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Newsletter: Issue #45 by Scott Gracia sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com ======================================= IN THIS ISSUE 1. What's New 2. From Three Inch Spikes to Full Size Splitting Axes by Mike Gerety 3. Recreational Knife Throwing Video - by John Bailey 4. Fast Draw Knife Throwing - by 'JH' 5. Advertising Opportunities 6. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines 7. Subscribe/Unsubscribe ======================================= 1. WHAT'S NEW Hello fellow flingers of steel!!! As usual, things have been going great here. Besides a few days with some rain I've been throwing just about everyday. I got an email about a week ago from a guy named Dave Fettig. Dave is from Fort Atkinson, WI - about an hour and a half from where I live in Milwaukee. He told me he had been promising himself that he would learn to throw and when he ran across my LESSONS link, he just couldn't pass it up. So he drove down on Monday and we hung out and threw for a couple hours. Dave was a natural with the knives. Within the first hour he was throwing 1/2 spins, full spins, 1 1/2 and even a few double spins. Before too long it was getting dark and I had to bust out the big Mag Lite. This helped when we were looking for the occasional "bounced knife", but we couldn't see the knives at all from the time they left Dave's hand until they either stuck or bounced off of the target and disappeared. We finally decided to call it a night and I remembered Dave mentioned he had always been into balisong (aka butterfly knives). Earlier he told me he would show me a few things if I was interested so we went inside and the madness began :) I have about as much skill as the next guy when it comes to a butterfly knife... I can open it, aaand then I can close it. That's it. Nothing exciting or spectacular at all. Dave pulled out two knives, one in each hand, and started spinning, twirling, flipping, tossing and catching those knives! I was amazed to say the least. He has years of practice under his belt and it showed. He told me people view his hobby about the same way they view knife throwing. They just don't get it. They don't understand the sporting side of it. Or the fact that it is just a great hobby. Something to keep you occupied. They automatically think you're "one of 'those' guys" and pull all the small children closer to them :) Like my friend Bob Karp once said, "We're not 'crazy' people throwing knives... we're just people who are 'crazy' about throwing knives!" To see some pics of Dave's visit just follow this link: http://www.throwzini.com/davefettig_lesson.html Until next time... Scott Gracia The Great Throwzini Web Site http://www.throwzini.com NEW STUFF LOCAL THROWERS A fellow thrower from Battle Creek, MI wrote me a letter a while back. His name is Lew Costley and he is one of the many great people I've become friends with since starting this web site. Lew had a great idea he wanted to share that he thought would help spread the word about our growing hobby. He told me it would be nice to be able to find other people nearby that were interested in learning how to throw or people who were already throwing. Since I get emails almost everyday from people looking for someone in their area to throw with I agreed with Lew and started collecting names and short bios and made a page. The goal is to have a "bazillion" (another one of those "technical terms") throwers listed in every state. So if you are looking for people to hang out with and throw sharp pieces of metal just follow this link. You never know, there could be another thrower right in your own neighborhood! Currently we have throwers listed in 9 states. With your help, we should have people listed in all 50 in no time at all! So c'mon and send in your info! Follow this link for more details and to see if there is anybody listed near you: http://www.throwzini.com/local_throwers.html UPCOMING U.S. EVENTS The next knife and hawk throwing event is a Mountain man Style throw. It's called the Thanksgiving Challenge and it is taking place in Kerrville, TX. November 24-25, 2001 (Appx. $3000.00 prize money) For more info contact: Roy "Moses" Neal (803) 257-2942 theneals@maverickbbs.com OTHER UPDATES When you visit the site you'll also notice a brand new QUICK IDEA and lots of interesting posts in our THROWZINI FORUM! Check out the TARGETS section of the forum where "Coldsteelkv" talks about the best way to attach a card or paper plate to your target. Or learn tons of other useful knife, axe and spike throwing tips by visiting our homepage and clicking on the THROWZINI FORUM link. http://www.throwzini.com Thanks again to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!! ======================================== 2. GUEST COLUMN: FROM THREE INCH SPIKES TO FULL SIZE SPLITTING AXES by Mike Gerety The weather here in Massachusetts has been excellent for throwing. I've just finished the renovations to the backyard that my wife wanted. The new renovations gave me a fenced in section to hide the junk that I collect from my wifes sight. (This gave me many "brownie points" to use!) My new throwing range has four targets made from good solid tree rounds, each about 16 inches across and at least that thick. I have two of the targets - one above the other - on legs and it just leans against the back drop which is a section of the old stockade fence that I replaced in my renovations. The two lower targets were made by using a couple of solid topped pallets with the tree rounds nailed on to them from the back using a few pole barn spikes, (six inch ratcheted nails) that will last longer than the tree rounds. I use the thicker tree rounds because of the variety of implements that I throw. From three inch spikes to full sized splitting axes. The rounds take a beating and I must say the feeling that you get when your axe splits a target from front to back is really a rush! I have a friend that is an Arborist who drops off rounds whenever I need them, and whatever size I request. And I've found another enthusiast for throwing chunks of metal down range. Last night I was out throwing