Blades in Action: Sports Where Knives Take Center Stage

Let’s cut to the chase; knife sports hardly dominate television screens compared to mainstream sports. Maybe they’re deemed too risky for mainstream television, or perhaps people are too scared to watch in case something goes wrong.

We’re sure you’d agree that’s understandable. However, for knife sports purists, there’s nothing better than admiring the skill and artistry required to compete in the handful of knife-throwing sports there are.
We’ll take you through some of those sports where knives take center stage.

Knife-Throwing

This is the sport that we know most of you thought of first when reading the title. Knife throwing is the poster child of blade-related sports, after all. It’s also the most likely knife sport you’ll find betting markets for. Which, by the way, you can use the best sports betting sites comparison on the official betting.us website if you do.

We’re talking about regular knife-throwing here, by the way, and not the circus type. Although a skillful art, we’re not sure any sporting committee would green-light a sport where knives are thrown toward a human being on a spinning target!

It’s a sport that involves strength and pure skill, which we’re sure you’d know if you’ve ever tried it yourself. It’s a test of balance and wrist control, while impeccable aim obviously helps as well if you’re competing at the highest level.

We think you know what’s usually involved. The idea of knife throwing is to spin and throw knives at a target, with points awarded for how close you get to the bullseye.

In some competitions, the stakes are raised even higher. Events often use multiple targets or even spinning wheels.

Cutting Competitions

Throwing seriously sharp knives is not for everyone, especially me with my clumsy hands. It’s not the only sport/activity involving knives, though, so we’re not short of other options.

If it isn’t your thing as a hobby or a sport, perhaps try out a few cutting competitions. At least your bladed friends will never dangerously leave your hands.

You’ve seen some of these for sure. Contestants are tasked with cutting through Bamboo, ropes, or any other material quickly and cleanly.

The judges score the event based on those criteria. How quickly is the material cut, and how clean is that cut? Therefore, this sport involves speed but also high precision skills if you want to rank high.

Martial Arts Involving Knives

If you’re after something that involves physical movement on top of the sharpest knife-handling skills, then there are a few martial arts you could consider.

These highly skilled practices involve fluid defense and attack movements against an opponent who is also trying to score points against you using their own blades. Yeah, not for me, then. I’m not one for signing up for the potential to lose some limbs!

One such discipline is Filipino Kali, an Indigenous fighting art of the Philippines. It involves high-speed hand-to-hand combat, with grappling and weapon-disarming techniques thrown in.

There are many other disciplines, too, with SIlat and Arnis commonly practiced across Southeast Asia.

Hunting and Survival Challenges

Knives also play a central role in hunting and survival competitions. You know the type, where contestants are left with nothing but their trusty blade.

They must survive the best they can by using knives to catch and skin game or by creating tools. They’re also a great companion when it comes to building shelters or setting traps.

These events are a real test of a contestant’s resourcefulness and resilience. How versatile they are with the blade will determine how well they do.

The Final Cut

All of the above are not knife sports you can pick up quickly. A lot of skill and training are required to reach even a semi-adequate level. Therefore, if any interests you, it is essential to realize the amount of work you will have to put in.

You should also understand just how dangerous any sport involving a knife can be. Make sure you recognize the risks and take the steps needed to practice as safely as possible. Finally, do not try it alone. Seek out an expert and get the proper training required for such dangerous activities.

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