Card Throwing Techniques

The martial arts technique of card throwing originated with a magician named Ricky Jay who was known for being able to throw cards with extreme force. He could slice through watermelons and throw multiple cards at once. For some people such as Ricky Jay, the technique of card throwing could be lethal. For most, though, mastering the art of card throwing is simply a fun trick to impress friends.

  1. Grip

    • Grip the card in the upper right hand corner with your index finger, placing you thumb on top and your middle finger below in the middle of the card. For the fastest and most accurate throwing, keep your other two fingers completely out of the way. Curling your hand inward so that the card touches the middle of your palm will allow you the best wrist flicking action.

    Technique

    • The basic technique of card throwing can be learned while sitting in a chair with no arms. With the card in your hand, bend your arm at both the elbow and wrist, keeping your arm elevated from your knee. A simple flick of the wrist and release of the card will send the card a few feet through the air. For the best results, do not move the rest of your arm while releasing the card.

    Full Arm Technique

    • Once you have learned the basic card throwing technique you can then learn the full arm technique. This technique will give you greater accuracy and distance. Hold the card with the same grip, straightening your arm while it is parallel to your knee. Bend your arm back halfway to your body, moving your wrist back at the last second. Release both the wrist and arm at the same time, flicking the card. By the end of the movement, your wrist should be further extended than your arm.

    Practice

    • As with anything, mastering the technique of card throwing takes time and effort. Do not expect to become a a martial arts, card-throwing assassin within a few hours. You will not become that within any period of time. However, this is a fun trick to show to friends or to add to your martial arts repertoire.