direction of the opponent. The ideal trajectory for such a throw is a straight line. Sometimes the weapons were twisted. Rods pointed at both ends were easier to throw. It was possible to throw weapons from behind the head, from the chest, from the side or from below. It is believed that such a combat rod could be thrown seven to eight meters.

It should be noted that the bo-shurikens were more popular with the samurai, and the ninjas really used the shaken stars more.

Shakens are flat discs with a pointed edge, which could also have the most different shape and sizes. The second Japanese name for this throwing weapon is kuruma-ken, which can be translated as "sword-wheel". The thickness of the shakens could be different: from insignificant (about 1 mm) to very decent (up to 3 mm). Plates of smaller thickness and diameter were easier to throw, respectively, their “rate of fire” was higher. However, compared to the heavier shakens, they had a shorter flight range and penetrating power. The best shakens had different thickness, it decreased from the center to the edges. Such a "star" had the best ballistics, but it was more difficult to make it. Very often, a hole was made in the center of the shakens, which improved the ballistic properties of these weapons, and also made it possible to carry them on a rope and make it easier to pull them out of any objects (for example, from a tree or an enemy’s head).

In flight, the shaken was given a rotational movement, which improved the accuracy and range of the throw. By the way, in terms of their combat characteristics, the shakens were superior to the bo-shurikens, the flight range of the stars reached fifteen meters.

Today, more than fifty types of syakens are known. The shape of this weapon could be very different, ranging from sharpened metal squares to complex multi-beam stars. Syakeny usually threw in series, trying to inflict several wounds on the enemy at once. According to ancient sources, the master could throw up to five "stars" at the enemy in 10-15 seconds. Considering maximum range the flight of this weapon, then the warrior usually had only a few seconds before the moment when the enemy approached the distance of a blow with a bladed weapon. Often, the cutting edge of the syakens was coated with poison; ninjas especially liked to use this technique.

By the way, in treatises on ninjutsu, there are practically no descriptions of shuriken possession techniques. Researchers cannot explain this fact. Either this weapon was so secret that they were afraid to entrust information about it to paper, or each master had his own unique technique for throwing "stars" and personally passed it on to his students. Well, the fact that the ninja masterfully owned shurikens is beyond doubt. Shadow warriors could throw them from any position: standing, prone, kneeling, along any trajectory.

Shuriken is an extensive and very numerous group of Japanese throwing weapons designed for concealed carry. Sometimes it was also used for striking in close combat, as a stabbing or cutting weapon. The name "shuriken" is translated as "blade hidden in the hand."

It is curious that of all the variety of Japanese edged weapons, it was the shuriken and the traditional katana sword that gained the greatest fame and popularity. And if in relation to the katana this looks absolutely fair and justified, then the loud world fame of the shuriken causes some bewilderment. The reason for this fame of this throwing weapon is very simple: thanks to modern cinema and anime, shuriken has become a real "calling card" of the mysterious medieval Japanese assassins and spies - ninja. However, this view is not entirely true.

There are a huge number of varieties of shuriken, they differ in their shape, size, weight and method of manufacture. There are some peculiarities when using different types this weapon. All shurikens can be divided into two large groups:

• bo shurikens;
• shakens.

It is to the latter group that the “ninja stars” well known to all of us from the movies belong.

Masters often applied various mystical signs to shurikens in order to attract powerful otherworldly forces to their side in the upcoming battle. In general, it can be said that shuriken was a very common type of throwing weapon in medieval Japan and was used not only by ninja, but also by samurai. Therefore, the technique of its use was taught in almost all famous Japanese martial arts schools.

Today, shurikens can be bought at regular gun shops in Europe and the United States. Although, in some countries the sale of this edged weapon is prohibited. According to Russian legislation (according to GOST), the length of the rays of a shuriken should not exceed 8 mm, otherwise it will be considered a melee weapon.

However, before proceeding to the description of this weapon and its classification, a few words should be said about the history of its occurrence.

History of weapons

It should be noted right away that in Japan, throwing weapons (spears, darts, axes) are not as widespread as, for example, in Europe. In the early periods, the most common throwing projectile was stones, which were thrown with the help of heshihajiki - a Japanese sling. In historical treatises there is a description of how warriors in battle threw arrows or wakizashi short swords at the enemy.

The first descriptions of throwing techniques are found in the Kojiki, a treatise that was written back in the seventh century AD. This document deals with how to properly throw stones at the enemy. In another ancient Japanese source, Manueshi, arrow-throwing techniques are depicted. Shuriken is first mentioned in the Osaka Castle Military Tale, in the same work it is told how the warrior Tadamasa threw a wakizashi short sword at his opponent. Later, it was this man who became the founder of the shuriken-jutsu style.

