Taking to the Line

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The ‘Oche’ line, where everyone throws the darts to the board. In previous articles I have mentioned the datsu-kamae and the datsu-no-kata, etc. but here is where I talk about taking root, assuming the kamae and the locking ‘almost’ the entire body into that position. When you assume the kamae the only parts of your body that move at the span of time for tossing the dart(s) is the arm. In this example and in my case that is the right arm.

The great part about this is once you find the most comfortable and efficient kamae, body position, you can practice to assume that position and stance for every single dart you throw be it in practice, in local darts and in tournaments. The most complicated part of this is the way to use the arm to throw darts effectively, efficiently and accurately.

In the beginning, while you practice over and over again, it will come across as and feel a bit mechanical. The goal is to find and keep that perfect toss of the arm and make that happen consistently, effectively, efficiently, accurately and with a certain rhythm and cadence. It is this last achievement of rhythm and cadence and fluidity that will make the arm, the only truly moving part, to get-r-done. No, this is not the only aspect of the whole but an important part when coupled with other efforts creates the ability to toss darts well.

When you assume the position at the oche line, when you lock the body into position then you have to set your shoulder girdle in its optimal position much like you would in performing the, ‘sanchin kata.’ Yes, as I explain for those who have no background in martial arts and karate and it will become clear later.

We all will experience stress especially when we leave practice and face off with a stranger in a match. The unknown tends to make fear and fear triggers the adrenal stress-conditions of a competitive environment. If you wish to throw well in darts it is imperative you expose yourself to that stress, overcome the fearful reactions of your body and mind and then compete/train to become a master of the darts. 

In martial arts as well as other stressful professions and disciplines you have to train and practice those things necessary to counter the adrenal dump, some call it the chemical dump, so you can act. Usually, the very first noticeable, if you are aware and you will be now that you know, tension you will feel from exposure of this stress is in your shoulders. Most people will tense and that will raise the shoulders up as if you were trying to pull your head into your neck like a turtle pulls its head into its shell. You have to train to relax those shoulder muscles and allow your shoulders to drop down and remain in a natural positively relaxed position. This is required even when you put your arm into motion and toss the darts. Any shoulder movement not directly tied to and beneficial to the arm in motion is not a good thing. I have tossed darts with my shoulders down and positively relaxed in practice and my throws have been better. 

This falls back on the concept that the arm must do most of the work to get that dart to the intended target. But the shoulder down is only the beginning. The next thing you must be aware of and relax is the face. When stresses our faces also take on tension, the muscle will tighten up so you have to feel your facial muscles and consciously relax them along with the shoulders. In tandem with these two you have to breathe properly.

Proper deep slow diaphragmatic breathing is the order of the day. You should be doing this at every moment you feel stress and the tensions of those muscles. As you relax the shoulders, chest comes along as well as the upper back, the face and along with that comes the neck and to follow will be the body including the arms. Any tension in that arm or the body will effect the throw. 

Know as well that stress and the chemical dump will have some adverse effects on you such as a loss of fine motor control. Fine motor control of that upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand and fingers will kill you throw and darts. This is how you take control back so that your body will follow your mind and achieve your goals in darts whatever those may be. 

For me, when I practice, I move up to the oche, assume my kamae, position my body, hold my darts in my left hand, look down and choose the first dart, set my grip, look up at the board and target, move my hand and dart up to aim it while I set my arm:

• Forearm should be vertical.
• Elbow down pointing to the ground.
• Elbow and forearm aligned in sight line to the target.
• Grip holding the dart with a comfortable yet firm grasp.
• Aim and focus direct vision at the target.
• Use peripheral vision to make sure the arm is set properly.
• Pull back, flex the fingers and hands as trained and then flow forward to the release point.
• Let loose the dart and make sure you always follow through, always.
• Once the follow through is completed you lower the hand for the next dart while your direct vision is on that target until the dart sinks into the board.
• Then make any adjustments, i.e., new target; new position on the oche if needed and then repeat the process till all three darts are in the board.

