Knife throwing steps out of the circus, and into martial arts
Toronto’s Zirger Academy shows students the proper way to hurt all types of blades
The meat cleaver is one of the deadliest weapons in the lineup of sharpened butter knives, barbecue skewers and nine-inch nails laid out on a wooden bench at Zirger Academy of Martial Arts.
Flanked by a hunting knife and a polished tomahawk axe, the cleaver’s blade is so sharp it reflects the light in the Dupont St. studio.
Instructor Shawn Zirger picks up another knife, turns and hurls it into a wooden target. With a thud, it sticks. “See that feeling right there,” he says, pointing at the knife lodged in the wood. “It’s pretty addictive.” For Zirger, knife throwing is a respected martial art, not a Hollywood stunt or circus act.
He got his first taste of the skill as a child, throwing gardening tools into the walls of a barn.
“You get gratification when you learn how to stick it,” he says.
Now, Zirger teaches knife throwing for a living.
For two years, he has been running beginner workshops, training people in the basics of the martial art.
On a recent windy day three men wearing full-length pants and leather shoes arrive at the Zirger Academy. They geared up with safety in mind.
The beginner’s class starts with butter knives and cardboard, Zirger says, arming each student with a bunch of knives. He talks them through the technique, how to step into the throw and control the direction of the knife with the core muscles — not the wrist.
He rests the knife against the palm of his hand, creating a loose channel between his fingers and thumb so the knife can easily slide out. The men gather in a circle and copy his lead.
Their first target is a flattened cardboard box leaning against the back wall of the studio. The men eye up their target and the knives start flying. Most fall flat against the cardboard or bounce back, clanging onto the wooden studio floors. After a while, as the men follow Zirger’s guidance, their knives start to stick.
Steve Leeds, 50, spent many summer days as a child “chucking knives at trees.” The workshop is a chance to learn the “proper technique.”
Leeds sticks two butter knives in a row and smiles quietly to himself as Zirger congratulates him.
An hour into the class, the cardboard sags against the wall, littered with holes. As the students progress to deadlier tools, they try their hand at wooden targets.
Zac Myers, 40, is a first-timer. He struggles with the butter knives, but finds his calling with barbecue skewers and nine-inch nails.
He throws weapon after weapon at a metre-long piece of plywood, trying to pierce a nine of diamonds playing card pinned to the middle.
“I just want to hit it,” the engineer says, lining up for another round.
Knife throwing may be deemed a male-dominated activity, but Zirger says it was a group of women who motivated him to start the class.
“They thought throwing knives was pretty cool. Come to think of it, at the time it probably had a bit to do with Kill Bill and other action movies,” he says, laughing.
Workshops, held every second month, are surprisingly popular for bridal parties, Zirger says.
“My wife really wanted to come tonight, too,” Leeds chimes in midthrow.
Knife throwing has been a martial art discipline since weapons were first forged, Zirger says.
“You could go back well beyond 10,000 years and see us throwing weapons at each other or at our prey animals,” he says.
The combat skill became popularized in America in the late 19th century by travelling circus acts.
A recent surge in interest has seen the birth of groups such as the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame in the United States and the European Throwing Club “Flying Blades.”
The sport is not quite as established in Canada, but Zirger says interest is growing as new people are always turning up for the 101 workshops.
The class (zirgeracademyjkd.com) runs for three hours and costs $35 per person. The next workshop is scheduled for late May.
“You could go back well beyond 10,000 years and see us throwing weapons at each other or at our prey animals.” SHAWN ZIRGER KNIFE-THROWING INSTRUCTOR