In the chronicles of the XII century, there is often a description of the use of stones in battles. There were even special detachments of warriors whose main task was to throw stones at the enemy. This was called "inji-uchi" or "stone-throwing fight". Similar tactics were often used later, during the internecine wars of the 14th and 15th centuries. The warriors who participated in such battles were called "mukai tsubute-no mono", which means "advanced stone throwers".

Already at the end of the 13th - the second half of the 14th century, stones began to be replaced with special metal projectiles - inji-yari ("spear stones"), which in their shape resembled a spearhead. Around the 16th-18th centuries, tsubute appeared - metal plates of a round or octagonal shape with a sharpened edge. It is likely that the inji-yari became the forerunner of the bo-shuriken, and the tsubute became the shaken in the future.

Most likely, the bo-shuriken appeared earlier than the well-known "shaken stars". Even the very meaning of the word shuriken - a blade hidden in the hand - suggests that the first samples of this weapon looked more like a blade than a polygonal star.

Although, it is possible that bo-shuriken originated from ordinary everyday items that could be adapted for throwing in a duel. Some of them retained the names of their "ancestors" in their names: ari-gata (needle shape), kugi-gata (nail shape), tango-gata (knife shape).

Tsubute were a very common weapon; references to it are also found in the so-called ninja treatises. Naturally, they were not the main weapon of a warrior; tsubute were thrown into parts of the enemy’s body that were not protected by armor, trying to injure him or at least distract him.

By the middle of the Edo era in Japan, such a type of martial art as throwing shurikens - shurikenjutsu had already appeared. It is likely that it was formed from the more ancient art of javelin throwing - bujutsu. Although, it should be noted that the origin of shuriken is still a mystery. This is primarily due to the fact that the art of shurikenjutsu was secret.

Shurikens had a number of significant advantages, which led to their wide distribution. Firstly, this weapon had a small weight and size, which made it possible to carry it secretly and use it unexpectedly for the enemy. Secondly, shurikens were cheap, their manufacture did not take much time and did not require high qualifications from the blacksmith. For shuriken, it was possible to take steel not High Quality. At the same time, a well-trained fighter could hit the enemy with a shuriken at a fairly decent distance. In addition, these weapons could also be used in close combat (especially bo-shurikens) as a knife, stiletto or brass knuckles.

Classification

It is problematic to give a general description of the shuriken, because this weapon has a large number of varieties that are very different in appearance and characteristics. As mentioned above, shuriken throwing weapons are divided into two large groups: bo-shurikens and shakens.

Bo-shuriken or bojo-shuriken. This is a type of cold throwing weapon, which has the form of a rod, round, octagonal or tetrahedral section. As a rule, bo-shurikens were sharpened from one end, but there are also specimens with double-sided sharpening. These deadly sticks could have a length of 12 to 25 cm and a weight of 30 to 150 grams. The shape of the bo-shuriken could be very different: rod-shaped, wedge-shaped, spindle-shaped, reminiscent of a needle, knife or nail. Currently, more than 50 forms of this weapon are known.

The technique of using bo-shuriken was studied in many Japanese martial arts schools. So not only ninja spies, but also samurai very diligently studied the secrets of using shurikens in battle.

Shakeny (or kuruma-ken, which translates as "sword-wheel"). This type of throwing weapon, made in the form of a thin metal plate of a star-shaped or round shape with a sharp edge. The diameter of such a plate could be from 100 to 180 mm. This weapon had a different thickness: from very small (less than 1 mm) to quite significant (about 3 mm). Thin and light shakens are easier to throw, but their range and accuracy are lower. In addition, such weapons are difficult to cause serious damage to the enemy. Heavy "stars" had better ballistics and penetrating properties, but they were harder to throw. Therefore, the rate of fire was reduced. Sometimes the thickness of the syaken decreased from the center to its edges. This design improved the ballistic characteristics of the weapon, but complicated its manufacture.

During manufacture, a flat metal plate was uniformly hardened, after which rays were formed (unless, of course, a “star” was made). And then sharpened them sharply.

A hole was usually made in the center of such a plate, which improved the aerodynamic properties of this weapon, and also made it possible to carry shurikens on a rope, like a bunch of keys. In addition, the hole made it easier to remove this weapon if it got stuck in something (in a tree or a samurai's head). By the way, thanks to a more perfect aerodynamic shape, the syakens had a greater range of destruction than the bo-shurikens. At the "stars" it was about 12-15 meters, and a sharpened rod could be thrown only 7-8 meters.