This example is only my thoughts as I write, it is imperative that you create your own kata and process to achieve the most efficient and accurate dart throw but my example can be used as a guide in finding your own darts. You need to work it out and fill in any holes to achieve that goal on your own. It is after all your darts and no one else can toss them for you and no one else can say how that is done in the end.

Lets step back a bit, the below graphic is not the one and only way to assume your stance to throw darts but it shows mine as an example. I have noted my feet positioning especially the distribution of my weight to include that I root by making sure both feet are firmly planted, not on my toes or leaning my weight over or forward of my right foot, seek the balance point shown to see what I mean. 

It is my belief that anything else puts to much instability into my dart throw. One of the teachings of karate as to punching and striking is how you apply appropriate power and force with proper energy generation and transference. The structure of the arm and its stability tends to both convey maximum energy, force and power while at the same time it also, if not properly aligned and structured, bleeds off that same energy, force and power.

In darts, the elbow movement, the ability of the wrist to move and all the alignment and so on can either get the dart to the target or if even a minuscule part of the entire arm is off the dart will end up in dev-null, a non-scoring part of the board, or even end up bouncing off to the floor, not a good thing in darts don’t you agree?

p.s. this is the kind of analysis and synthesis necessary to find your darts but unless you can apply it all to practice and playing the game it means nothing so work it out for yourself, find your darts and then get-r-done!

Note: I got and modified the graphic online through google image search. It is also used on the Darts501.com site in an article about throwing darts. I wish to tip my hand to “Darts501.com” as the inspiration for this graphic.

Click for larger view, see originals at darts501 by clicking
the link in the last paragraph above. 

OFF TOPIC: In a Nutshell

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What is missing in modern society and the cause of all this mess is this, “We are not in a state where everything is important and nothing is taken for granted and the world should be about the importance of human relations that is governed by whether you can trust the other person with your life.” 

If we could establish a culture and belief that every facet of life here is important and that nothing in our world, society and culture is to be taken fro granted and then if we can all establish and live a relation with others governed by how well we trust one another with our very lives I feel we could get back that spirit that made this country and its people great so long ago. 

Datsu [ダーツ] no Kata [の型]

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Datsu-no-kata is about a model, a form, a rhythm; setting a pattern, a template or a mold toward a standard form of a movement, posture, rhythm and cadence to toss/throw darts both in practice and in a competitive environment of unknown practitioners at unknown skill levels. 

In martial arts the core or cornerstone of karate practice is the kata along with basics, usually a combination of the two, i.e., basic techniques along with techniques (a collection of moves used for fense in this case).

Lets use a competitive stand to create our datsu no kata, i.e., we are in a major tournament and our goal is to achieve the best darts possible. In most competitive endeavors the goals are to win, win, win and to get awarded the purse, purse, purse - money, money, money. That is a great goal and it is often the one most use to drive their efforts. I want to suggest a slightly different approach.

Our, my, goal is to play against myself, my darts and the dartboard through the games of 301, 501 and Cricket. As I stated in another article my goal in those games is to toss/throw a perfect game. I don’t want any distractions, i.e., to achieve datsu mushin or immovable mind; no distractions of my competitor or his game; no distractions from viewers/audience members; no distractions of others or other things as to noise or game levels or scores and so on except mine. I want immovable mind that moves into a datsu-no-kata for each set of three darts. My mind and perceptions narrow down so that all I see in my darts, the ockey line, the board and then the rhythmic cadence of the throw of the dart, the datsu-no-kata in perfection all the way to the dart hitting the intended target in each moment for each situation/game to best my last dart or set of three throws. 

I want to immerse myself in the kata, the darts, the board and the throw. You can imagine it to be like the art of the archer in Asian Martial Arts. The only difference in the process is a focus on hitting the intended target while the Asian art of Archery ignores the bull’s eye, the target, and focuses on the act of releasing the arrow through its kata.

