How to Throw a Chinese Olive Dart

According to a Philippine martial arts authority named Mat Marinas, the Chinese olive dart was a popular Kung Fu weapon during the Ming (1368 to 1644) and Qing (1644 to 1911) dynasties in China. They are football-shaped pieces of metal about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 inch in diameter with a sharp point on each end. Despite the points, they are not penetrating weapons. Footballs, artillery shells and olive darts are all oblong spheroids because it is an efficient shape for spin stabilized projectiles. The darts are meant to be thrown very fast and injure by blunt force impact.

Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the olive dart between your thumb and your index and fore fingers. Marinas describes an alternative method of cradling the dart in his ring, middle and index fingers while pushing down on it with his thumb. Marinas' grip is intended to rotate the dart end over end like a throwing knife rather than spinning it on its longitudinal axis.

    • 2

      Hold the dart near your right shoulder (if you are a right-handed thrower). Focus on your target. Hold your upper arm roughly parallel to the ground with your elbow facing forward. As you begin to throw, the dart should be over your trapezius muscle about 4 inches from your ear.

    • 3

      Step forward with your left foot and throw with a circular motion. Point your right elbow at your target.

    • 4

      Shift your weight from back to front as you throw, and release the dart at the top of the circular throwing motion. Release the dart so it leaves your thumb first and your fingers last.

    • 5

      Let your right hand and arm follow through the throw, moving down and across your body.