Secrets of Shuriken-do, the Japanese art of blade throwing homepage

In the Negishi and Shirai Ryu, there are 3 basic types of throw; to the front, to the side and to the rear. Front throws involve 3 forms
1. Koso no I,
2. Jikishin
3. Uranami.

Side throws consist of also of 3 throws:
1. Hon-uchi
2. Yoko-uchi
3. Gyaku-uchi

The method of learning the front throw, indeed all throws, is by first going through a series of steps from basic form to advanced form. The method employed to begin learning the basic form of Koso-no-I is called Manji no kata, and is practiced for the first 6 months without holding a blade. It is a simple set of 8 movements which form the essence of the constant throw, and cannot be neglected. The reason why it is practiced without a blade is to prevent the mind from becoming attached too early to scoring a hit, which would otherwise distract one's concentration from the form.

For any throw, there are several steps one must go through, in order to set up the conditions for an accurate hit, and this kata, or form, drills the body through these steps. Even though the form looks very rigid and the movements seem superfluous, this is necessary as it causes the body to succumb to the form, and allows the correct throwing movement to dictate how the body moves during the throw, rather than have the untrained body upset the movement of the blade during throw. Click here for a picture sequence of the Manji - no - Kata

Once the 8 movements of the form have been absorbed by the body and become familiar, the form begins to control how the body moves, and at this stage the student is ready to hold a blade while practicing the form. Manji no kata then becomes an 11 step form, as it now incorporates extra steps which involve passing the blade from the left hand to the right. The shuriken are carried in the left hand, tips pointing to the rear as you step up to the throwing position. This is an inoffensive gesture, as having shuriken in the throwing hand would be seen as offensive action. Between step 2 and 3 of the sequence above, 3 further steps are added. 1. The left hand is raised, holding the shuriken, to the front of the hara, tails pointing to the right. 2. The right hand raises to meet the left, the thumb goes behind the blade while the fingers cover the blade, thus hiding the blade from view. The grip is transferred to the right hand. 3. Both arms drop to the side together.

The second level of Koso no I (see fig. 24) is called Toji no kata, and simply involves a shortened, or abbreviated number of steps to the Manji no kata form. The swastika shape, or manji is subtracted, and the arm is raised to shuriken no kamae (step 5) behind the right ear from the side as though raising a sword (shomen uchi movement in Aikido). This arm movement is the same movement used in Jikishin Ryu, although the Jikishin grip of the blade is different, and the right foot does not step forwards during the throw.

The third level of Koso no I (see fig. 25) is called chokushi no kata, which involves a further shortening of the form. The holding of the right arm by the side is subtracted, making the movement go directly from "passing the blade" (step 3) to shuriken no kamae, (step 5). The arm moves in a round movement, travelling past the side to the rear, then raises to the position behind the ear (yokomen uchi movement in Aikido).

The final level called Koso no I, is really the essence of the front throw movement. Over years of training, the shape of the throw becomes more natural, free and smoother, even appearing casual, yet the core movements, the Koso no I, remain internally, even though the large, rigid and superfluous movements have gradually been whittled and trimmed away. The posture is such that the throw is available immediately, without having to adjust before cutting down with the right arm. It is pure readiness. The ultimate goal is to be able to simply look at the target and strike it with a shuriken.

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Figure 27. The Koso no I of Satoshi Saito Sensei, current head of Negishi Ryu

The second form of front throw, Jikishin is really a simplified form of Koso no I, but its emphasis is on surprise and speed. It is used for short distances, and uses a different method of holding the blade. (see fig. 28)

This method of holding the blade facilitates a quick draw...it is a simple yet natural grip; the right hand can reach for and take the blade in one movement quite quickly and easily, and can be thrown as quickly as one can raise their arm, however, the grip does not facilitate a long distance throw. As with all other grips, the hand is light and relaxed, as if holding a swallows egg. The arm movement on the throw is as though one is cutting with a sword. Click here for a picture sequence of the Jikishin Kata

Side throws also involve 3 forms, 1. Hon uchi (the basic over-arm throw), 2. Yoko uchi (side-ways throw) and 3. Gyaku uchi (under-arm throw). In practice, these throws can be done from standing, "tachi uchi", or sitting in "za uchi", in the traditional Japanese style of sitting on the knees and ankles (see below).

Figure 29. 1. Hon uchi, 2, Yoko uchi, 3. Gyaku uchi (4. Ura Uchi)

Figure 30. Hon uchi, yoko uchi and gyaku uchi from standing posture (tachi uchi)

The first form, Hon Uchi

Hon uchi is the basic throw, yoko uchi is more difficult, and gyaku uchi being the most advanced. The latter two are not usually practiced until the hon uchi form is mastered. Mastery of hon uchi requires practice at various levels of performance, which starts with Manji no kata, which progresses to Toji no kata, then to Chokushi no kata, leading to the final form Koso no I. This final form is the essence of all levels of the over-arm throw, which is done completely naturally and without thought, and consists of only 2 movements; raise and throw. Click here for a picture sequence for Hon Uchi

The second form, Yoko Uchi

The action of hon uchi focusses on the bending of the elbow, and is not a powerful throw, while the second form, yoko uchi, (see fig 29-30 above, fig. 31 below) will produce more power and is quicker. The lesson in this form however is the change in hand movement to allow a fast and powerful throw sideways, either right of left. In the second and the third form, most of the technique is an extension and variation of principles of the first form; if the first form is mastered first, these will be easier to attain, despite them being more difficult throws.

Figure 31. Yoko uchi.

The illustration shows to basic form, where one steps as the blade is passed to the other hand, then the throw is made from a static posture. The more advanced form is one movement, stepping and throwing together. From shizentai, the blade is passed hands, the right arm raised to the chest, and swung out and towards the target, as one steps sideways. The moment the right foot is placed on the ground, the right hand is just completing the throw.

Figure 32. The end of the yoko uchi throw by Shirakami Aizo.

Click here for a picture sequence of Yoko Uchi

The Third Form, Gyaku Uchi

In gyaku uchi, the throwing action comes from the shoulder, and is more difficult than hon uchi or yoko uchi. The arm raises with the palm down until it points towards the target. At this point, the hand stops raising sharply, and the blade is allowed to depart the hand. This throw is different from Uranami, as the hand raises from the front of the body, and the palm is face down in gyaku uchi, whereas Uranami comes from the side, and the palm faces to left at right angles to the ground.
Click here for a picture sequence for Gyaku Uchi

Rear Throw, Ura Uchi

Ura Uchi uses a similar throwing action as Gyaku uchi, but it is aimed at the rear, and the palm is not facing flat to the ground, but vertical. Elevation in this throw is gained by leaning the body more forward, and angling the hip more sharply at the end of the throw.
Click here for a picture sequence for Ura Uchi

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