Amante P. Marinas Sr. - The Art of Throwing: The Definitive Guide to Thrown Weapons Techniques

Amante P. Marias, Sr., teaches pananandata, his familys fighting system, which he was introduced to when he was eight years old by his granduncle Ingkong Leon Marcelo. Marias holds black belts in shorin-ryu karate from the Commando Karate Club under Sensei Latino Gonzalez and Sensei Anselmo Pop Santos and in aikido from the Philippine Aikido Club under Sensei Ambrosio Gavileno.

He has written over 100 articles and is the worlds most published practitioner of Filipino martial arts. He has authored eleven other books including Arnis de Mano, Arnis Lanada, Pananandata Knife Fighting, Pananandata Yantok at Daga, Pananandata Dalawang Yantok, Pananandata Rope Fighting, Pananandata Guide to Knife Throwing, Pananandata Guide to Sport Blowguns, and Pananandata: Its History and Techniques.

Marias designed the VM Bulalakaw, which is marketed by United Cutlery Corporation. He has also designed and fabricated bagakays, other knives, axes, spears, and many-pointed throwing implements.

Marias is originally from Pambuan, a small village in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, in Central Luzon in the Philippines. He taught chemical engineering at Adamson University in Manila before coming to the United States. Today he lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with his wife, Cherry. His son, Amante Jr., is heir to pananandata.

I gave classes during weekends when I lived in Queens, New York. In one of my training sessions, I mentioned that I intended to write a book on knife throwing. A couple of weeks later, Spencer Gee gave me two books on the subject and tasseled Chinese throwing darts.

During water breaks, my students usually asked me what my current projects were. At one time, I told my class that I wanted to make a bagakay and a throwing disk but did not have any tools. Ueli Laeng came forward and asked if I could give him the specifications. I did and gave him wood for the bagakay, and thought nothing of it afterwards. A couple of weeks later, he came to class with several bagakays and disks. I did not know that he was a supervisor in a machine shop.

On one of my birthdays, a family friend gave me a mean-looking knifethe AK-47 bayonet. I teach knife fighting and I showed my class the bayonet and then mused aloud that I would have to do a lot of walking in the process of learning how to throw it. That year, sometime in November, I received a box with ten older versions of the AK-47 bayonet. That really made my Christmas. Thanks, John.

In 1997, I decided to move to Fredericksburg, Virginia. My students gave me a going-away party at Flushing Meadows Parkand presents. I got a book on the throwing of the shuriken and a camera from Spencer; a knife throwing book and two throwing axes/darts from Tracy Pearce, and a printer to replace my broken one, courtesy of several students who pooled their resources together.

Not long after I moved to Fredericksburg, a number of students from the surrounding area came to train with me. They are no less generous than my students in Queens.

Steve Charlson gave me knives and a pair of sais. I threw themnot away but at cardboard targets.

In 1999, I designed a knife. At that time, I only knew how to make wooden knives. Peter Sampogna and Ueli fabricated the steel knives for me. One of the knives, the VM Bulalakaw, is now marketed by United Cutlery.

One of my friends, Orlando Davidson, fabricated the first ax that I designed. Later, I designed and fabricated my throwing axes. I had only a hacksaw to cut the steel and in the process, I abused my hands. Tracy, Larry Schnitzer and Rob Mulligan sent me rotary cutting tools to save my fingers.

I have students in Fredericksburg who went out of their way to bring me the very important cardboard boxes. Two of our family friends, Lina Chan and Francine Moore, would simply toss the cardboard over the fence and I had to make phone calls to find out whom to thank. Thoraya and Wayne Chenault brought me plywood. Wayne also loaned me his belt sander.

A virus ruined my graphics software, and for some time, I had a problem making sketches for my manuscripts. Thoraya Zedan got an updated version of the software for me for a third of its market price. She later gave me a desktop and then a laptop computer to replace my old one. Thoraya also gave me a metal detector when I was having problems finding my throwing knives in the grass in my backyard.

Anette Veldhuyzen took the photographs for the Methods of Throwing and Mechanics of the Throw sections of this book. Thoraya Zedan took all the other photographs. Anette also gave me western darts.

It took me about three years to complete the text of this workbut only because I am fortunate to have many generous friends and students. Without them, it would have taken me longer. I owe all a thousand thanks.

Books, knives, axes, wood, computers, cameras and cardboard boxes were all essential in the completion of this work. The other important element was time. For this I must thank my sisters-in-law, Olivia Tan and Sylvia Chase, for the many hours that they have saved me.

I owe special thanks to my wife Cherry and my son Amante Jr. for giving me all the time I needed to write this book.

These are the rules I use for my students. These rules are self-defense oriented since my students are allowed only a few tries to find their throwing distances.

The throwing area must be secured to ensure the safety of the competitors and spectators.

THROWING DISTANCE. The throwing distance must be at least 16 feet. The contestant will be allowed three practice throws to determine his throwing distance. He will also be allowed to mark it.

NUMBER OF THROWS TO QUALIFY IN THE FINALS. Each contestant will throw five consecutive times of which three must stick to qualify for the finals.

NUMBER OF THROWS IN THE FINALS. Each contestant who qualifies for the finals will throw five times.

TARGET IN THE FINALS. The target will consist of concentric circles with a maximum diameter of 8 inches and a minimum diameter of 2 inches.

THE WINNER. The winner will be the contestant with the most sticks.

In case of a tie, each contestant will be allowed one additional throw. The contestant who sticks his knife closest to the center of the target will be declared the winner.

RULES USED IN THE EUROPEAN KNIFE THROWING AND AX THROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

*In case of bad weather, time constraints or other emergency situations, the organizer can decide to limit throwers to only 15 throws.

RULES USED IN INTERNATIONAL KNIFE THROWERS
HALL OF FAME (IKTHOF) CHAMPIONSHIPS
FOR KNIFE AND TOMAHAWK THROWING