If you’re ever in a pinch and need a weapon, don’t worry! With this simple tutorial, you can easily make your own paper kunai. All you need is some paper and a sharp object, and you’ll be ready to take on any enemy.
Introduction
Kunai (苦無, くない) are throwing knives used as a ninja’s primary close-ranged offensive tool. They are often kept in the shinobi’s obi around their waist. A kunai can also be concealed in the sleeve or sleeve edge of the shirt. Kunai have pointed tips and sometimes have serrated edges to make them more effective as a stabbing weapons. They vary in length but are usually about 15–20 centimeters (5.9–7.9 in) long with a handle about 5–10 centimeters (2.0–3.9 in) long.
Kunai were first invented in China and later imported to and eventually mass-produced in Japan. Kunai were simple tools that were multi-purpose and could be used as not only weapons, but also climbing hooks, levers, or chisels.
During the Warring States Period, shinobi were hired by samurai clans to gather information and conduct espionage. The delivery method of these messages was often by throwing kunai into the target area with specific instructions written on them for the recipient.
During the ninjas’ Golden Age in Japan’s Sengoku period, kunai were often tucked into the ninja’s obi along with shuriken. Nowadays, kunai is considered more of a souvenir than an actual weapon due to its popularity among cosplayers, pop culture, and video games such as Naruto.
Although modern kunai are blunted for safety reasons, they can still cause serious injury if not handled with care
Kunai Construction
You will need two strips of paper for each kunai. The strips should be about 8 inches long and 1 inch wide. Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Then, take the two halves and fold them in half again so that you have a strip that is 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Fold the strip in half one more time so that it is 2 inches long and 1/4 inch wide.
Paper Folding
Paper folding is a popular activity among both children and adults. There are many different ways to fold paper, but the most common is origami. Origami is a Japanese word that means “paper folding.”
There are many different origami models that you can make, but one of the most popular is the kunai. The kunai is a sharpened throwing knife that is often used in martial arts.
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to fold a paper kunai:
- Start with a square piece of paper. If you don’t have a square, you can fold a rectangle in half to make a square.
- Fold the paper in half to make a crease. Then unfold it and fold it in half the other way to make another crease. You should now have four equal quarters.
- Take the top corner of the paper and fold it down to meet the bottom edge of the paper. Crease well and unfold.
- Repeat step 3 with the other three corners of the paper so that all four corners are folded down to the bottom edge of the paper. You should now have a smaller square inside of a bigger square.
5a. For this step, you will need to fold two opposite sides of the paper towards the center line that you created in step 2. Make sure that you leave about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm)of space at the center so that your kunai can open up later on. Crease well and unfold. b. Now, do the same thing with the other two sides. Again, make sure to leave about 1/4 inch (0 . 6 cm)of space at the center. Crease well and unfold. c. At this point, your paper now looks like an accordion or zigzag 6a. Take one side of the paper and fold it toward the center, making sure that the edges line up evenly b Now take the other side and do the same thing c Once both sides are folded, your paper should look like a triangle 7a Take one side of the triangle and fold it upward dsb fair each edge lineup evenly with the central line b Doesengf fold with e another side 8 Yourtriangle no w looks like amanji which is an oldJapanesesymbol for bad luck 9 For this next step you will need to cut two slots into the paper Theselits should be about 1/4 inch( 0 6cm ) long and spaced about1/2 inch( 1 3cm )apart from each other Mark each place with fold ora pen before cutting 10 Now take each end of the pape Grandin sertitintoa slitYoumayneedto trim off some excess paper if it does not fit snugly 11 Close up the slits so that your kunai can no longer open up you have nowcompletedyourpaperkunai
Cutting the Kunai
Assuming you already have the paper, you will need to cut it into Kunai’s shape. You can do this freehand or use a template.
If you are cutting freehand, start by cutting a triangle out of the paper. This will be the main body of the Kunai. Then, cut a smaller triangle out of the bottom corner of the first triangle. This second triangle will be the point of the Kunai.
If you are using a template, simply trace the template onto your paper and then cut it out.
Assembling the Kunai
To assemble the paper kunai, you will need:
- 1 sheet of paper
- Scissors
- Tape
- Ruler or measuring tape
Start by cutting a rectangle out of your sheet of paper. The dimensions of the rectangle will vary depending on how big you want your kunai to be, but a good starting point is 8 inches by 4 inches.
- Once you have your rectangle, fold it in half lengthwise.
- Next, cut two triangular shapes out of the long side of the rectangle. These triangles should be about 2 inches wide at the base and 3 inches tall.
- Now, unfold the paper and fold it in half widthwise. Once again, cut two triangles out of the long side of the rectangle. These triangles should be mirror images of the ones you cut in step 3.
- Unfold the paper once more and you should now have four identical triangles. Fold each triangle in half so that the pointy tips meet in the middle and tape them together to form a cone shape.
- Finally, tape the open end of each cone shut, and your kunai are complete!
Adding the Details - Now that you have the basic shape of your kunai, it’s time to add some details. Draw a line down the center of the rectangle to divide it in half. This will be the center of your kunai, so make sure it’s straight.
- Next, draw two smaller rectangles on either side of the center line. These will be the sides of your kunai, so make them about 1/3 the width of the main rectangle. Then, draw a triangle at the top of your kunai. This will be the point of your kunai, so make sure it’s sharp.
- Finally, add some lines to each side of your kunai to give it some texture. Once you’re happy with how your kunai looks, erase any unwanted lines and you’re done!
Finishing the Kunai
To finish the kunai, fold the remaining strip of paper in half lengthwise and staple it to the back of the kunai. Then, fold over the ends of the paper strip to create a loop for your thumb. Your kunai is now complete!
Conclusion
Assuming you have followed the instructions above, you should now have a few paper kunai that look something like this. They won’t be as strong or sharp as the real thing, but they’ll certainly be good enough for a paper fight!