with a couple of friends and it got too dark to see but we didn't want the fun to end... So I dragged out a 100ft extension cord and a 500 watt halogen spot light. With it on the ground, behind, and to one side, the targets were lit up perfectly. We threw 'til well after ten and I figured that we'd better stop so the clanging of metal wouldn't keep my neighbors up. (I've got to get a picture of my throwing items taken to show to the other subscribers of the newsletter. Its such an eclectic collection. I have spikes, and flattened cheap forks, knives of about 20 different varieties, several designs of axes from hawks to splitting axes, circular saw blades, which are still among the favorites with my beginner friends, shuriken, and blowguns for a change of pace, as well as short spears using my bungie cord hand launcher.) I've found that using different sizes and types of implements one after the other improves my ability to adjust with what I am throwing. I don't change my distance to the target, just my grip and throw. Well, I've rambled on enough for this morning. There is more work to be done on the canoe I'm refurbishing before the rain begins this evening. As well as some throwing time for me to relax. Happy hurling to all, and to all a good throw. Maffisto A.K.A. Michael Gerety Maffisto@mediaone.net ============================================= 3. RECREATIONAL KNIFE THROWING VIDEO If you want to learn the insider SECRETS, TIPS and TRICKS that the masters use to hit their mark every time, then John Bailey's Recreational Knife Throwing Video is for you. Here is a taste of what you'll get: - 9 inexpensive target designs - 11 demonstrations - How to eliminate the most common throwing error - Master grips, stances and throws and so much more! For a limited time, you can have the ultimate knife throwing video for only $19.95. By acting now, you'll save 33% off the regular price of $29.95 For a full description and ordering details, follow this link: http://www.throwzini.com/tgt_video.html AOL USERS LINK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'I have been throwing knives competitively for the past 4 to 5 years against some of the best tournament throwers in the world (including 'The Rev' himself). 'I felt I had hit a plateau in the sport, but after watching David's tape I found a few tips that helped me break through that level. 'His instructions will help beginners learn faster than any book will. Veteran throwers can utilize his slow motion video clips to hone their skills to a higher degree. 'This is one tape you must have if you are serious about knife, tomahawk, or axe throwing.' -- Burl Carl (The Underhand Man) For a full description of this video and ordering details, follow this link: http://www.throwzini.com/tgt_video.html (AOL users, scroll to bottom for a clickable link.) ============================================= 4. Fast Draw Knife Throwing By "JH" The sport of "Fast Draw" (pulling a pistol from the holster and firing as fast as possible) can easily be converted into a way of knife throwing. One game that can be played is where two people draw knives from their sheaths (carefully and at the same time) and both throw at two targets standing side by side. Whoever does it fastest wins (not a complicated game). This would be similar to a "showdown" in the wild west days. I'm sure there are many other ways of using fast draw in knife throwing games, but I'll leave that up to the player. -JH jessjoss@home.com ============================================ 5. ADVERTISE WITH US Run an ad in this newsletter and expose your business to thousands of potential customers! Send an e-mail to sgracia@wi.rr.com for details. ============================================= Worlds Easiest To Use Throwing Knife! The Easy-Stik Pro. You will throw like an expert in just a few tries. Order from the net or send a check or money order for $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping to: Accuflight Inc. P.O. Box 25 Pennsburg PA. 18073-0025 See the video of this knife in action at: www.accuflightinc.com Dealers inquires invited. Thank you, Clyde Hoch ============================================ If you have any questions about throwing that you would like answered in one of our upcoming issues, or if you have an article or story about throwing that you would like to share, simply send an e-mail to: sgracia@wi.rr.com with QUESTION FOR NEWSLETTER in the Subject Line, and your name and question in the body. ============================================ 6. (Copyright 2001, Scott Gracia, The Great Throwzini.) Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full: Reprinted with permission from Scott Gracia's The Great Throwzini Newsletter. Get your FREE 101 KNIFE THROWING TIPS and Newsletter, filled with throwing tips and ideas to help you with your throwing game, at The Great Throwzini web site http://www.throwzini.com ============================================= Scott Gracia, The Great Throwzini, 126 E. Plainfield Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207-5008 Phone 414-744-8689, E mail: sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com ****************************************************** AOL USERS: USE THESE CLICKABLE LINKS TO VISIT OUR WEB SITE The Great Throwzini Web site The Fundamentals of Knife, Hawk, and Axe Throwing with an Introduction to the Impalement Arts Video. ****************************************************** It's free, and there's no obligation. |
Want to improve your accuracy?CLICK HERE "...the ability of David to throw different turns at different distances was outstanding and the impalement acts were 1st rate..." Chuck Fogarty Countryside, IL FREE STUFF CLICK HERE for FREE 101 Knife Throwing Tips Info-Pak Want hundreds of great knife throwing tips, ideas, articles and interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport of knife throwing? Get our FREE, twice-a-month Great Throwzini Online Newsletter. Just click below and send. CLICK HERE for FREE Online Newsletter or send e-mail to: sgracia@wi.rr.com with SUBSCRIBE in the Subject Line. I respect your privacy and will never share or sell your e-mail address to anyone. |