Everything you should know about axe throwing

Axe throwing is an amazingly spectacular sport. At long distances (more than 20 m) the heavy projectile flies in a measured and majestic manner. Spinning in the air, the axe makes a rhythmic whistling sound, and when it reaches the target, it shakes it with such a roar that viewers involuntarily squeeze their eyes. From the outside, it seems that throwing an axe requires the strength of a giant. In fact, the axe is an exceptionally beautiful and effective throwing tool, for the operation of which strength is not as important as precise calculation and masterful control of one’s own body. Now, let us take a closer look at this spectacular discipline.

The axe

A throwing axe is a sharp tool used in throwing competitions. Unlike throwing knives, the tool has a heavier weight and a different shape. In the past, it used to be a frequently used tool during battles and battles. This particular weapon was used because it is very sharp and does a lot of damage. In the present, it is used in competitions, as well as in survival mode.

Tomahawk (this term is used to refer to the throwing axe) is divided into the following types, each of them having particular characteristics.

• Speaking of the very first type among tomahawk axes, the head was hammered into a sturdy axe.
• Another type is used as decorations and weapons in medieval and fantasy series. In ancient times, it was used mostly in battles, sometimes to carve the carcass of an animal.
• Trumpeted throwing axe is the most beautiful kind, as it was decorated with writings, stones and patterns. It was not used in battle, but was given as a decorative gift. Sometimes tribal leaders walked with such axes.
• There is something similar to a pipe axe, only it was less decorated with additional decorative elements and was used by settlers as a combat weapon.
• The halberd was initially made in Spain. It had the form of a halberd, only of a smaller size. In the northern tribes chiefs owned such weapons. It emphasized the high status of its owner.

Throwing axes are completely different: they can be sharp and blunt, light and heavy, expensive and cheap. Professionals know how the features of certain parts of the projectile affect the throw.

Let us look at some parts of the axe in details.

An axe can be made with a technique where it is divided into two halves, and a carbide-forged material with a cutting edge is inserted between them. The soft pads protect the hard part from impact, and the hard insert in turn ensures that the cutting edge is securely sharpened.

The cutting edge can be sharpened in different ways. Felling axes have a special sharpening with a large angle. Such an axe does not blunt for a long time, holds a blow, easily pulls out of the wood, but it is not suitable for all types of target (the paint may keep the axe in, and dense fibers squeeze out). Carpentry axes are sharpened with a minimum angle. They enter the target easily and deeply, but blunt quickly.

The handle can be straight and level, or with a hook. The grip forms an additional joint in the hand, it can help to twist the axe more if necessary. Professional athletes prefer flat grips: in harsh competition conditions (fatigue, wet weather) the ledge can cling to the fingers unpredictably. Wooden grips need to be replaced more often.

Body mechanics

The axe is a heavy projectile, so you have to use the strongest muscles of the body to accelerate it to the necessary speed: the muscles of the hips, buttocks, and back. Athletes thoroughly warm up, involving all muscle groups in this process. As a physical preparation they do many push-ups, pump their abs and back, squat.

The key to an accurate shot is the right position. The front foot (left foot for right-handers) should be placed at a 45° angle to the target line, providing stability in both longitudinal and transverse directions. The rear foot is placed strictly parallel to the goal line on the toe. This position is common in many sports, from hand-to-hand and knife fighting to running.

After all, it is with the push of the rear foot that any powerful forward movement begins. The line of the shoulders, the line of the hips, the ankle and knee of the back leg, the elbow of the right arm – all the “joints” of the athlete’s body involved in the throw should be lined up strictly perpendicular to the target line. If a vertical line is drawn through the target, then during the swing and the throw the athlete’s elbow and the axe itself will move strictly along this vertical line without shifting a centimeter to the side. A centimeter is not an exaggeration at all. If at the distance of 4 m such deviation will lead to a loss in points, from a distance of 25 m the axe will not hit the stand at all.

