This comes from Dalmo Mariano, a
professional circus performance knife thrower, instructor and competition
thrower in Brazil:
I
received (and watched it as soon as the postman went by) my sample of Ralph
Thorn’s Gold Series DVD. It shows Ralph’s approach to Martial Arts Knife
Throwing, but it goes beyond.
It’s a fantastic learning DVD, but also very interesting as entertainment,
because Ralph is a fantastic performer, as I always told him,
if I had his talents I would be in Vegas!
Anyway, even for a much less agile guy than him, it taught me more about
no-spin throwing, and now I can make things from much longer ranges than I did
before. Ralph’s teaching way is clear, even for a not usual English speaking
guy, and the images are well recorded and easy to understand.
I think all the DVD is fascinating, but to watch in
slow motion some of the tricks on stance and grip and how to move the wrist
helped me a lot to improve my no-spin throwing, and to confirm that I was doing
right with the long range half spin.
I went to play with a very thin and short table knife with a cutting blade and
a wood handle and could stick it easily from distances from 8 to 18 feet, using
both styles.
Also by watching your DVD I started to understand better some of your throwing, I never thought on sidearm throwing facing the
target, and they perform well. It’s a must to watch you throwing from behind a column, it could be very useful in a defensive situation,
where you can’t use an overhand throw.
I started to throw sidearm throws (after learning it in your DVD) , and did it marvelously, looks that I'm better at it
(no-spin sidearm throwing) that I am in overhand no-spin throwing!
There’s something instinctive in using the wrist in a side-controlling movement!
It’s like a "slap"in the handle of the
knife, and it makes it go straight to the target...
I believe you will not have problems with DVDs in South America or other places, they
play perfectly well.
My only complaint about your DVD is that you’re so good that it could be
intimidating for a beginner (well, even for seasoned throwers) cause probably very few people would be able to "copy"you... I really believe in your work, and I was
one of the first ones to go in public and say it.
Thanks a lot, Ralph, I'm sure your DVD will be a success, and will help lots of
people to know a new way of dealing with throwing knives. Congratulations for
the very well done job! As soon as I leave the computer I will watch it again, its really a masterpiece!
Dalmo
Chris K
Chris K. from the Pacific
Northwest, an experienced shuriken thrower and
martial artist, had this to say:
We have had ample time to view your excellent DVD. There are so many aspects on
which to comment, but let me say that the entire family enjoyed viewing your
DVD.
It was interesting to see the reactions of my wife and the kids. My wife, who
works in marketing, felt it was very well put together and was impressed with
your expertise. She kept on watching, whereas she normally rolls her eyes when
I put on a knife video and opens her thriller. My son, who throws a bit with
me, really found all of the different styles of throwing of interest and was
impressed by the power you generated. My daughter, 13 going on 22, liked the
jumping throws and your outfits.
I had a blast seeing your work. From the great intro shot with the hummingbird
leading the eye to you throwing in the distance, to the instructional part of
the video, I was feeling the joy and cheering on the brotherhood of throwing
sharp objects.
I think the progression of the video was well done and logical and works as an
extension of the book. (Before I forget, the camerawork is fantastic throughout, I especially liked the panoramic shots of the
underhand throws to the outside of the barn)
The video is full of what I want to see, that being demonstration of your
throwing style and the potential it offers. I really found the sessions where
you kept moving and free-form throwing, like katas,
to be inspiring, and they show the possibilities of your system. Your
ambidextrous abilities are very strong, and your accuracy with both
hands....handy! Some of my favorites were your what I call "chain"
throws, where an underhand leads into an overhand etc., your circle and around
the post throws, your behind the back throws and your
distance throws.
Regarding the overhand spinless throw, I think what
you are doing is very close to a direct hit shuriken throw. The stance and wind
up is essentially the same, and the snapping of the wrist and early release
follow the same physics as shuriken throwing. The scene where you throw the Branton knife with an open palm is a shuriken throw and the
same for the times you throw the large R.R. spike. I have adapted some SKS
bayonets for your style and am getting great results with them.
I am very impressed with your style and all the work you have done to take it
to the public and the next level. What sells the system is your mastery of it,
and your obvious integrity regarding its future. I agree with you about the
potential of martial arts knife throwing, and I would love to work with you in
realizing that potential. Like I said, at this point you are the show and you
have done an excellent job presenting it. The book and the DVD are going to get
the word out there initially.