By the way, "asterisks" were indeed more popular with ninjas, samurai preferred to use straight bo-shurikens. There are a huge number of varieties of shakens (at least fifty). First of all, they differ in their shape: round, six-pointed, quadrangular, three-beam and others. Their names - like those of the bo-shuriken - are associated with one or another school of martial arts that used them most often.

The variety of sizes and shapes of both bo-shurikens and shakens is largely due to the different techniques of their use, which, by the way, continues today in oriental martial arts schools. It should also be understood that there was no common standard for products at that time, so each blacksmith made unique products, with their own sizes and shapes. In addition, in the manufacture of shuriken, of course, the individual characteristics of the fighter, as well as his preferences, were taken into account.

How shuriken were used

In written sources that have survived to this day, various ways of using shuriken are described. Throws are made from different positions using different trajectories. Naturally, the technique of throwing shurikens of various types also has its own differences. In addition, each school of martial arts had its own methods of using these weapons.

If we talk about the technique of working with bo-shurikens, then there were two main techniques: a throw without a turn and a throw with a turn.

Usually, the bo shuriken was clamped between the thumb and forefinger, so that its blunt end lay at their base. Then the weapon was thrown with force towards the enemy. A well-thrown shuriken should fly in a trajectory as close as possible to a straight line. They tried to minimize the rotation during the throw. It was much easier to throw a bo-shuriken sharpened on both sides.

Shakens were usually thrown in series, while the projectile was twisted with a brush. Among the masters of shuriken possession, such a saying was popular: "One breath-exhalation - five knives." According to other sources, a well-trained warrior could throw five "stars" in 10-15 seconds. Thus, they tried to compensate for the small depth of the damage caused by their quantity. Given the maximum range of the throw, the defender had about 3-4 seconds before the enemy approached the distance of a sword or spear strike. Sometimes the cutting edge of shurikens was smeared with poison, a technique especially loved by ninjas.

The rotational movement allowed this weapon to remain stable, fly farther and more accurately hit the target.

The main target for the shuriken was the face, eyes, throat, limbs and other parts of the body that were not protected by armor.

The ninja really loved the shakekens, although of course they were never the main weapon in the arsenal of these elusive warriors. It should be noted that in the instructions on ninjutsu, which the researchers managed to find, there is practically no description of the methods of throwing shurikens. This fact can be interpreted in two ways: either this skill was so secret (you can recall shurikenjutsu) that its secrets could not even be trusted to paper, or each master had his own technique. Given the widespread use of these weapons among the Japanese military elite, the second explanation looks more preferable.

It is believed that a ninja warrior should have been able to throw "stars" from absolutely any position: standing, sitting, lying down, on the run. They were trained to equally skillfully use both hands, throw weapons under different trajectories, snatch shurikens from any storage places with lightning speed (because of the belt, armlets, lapels of clothes). Today we know about seven basic ways of throwing this weapon, nine secret ways and eight of medium difficulty, which were used by the ninja.

These medieval Japanese scouts-saboteurs used shurikens not only as a throwing weapon, it was convenient to cut holes in walls and screens, pry nails, make holes for covert surveillance with a sharpened “asterisk”.

Shuriken were usually worn in a stack, 8-10 pieces each, wrapped in cloth. Sometimes hidden in pockets, sleeves and even hair.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

Today we will learn how to make iron shuriken at home with our own hands.

Making shuriken at home

To make a metal Japanese throwing star, we need the following tools and materials:

• An iron square sheet a few millimeters thick.
• Mark.
• Drill or screwdriver.
• Hacksaw for metal (or grinder).
• File (or grinding wheel).

First, let's decide on the size. We take a notebook sheet in a cage and mark a square of 28 by 28 cells (or 14 by 14 centimeters). We find the middle of the square and count from it diagonally 3 cells from four sides. We connect our marks into a star pattern.

Cut it out and transfer the pattern to a sheet of metal. We take the core and make marks for the drill on the inner corners of the star and in the center. We drill through holes in these places with a thin drill. We drill these holes with a thick drill.

We cut out our drawing with a hacksaw for metal or a grinder. Using a file or a grinding wheel, we sharpen the edges.

So we made our own weapons of the ancient Japanese ninjas - an iron throwing star shuriken. When thrown, such a product easily breaks through a thick wooden board.

Photo scheme of how to make a shuriken.

How to make shuriken video

The video shows detailed step-by-step instruction for the manufacture of metal throwing stars.