When preparing to throw, the athlete leans back, arching his back. His body stretches like a bow. He or she looks precisely at the target. The movement begins at the hip and continues through the muscles of the back. Only when the axe has already accelerated to an impressive speed, do the shoulder, elbow and hand come into play, giving the axe rotation and pointing it precisely at the target. When throwing from long distances, a slight swing is acceptable: the athlete first moves forward, then deviates back and executes the throw.

The degree of tension of the hand, elbow and shoulder determines the angular rate of rotation of the axe. If you lock the shoulder and elbow, but relax the hand, the speed is high. If you fix the hand but give freedom in the elbow, the speed will be somewhat lower. A relaxed elbow and hand would give an intense rotation.

By mastering this technique, the professional gains the ability to adjust the speed of the axe. This adjustment has certain limits. The fact is that for an accurate throw, the body must be relaxed. Only in this case, obeying the nature itself, the hand will direct the axe exactly where the athlete’s gaze is directed. Any tension negatively affects accuracy.

Some athletes use a run-up to disperse the axe, first taking a few steps back. This makes it easier, but it has a negative impact on the predictability of the result.

Competitions

The axe throwing competition from long distances is arranged as follows. The distance is divided into zones of three meters: 4-7, 7-10, 10-13 and so on up to 25-28. The athlete must consistently make a successful throw from each zone, gradually increasing the distance. It is not possible to step back to 25 meters at once and try to hit a target. A successful performance is a series of accurate hits.

Each distance corresponds to a certain number of rotations of the axe. For example, for a distance of 4 meters it is one turn, for 7 meters it is two. Every three meters one turn is added. If the distance is not a multiple of three meters, the athlete may intentionally “under-twist” or “over-twist” the axe.

The rules of international competitions regulate the minimum weight of an axe at the level of 500 grams (real projectiles with which sportsmen perform, reach up to one kilogram). The axe weighs half a kilo at rest, but if you break it up and hit the scales, you can see a figure of 10 kg or more. Multiply that by 500 throws and get five tons or more that sportsmen have to deal with in every training session.

Experienced athletes can use some tricks with rotations. For example, if you “twist” the axe slightly, it will enter the target with the tip of the cutting edge and is most likely to stay in it. In competition, you can take a risk and “under-twist” the axe slightly so that it enters the target with the whole blade and overlaps the maximum number of circles, thereby increasing the chance of capturing a “ten”. The risk of “under-twisting” is that in such a shot, the handle may touch the target first and the axe will bounce off the stand.

The thrown axe rotates in flight, i.e. it has a linear (in the direction of the target) and angular (rotation) velocity. It is theoretically possible to throw an axe so that it does not rotate, especially at short range, but there will be no energy in such a throw.

A professional athlete can control linear and angular velocity separately. The most important skill is to bring these two speeds into exact correspondence, so that at a given distance the axe comes to the target in a strictly defined position.

The main task of the athlete is to keep the throw stable. This task is not an easy one: the competitions are held outdoors, and you have to adapt to the temperature, air density, lighting, weather and amount of clothing.

Safety rules for axe throwing

Throwing an axe at any obstacles and wooden stands, you need to follow the safety rules in order not to hurt yourself and your loved ones. What are the basic axe throwing rules?

• Be careful! Pick up the axe by the axe handle, not by the head.
• Use the stands and put protective mechanisms. To keep you and the people around you from getting hurt, put a stand where the axe will fly, and shields to protect others from getting hurt.
• Choose the right axe. It determines your hitting efficiency and your safety. If you choose a weapon not designed for this type of training, it will break if you use it briefly. It is good if it breaks before you start using it, otherwise you might get hurt.
• Train at the right distances. If you are a beginner, throw at a distance of 2 or 3 meters from the stand. Remember: practice makes perfect. If you train on the regular basis, you can eventually start throwing axe at longer distances.

That is it! As you can see, axe throwing is a sport that requires a lot of thorough training, strength and concentration. This discipline is spectacular, but it is necessary to follow some safety rules to enjoy it.