I'm sure that having your book picked up by Paladin Press will be integral in
making the world aware of the R. T. method. I have bought many books from them
over the years and their influence is far reaching. But the DVD will really do the
work for you (a picture is worth a thousand words...) and I think your timing
on its release is very good...
I must say that upon viewing the DVD numerous times I am so impressed with your
consistency and power. Good work!
Chris
K.
Combat Knife Throwing &
Martial Arts Knife Throwing (Review)
The book Combat Knife Throwing and DVD Martial Arts Knife Throwing, both by
Ralph Thorn, describe an unusual knife throwing style which doesn’t use any
rotations, so every thrown knife is flying point first during the whole flight
path. This style is thus useful for throwing an unknown distance – unlike the
classical “circus style“ throwing - for example (as
the very name suggest) in combat.
So much for theory and back cover of the book. How
much of this paragraph is really true? When I heard about this style for the
first time, I was a bit skeptical, but after some time, I found the page
www.combatknifethrowing.com and saw video clips that are presented there. These
caught my interest and after some e-mailing, the author of this page (and
book/DVD as well) generously offered to send both book and DVD to me for
reviewing.
The book lists differences between “circus style” (where knife rotates) and
“combat“ knife throwing, shows making knives optimized for this style, as well
as building targets and backstops, shows correct grips, stances and four
techniques of knife throwing (overhand, underhand, sidearm and
around-the-back), deals with using knife throwing in self-defense/combat and
hunting, final chapter also includes description of some tricks (like juggling
with knives) and underhand one-turn throw for longer distances. It is very
pithy book, with exception of few tales (for example “how I fell and pieced my
calf with a throwing knife“) there is nothing else than information – in fact,
even these tales are useful as a warning.
The first half of the DVD describes ten advantages of spear-style throwing and
they are demonstrated using a very wide spectrum of throwing implements, like a
screwdriver, pocket knife, garden shears and even a katana. The second half
explains the same throws as the book (with the addition of a half-turn “blade
throw“), including slow-time view of every one of them, from the beginning
stance to the knife release. In the closing part Ralph Thorn shows many tricks,
from throwing during leap over a chair to a full jumping spin and simultaneous
back throw.
After reading and watching I made three knives from an iron plate and went to
my log round target. In an hour I was sticking these knives pretty consistently
into 8 inch diameter logs using overhand, underhand and sidearms throws from 10 feet away. After another
hour these throws had more energy than my usual half-turn throw. To the end of
the third hour, I wasn’t able to get solid sticks from further away than 13
feet (on the DVD you can see no-rotation throws even from distances like 20-30
feet), but my accuracy went up.
The secret is mainly in using a handle-heavy knife (the book shows how to make
special tape handle with shape that make throwing much easier) and in the
throwing grip. The DVD shows that when the thrower has enough “feel“ he can use
almost anything pointy and elongated (in this thing the spear-style resembles a
blade-grip throwing, but throwing for example a sword is much safer using the
handle grip...), which further increase suitability of this style for combat or
hunting. Somebody might frown at the relatively short range of spear-style
throws, but this style is for combat and self-defense – and unless your
opponent is blind or quadriplegic, throwing knives at approximately 15 feet or
more is only loss of time and weapon. For anybody interested in widening his
self-defense repertoire or just in learning an easier, more entertaining style
of knife throwing, this book and DVD are a must!
-MichalBarda, in the
magazine “Unconventional Warrior” (CzechRepublic)
the article URL is
http://www.specnaz.cz/index.php?id_sekce=1000&id_blok=3000&id_polozka=32000&unid=44d03ddf35a58
David F., of San Antonio, Texas, who has been a practicing martial artist and shuriken thrower for over fifteen years:
I finished watching Ralph’s video and it was worth every penny. After seeing the video it has improved my shuriken throwing a lot. The grip is just like the shuriken grip that I use except you use more wrist action. I was out practicing and tried the wrist action and was amazed at how much easier it was to throw and stick my bo-shuriken and my knives. If you’re into throwing knives and haven't already ordered Ralph’s dvd, you really need to. It is a great dvd.