5 WAYS to Throw NINJA Star (Shuriken Tutorial)
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Hira-Shuriken — Star·Adam Celadin
5 WAYS to Throw NINJA Star (Shuriken Tutorial) In this video i am going to show you 5 ways how to throw a Ninja Star als…
Hira-Shuriken — Star
SubFamily平手裏剣
TraditionalTranslation: Flat Shuriken
Overview
Flat, multi-pointed throwing blades designed to be thrown with a spinning release for slashing impact.
History & Origin
Hira-shuriken (flat throwing blades) are the iconic star-shaped throwing weapons popularly associated with ninja, though they were used across various koryu schools, not exclusively by shinobi. [1] These multi-pointed flat blades — typically with 3 to 8 points — were designed to strike point-first regardless of rotational angle, making them easier to throw casually but less accurate and penetrating than bo-shuriken. [2] Historically, hira-shuriken were secondary weapons used for distraction, and their elaborate shapes often served as school identifiers — different ryu used distinctively shaped shuriken as a form of heraldry. [1],[3]
Effectiveness
Hira-shuriken (flat/star shuriken) are multi-pointed throwing weapons designed to stick point-first regardless of rotation, providing more forgiving accuracy at the cost of reduced penetration. [1]
Lineage
Hira-shuriken were developed in feudal Japan, with numerous koryū schools developing distinctive shapes and throwing methods. [1]
Competition Record
Hira-shuriken throwing is demonstrated at Japanese budo events and koryū embu. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Cutting, thrusting, or striking with a bladed weapon — edge alignment and trajectory determine cutting effectiveness
Joints Involved — Wrists (edge alignment and rotation), elbows (extension for thrusts, chambering for cuts), shoulders (arc of the cut), hips (power generation)
Force Vector — Varies — downward diagonal cut (kesa-giri), horizontal cut (yoko-giri), thrust (tsuki), or rising cut (kiri-age)
Weapon Mechanic — Edge alignment (hasuji) is critical — the blade must travel along its cutting plane for effective cuts
Position & Entry
From ready position — Grip the throwing weapon, establish distance and target, throw with proper spin or trajectory
From concealment — Draw the throwing weapon from concealed position and throw in a single motion
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Projectile weapons including shuriken, throwing knives; high penetration risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Traditional martial arts — Practiced in traditional kata/...
— IWUF — Legal in wushu taolu if applicable
IWUF Competition RulesPDFHEMA — Legal in applicable historical weapon categories {src— various organizations
Training Notes
✓Hira-shuriken are flat, multi-pointed throwing blades — the iconic 'throwing stars' with three to eight points radiating from a central hub (Draeger, Classical Bujutsu, 1973)
✓Hira-shuriken are thrown with a horizontal flick of the wrist — the flat blade spins in the horizontal plane like a frisbee, not end-over-end like a knife
✓The multiple points ensure that regardless of the rotation angle at impact, at least one point contacts the target — reducing the need for precise rotation calibration
✓Hira-shuriken were more commonly used for distraction and area denial than for penetrating attacks — their flat design limits penetration depth
✓The throwing technique: hold the shuriken flat in the palm with the thumb on top and one point between the fingers, then release with a horizontal wrist flick
✓Different designs served different purposes: three-point (sanpo) for penetration, four-point (juji) for general use, and eight-point (happo) for maximum coverage
✓Hira-shuriken were sometimes coated with irritants or poisons in feudal Japan — adding a chemical component to the tactical distraction
Common Mistakes
!Throwing with an overhead motion — hira-shuriken are thrown with a horizontal or sidearm release, not overhand
!Expecting deep penetration — the flat design limits penetration; hira-shuriken are tactical distractors, not fight-enders
!Gripping too many points at once — hold one point between the fingers and let the shuriken spin off the palm cleanly
!Throwing too hard — excessive force causes wobble in flight; the throw should be controlled and smooth
!Not training the horizontal release — the wrist must flick horizontally to impart the correct spin; vertical release fails
!Using shuriken with dull points — the points must be sharp enough to stick in the target; dull shuriken bounce off
!Not understanding the historical context — hira-shuriken were supplementary tools, not primary weapons; train them as such
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Ready Position — assume the guard stance appropriate for the weapon