Warning: Remember that the shuriken we made is very dangerous and you need to handle it very carefully - do not wave it, do not hold on to the sharpened edges, and even more so, do not throw it at other people.

Genre of the article - Japanese weapons

History of edged weapons special purpose in Russia - is truly multifaceted. The knife is an integral part of the "wardrobe" of special forces in Russia. However, it is surprising how diverse this wardrobe can be. The scouts themselves in conversations admit that if it came to fire contact with the enemy, or, even worse, to hand-to-hand combat, then the operation can safely be considered open.

However, the same commandos admit that sometimes, in some cases and situations, “working with your hands” is still the most the best option. It was then that special equipment came into play, neutralizing any enemy without noise and dust.

About history

The very concept of a "knife" for Soviet army was not a novelty - despite the fact that the fighters were taught to use edged weapons in the heat of battle mainly together with a rifle, equipping firearms with the so-called "bayonet-knives", the Soviet army had experience in handling edged weapons as a separate type of weapon. As an independent combat unit in the hands of a soldier, the knife began to be actively used by Soviet soldiers during the period Soviet-Finnish War, but his finest hour reached during the Great Patriotic War.

In those years, the situation on the fronts was such that quite often attacks from one side or the other ended in a real bloody hand-to-hand fight, in which anything was used - from rifle butts and helmets to sticks and knives. It is no secret that some types of weapons, due to the lack of their own developments and for the most part, due to lack of time, in the Soviet Union were simply copied from foreign ones.

One of the first Soviet knives NA-40, made on the basis of a uniform bayonet-knife of 1919, became just such a brainchild. They did not assign an unpronounceable name to the knife and the name was simply deciphered - Army Knife, and the number 40 meant nothing more than the year of adoption. It was the NA-40 that became the main working tool Soviet soldiers in close combat, and also became a reliable ally for a good hundred units involved in sabotage operations.

Oleg Zvonarev, an expert in the field of edged weapons and a master in artistic forging, told some interesting facts from the history of the Soviet knife in an interview with Zvezda: “As for this particular knife, it is a typical representative of good copying, and to be more precise, good workmanship based on existing patterns.

The knife required minimal maintenance, sharpening was maintained for quite a long time even under conditions of very harsh use, and in hand-to-hand combat, the NA-40 could give odds to the best German blades. There were frequent cases when the Germans took knives from the dead Red Army soldiers and later used them themselves. It cannot be said, of course, that the knife was perfectly made - the handle used to fly off in the heat of battle, but this is the most serious thing that could happen to him then. Soviet intelligence officers, for example, called this knife an “arrow” because of the swift lines, and in the reports on the completion of the mission they often wrote that: The object was hit by the intelligence arrow, ”the expert said.

"Shurikens" of Private Torsunzhakov

Usage Soviet troops and it was justified by the special forces of cold weapons - although there were devices for covert (silent) shooting, due to the insufficient development of technology, the shot was only partially masked, and, despite the significantly lower noise level, they still drew attention to the shooter. Edged weapons for the forward detachments became a real lifesaver, but no one could even imagine that in addition to knives and bayonets, scouts would use ... shurikens.

There is still no consensus on where the exotic Japanese throwing knives in the form of stars came from. Some experts argue that shurikens appeared at the disposal of Soviet soldiers immediately after the Russo-Japanese war as trophies, others argue that small Japanese killers appeared only a year or two before the war. One way or another, due to the exotic nature of the “devices” themselves, shurikens did not receive mass use.

However, at the end of 1942, more and more reports began to come from the sabotage detachments, in which the shurikens appeared as more deadly weapon than an ordinary Soviet knife. A historian and collector of edged weapons, a retired special forces officer Viktor Krasilnikov, in an interview with Zvezda, told where and by whom Japanese throwing knives were used: “The first shurikens, or rather, the first mention of their use, date back to 1942-1943. Sabotage groups during the Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation then they were used. They say that hira-shurikens (such sharp four-pointed throwing “stars”) were made by one of the volunteers back in peacetime and simply lay there as an outlandish souvenir, however, with the onset of the war, they were very useful.

“With the help of shurikens, with proper skill, it was easy to “remove” sentries without noise and dust. During the Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation, the soldier of the Red Army Torsunzhakov generally distinguished himself by the fact that he had a unique skill: he planted a shuriken in the region of the cervical vertebrae of the Fritz and could instantly neutralize almost any enemy. I also heard about other cases of using shurikens, but there were already more throwing knives than Japanese gizmos made according to ancient drawings. - said the expert.

