what are those star looking things that ninjas throw called?

Question

Ya know, those star shaped (sorta) things that ninjas throw to kill people...lol. I think it starts with an "S" but I'm having a major brain block. Thanx.

Answer 1

Chinese Throwing Stars

Answer 2

Their called Hira Shuriken. Only westerners call them stars. Here's a little bit on them:

Hira shuriken are constructed from thin, flat plates of metal from a variety of sources, such as hishi-gane (coins), kugi-nuki (carpentry tools), senban (washers), and as such do not generally look like what is usually conceived of as the ninja star. Often they have a hole in the center, are only sharpened on the very tips and possess a fairly thin blade. The reason for the hole is that the original source items had holes - old coins, washers, and nail-removing tools, each possessed holes as part of their design. This was found to be convenient for the user of the shuriken, as they could be carried strung together on string, and the hole also had an aerodynamic effect which aided the flight of the blade as it was thrown. In some schools the hole was used as a center reference, a sort of "pointing spot" for the overhead throwing method. Usually with a common four point hira-shuriken the index finger was placed slightly in, or on the edge of the hole parallel with a point. When released during the overhead style throw the finger would be in a pointing position and increase accuracy.

There is a wide variety of forms of hira-shuriken, also known as shaken, and they are now usually identified by the number of points the blades possess. As with bo-shuriken, the various shapes of hira-shuriken were usually representative of a particular school, or region that preferred the use of such shapes, and it is therefore possible to identify the school by the type of blade used.

Answer 3

Hi there

The most common answer you will get is shuriken. But most of them you see on TV are not a true representation of how they look. There actually called Senban and have only four corners and look more square then star shaped. They were originally used in construction and were designed to hold two different beams together in the roofs of traditional Japanese houses before they became fighting tools. There still used today in various arts such as Koto ryu,Togakure ryu and some other jutsu arts. There used in ninjutsu as a means of distraction when there is more than one attacker so that you can escape.

Regards

Idai.

Answer 4

Its called, "Ninja Throwing Stars."

Answer 5

Ninja stars

Answer 6

They're not called shuriken properly, even though they are from the same weapon/tool family tree :

They're called Shaken....and you have numerous types, different patterns, different points of contact, etc.

Shuriken are technically "needle/dart" style, whereas Shaken are "star" style.

You have the usual 4 pointed design, called Senban...which are used in the Togakure Ryu.

You have a Manji-styled design, 8 pointed, etc.

http://www.secrets-of-shuriken.com.au/schools.htm

I would reference that website for all the basic information you would need on Shurikenjutsu.

Both styles of Shuriken were used throughout the full compendium of Japanese martial arts.

Take care,

Ryan

Answer 7

In English Throwing Stars.
In Japanese Shiruken.

Originally they were intended to be worn on the armor of Samuri and when the army had to retreat they would throw them to slow down the advancing troops.

Only in Hollywood or Martial Arts fantasies are the weapons lethal. There is a one in 1,000 chance that you can hit the jugler vein on someone and kill them, but normally they are thrown to injure and distract. I supose in the hands of a ninja master taking time to make the shot it is possible, but most knives have better penetration and a stronger chance to slip between the ribs and provide a fatal or very damaging wound. However, it looks more exotic when a Shuriken is used in battle.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuriken
"Shuriken (手裏剣; lit: "hand hidden blade") is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing*. They are small, sharpened, hand-held blades made from a variety of everyday items, such as needles, nails, and knives, as well as coins, washers, and other flat plates of metal. Shuriken were mainly a supplemental weapon to the more commonly used katana (sword) or yari (spear) in a warrior's arsenal, though they often played a pivotal tactical role in battle. The art of wielding the shuriken is known as shuriken-jutsu, and was mainly taught as a minor, or more correctly, a secret part of the martial arts curriculum of many famous schools, such as Yagyu Ryu, Katori Shinto Ryu, Itto Ryu, Kukishin Ryu, and Togakure Ryu. In the modern western world, shuriken can often be purchased online as collector's items.

Although, there is some debate as to the exact use of shuriken.

Shuriken are commonly known in the west as "Chinese stars", "throwing stars" or "ninja stars". This term hardly does justice to the weapon, however, as the pointed "star" shaped form is but one of many different designs the blades took over the centuries in which they were used."

Answer 8

Throwing stars

Answer 9

Throwing Stars is the major name
Minor Names:
Kumbi Throwing Stars(Used before 1800s in Korea)
Yuji Throwing Stars(Used before 1800s in Japan)
Toda Thwoing Stars(Used in major areas of China before 1300s)
Mokbi Throwing Stars(Used before 1800s In major areas of China)

Answer 10

as i know, they are called Ninja Stars