2Distance Control — manage spacing relative to the opponent
3Execute Technique — perform the offensive or defensive action with correct form
4Return to Guard — recover to a defensive ready position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat (Patrick McCarthy, 2008)
1BookThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
History sources — [1] Draeger, D., Classical Bujutsu (Weatherhill, 1973) [2] Ratti, O. & Westbrook, A., Secrets of the Samurai (Tuttle, 1973) [3] Shirakami, E., Shuriken-Do: My Study of the Way of Shuriken (2001)
2BookThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Alias sources — [1] Shirakami, E., Shuriken-Do: My Study of the Way of Shuriken (2001) [2] Draeger, D., Classical Bujutsu (Weatherhill, 1973)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
History sources — [1] Draeger, D., Classical Bujutsu (Weatherhill, 1973) [2] Ratti, O. & Westbrook, A., Secrets of the Samurai (Tuttle, 1973) [3] Shirakami, E., Shuriken-Do: My Study of the Way of Shuriken (2001)
5CitationThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Alias sources — [1] Shirakami, E., Shuriken-Do: My Study of the Way of Shuriken (2001) [2] Draeger, D., Classical Bujutsu (Weatherhill, 1973)
Community
Athletics
Requires
precision, wrist snap, hand-eye coordination
Favours
strong wrists and forearms, excellent proprioception
Key muscles
forearm extensors, wrist flexors, deltoids, core
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between backhand and underhand throws for hira-shuriken?
The backhand throw is performed by throwing the star behind your back, useful when fleeing from a target. The underhand throw, which Adam Celadin describes as his personal favorite, involves pulling your arm back and using a whipping motion to generate force and rotation into the target.
How do I generate more power in an underhand hira-shuriken throw?
Pull your arm further back before executing the throw—the more you pull your arm back, the more advantage and force you'll generate, allowing you to whip the star very effectively into the target.
How does the Hira-Shuriken — Star work?
Flat, multi-pointed throwing blades designed to be thrown with a spinning release for slashing impact.
Where does the Hira-Shuriken — Star come from?
Hira-shuriken (flat throwing blades) are the iconic star-shaped throwing weapons popularly associated with ninja, though they were used across various koryu schools, not exclusively by shinobi. These multi-pointed flat blades — typically with 3 to 8 points — were designed to strike point-first regardless of rotational angle, making them easier to throw casually but less accurate and penetrating than bo-shuriken.
Is the Hira-Shuriken — Star legal in competition?
Traditional martial arts: legal — Practiced in traditional kata/forms and weapon-specific competition under var…; IWUF: legal — Legal in wushu taolu if applicable; HEMA: legal — Legal in applicable historical weapon categories
How dangerous is the Hira-Shuriken — Star?
Danger rating 8/10. Very High — projectile weapons including shuriken, throwing knives; high penetration risk
How do I set up the Hira-Shuriken — Star?
The standard setup chain: Ready Position → Distance Control → Execute Technique → Return to Guard.
How do I defend against the Hira-Shuriken — Star?
Standard counters include: Guard Position — return to a defensive ready stance / Distance Management — control the measure to avoid being in range / Counter-Attack — strike during the opponent's recovery or between movements.
What are the variants of the Hira-Shuriken — Star?
Common variants: Standard technique (primary execution from the most common grip and stance); Competition variation (adapted for sport-specific rules and scoring); Traditional variation (classical execution as taught in the traditional art); Combination variation (chained with preceding or following techniques in a flow).
How effective is the Hira-Shuriken — Star in competition?
Hira-shuriken throwing is demonstrated at Japanese budo events and koryū embu.
What are common mistakes when doing the Hira-Shuriken — Star?
Top errors to watch for: Throwing with an overhead motion — hira-shuriken are thrown with a horizontal or sidearm release, not overhand / Expecting deep penetration — the flat design limits penetration; hira-shuriken are tactical distractors, not fight-en… / Gripping too many points at once — hold one point between the fingers and let the shuriken spin off the palm cleanly / Throwing too hard — excessive force causes wobble in flight; the throw should be controlled and smooth.
What are other names for the Hira-Shuriken — Star?
The Hira-Shuriken — Star is also known as Hira-Shuriken, Shaken, Throwing Star, Ninja Star, Senban Shuriken (four-pointed type).