Shooting Scout Friend

The post-war years became a real expanse for weapons inventors of any kind - dozens of pistols, rifles and other deadly devices were invented. Melee weapons, in turn, underwent only minor changes - and how to develop an ordinary-looking knife, in which the main field for work is the handle and the blade? However, in this case, the Soviet gunsmiths had surprises prepared.

It is difficult to say for certain exactly how the idea of ​​​​creating a shooting knife came to the head of the Tula gunsmith Khlynin. Historians and experts in the field of unusual small arms argue that the most likely influence was the study of German trophies: such as a shooting buckle and other unusual shooting products. One way or another, the special reconnaissance knife (or NRS), developed by Khlynin, still remains, perhaps, the most unusual piercing-cutting and simultaneously shooting object adopted for service.

The creation of this type of weapon for the needs of the special forces of the Ministry of Defense and the KGB of the USSR made it possible to kill two birds with one stone: firstly, an effective item appeared with which the intelligence officer could operate even without weapons, and secondly, it became possible to study the practically undeveloped niche of special personal weapons, in development which involved entire research institutes.

The head of the art forging studio and collector-historian Viktor Novopoltsev told in an interview with Zvezda some facts from the history of the most unusual knife in the world: “Since this knife is a combined weapon, this implies that you can also shoot from it if you press it completely. In order not only to cut, but also to shoot, a small trigger mechanism was built into the knife, and SP-3 ammunition was adapted for the shooting itself, which, in addition to the knife, is used in special silent pistols.

“This is a special cartridge with a cut-off of powder gases, which is fired under conditions natural environment almost silent. A 7.62x38mm cartridge at close range is capable of killing an enemy with a successful hit, and with a not entirely successful one, it can almost fatally injure the enemy. In addition, in addition to the unique trigger mechanism, the knife is perfect for “field” work - planing a tree, sawing thin steel bars, “thorns” and other barrier structures with this knife can be done without much difficulty - a special file is provided on the butt for such purposes.

My opinion is this: this tool was created not so much as a knife, but as a last chance for survival. Judge for yourself: close the muzzle of the knife with a dense rubber curtain so that dust and moisture do not accumulate, the descent is simplified as much as possible. Everything indicates that the creators have done everything possible so that the knife at a critical moment works 100% like clockwork and does not fail. I am already silent about the cutting qualities of the knife. With him, you can safely survive in the taiga for some time.

“They often ask me the question, why is there only one barrel at the knife? Well, the answer to this question is simple: as a weapon for the last shot, which decides the fate of the bearer, the knife does not need two barrels. To fire a second shot in conditions of active shooting and in general combat, I think, the enemy will not allow. Therefore, here either pan or disappeared. Although, on subsequent shooting knives, the ammunition was still increased, ”the expert said.

Combat "Chameleon"

Tula is the birthplace of unusual weapons. From anti-tank to cold - Tula gunsmiths do everything. In the 90s, already having some developments in the field of special weapons and equipment, the Tula Military Artillery School developed a special four-shot shooting knife "Chameleon". In the development of a new knife, the Tula people use all their knowledge - from the use of advanced materials for manufacturing, to an extremely simple and reliable trigger mechanism.

An expert in the field of small arms and a veteran of special forces Viktor Snegir in an interview with Zvezda shares interesting facts from the life of a Tula shooting knife: “I worked with it only a few times, but I can briefly characterize it as follows: reliable, convenient, will not let you down. 5.45mm cartridges were taken from the PSM pistol. The Chameleon differs from the reconnaissance knife in the first place in the amount of ammunition carried for firing. There are four of them against one for the LDCs. Well, so to speak, the chances of survival increases. (laughs). But seriously, besides good qualities the knife blade itself, which can be sawn, planed and cut quite strongly, the knife can be well disguised as some unnecessary device and, if necessary, quickly snatched out. Fortunately, the handle contributes to a good grip. I know that there is also a modification for underwater combat swimmers. It already uses needle-type cartridges - like an APS machine gun, for example. However, the land version of the knife turned out to be such that after a shot ... from a distance of about 25-27 meters, the 5.45x18mm ammunition pierced a titanium plate 1.5-2mm thick. This, you know, is a very good indicator, which in combat conditions would guarantee the defeat of the target. - said the expert.

Experiments on the creation of advanced weapons in Russia, in fact, never stopped. It is authentically known that even in the difficult years for the country of the 90s, the development of shooting, special, small-sized and tactical knives for the special forces of the army and navy was in full swing. With a high degree of probability, it can be argued that the developments and results obtained during this period will form the basis of a new combat edged weapon for the Russian special forces. And something tells me that the demonstration of advanced edged weapons for special purposes for Russian army- a matter for the near future.