How do we do this datsu-no-kata; 

• First, we perform a mokuso; clearing the mind to achieve mushin state of mind.
• Second, we visualize our kata and our throwing of the dart before stepping to the ockey line.
• Third, we perform the kata as set forth next:
• Stand behind the other darter.
• Focus on the darts in your hand.
• Adjust the shafts for tightness, check the flight. Position the first dart in the throwing hand.
• Raise the eyes and focus on the back of the darter ahead of you; ignore their throws, ignore their targets, and ignore their scores, etc.
• Remain in a state of mokuso along with continued visualization of your darts and the kata you will perform when your turn arrives.
• Walk quietly and with focus up to the ockey line.
• Assume your dart kamae, your stance.
• Check your grip on the dart.
• Bring your eyes up for the first time to focus direct vision on your intended target.
• Keep your focus on the target while raising your throwing hand up until your peripheral sees the hand, target and arm in position aimed at the target.
• Breathe, focus on the target, see peripherally the dart, hand, arm, grip position, in a rhythmic movement with fluidity pull back till the dart is at your cheek and still in peripheral view throwing and following through releasing the dart at the release point and let the arm and hand drop from the final follow through point down to your hand with the other two darts while focusing on the dart entering the target.
• Feel the second dart taking position in your throwing hand, feel the grip assuming its proper and correct position, move your eyes to the new/next target according to the last and goal of all three then repeat the process of the throw as stated above. 
• Fourth, repeat the kata at the ockey line from the dart-kamae only adjusting to move across the ockey line to achieve efficient, proficient and correct position to aim and hit the target as necessary.
• Fifth, upon releasing the last or third dart, relax, lean back a moment, check the scoring and then move to the board and remove the darts.
• Sixth, turn to the right and walk quietly around and out of the way of the other darter who is already on the ockey line to take a position behind him to again set, visualize, and focus on his back in a state of mushin and mokuso.

Remember, this is just a suggestion and outline of a possible dart-kata that once mastered will in all probability take you to the winner’s circle time and again and also remember that a solid achievable byproduct of this type of immovable mind still gets you the win and still puts you in the money as long as you adhere to the other principles of such a discipline - practice, practice, practice and when you have reached master you practice, practice and practice some more. The key to success is diligent, continuous, ongoing and reality based practice, practice, practice with training, training, and more training.

Remember, and review the articles below, that the basics are critical in both throwing darts and the practice through dart-kata, dart-kamae and reality based practices and competitions. 

BASICS: The Throw; The Grip; The Stance (Dart Kamae); and Moving.

Note: It may come up, what experience do I have that makes me qualified to write such articles? First, I have over forty years in martial arts, i.e., Okinawan karate and Chinese Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Gung. I tossed darts for three years with a moderate amount of success about twenty years ago. I am returning and applying my skills in martial arts toward the art of darts. I am also returning to darts so I am not just developing things like the datsu-no-kata but practicing diligently to gain back my previous skills then go past those toward a type of mastery. I will be returning to local dart events to continue the return and my goal is to qualify to compete against myself in tournaments against my peers who have more years, more experience and more mastery than I.

My goal in writing these articles is first and foremost selfish, I am using it as a means to analyze and synthesize my dart prowess what ever level that may be at this time. I am also writing to develop and improve my writing abilities and finally I write in a public/social forum, this blog, so I may present my theories, ideas, and results to others to exchange them in a manner that allows all of us in the dart community to improve and play well not just with ourselves but with others. 

Bibliography:

Chaplin, Patrick, PhD. “The Official Bar Guide to Darts.” Sterling Publishing. New York. 2010.

Datsu Chushin [ダーツ中心]

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This term or phrase or whatever it may actually be is to express a type of focus, i.e., a centering, the heart of, the focus of, an emphasis and balance on being centered. Being centered is another way of saying you have balance in life but herein I mean to say that one must achieve a complete and total “focus” on darts. 

Datsu-chushin is about darts focus. It is about applying a type of immovable mind where distractions are not possible or at least pushed out of the conscious mind while performing datsu-no-kata in a game of darts. 

To center oneself not just in the tanden, the belly or center of our bodies, but to center one’s mind on one distinct thought, visualization and act. The act of throwing the perfect dart that hits the target consistently and achieve the darters goals, to throw a perfect dart game. 

I am talking about such a focus that you are actually putting on blinders, symbolically, on your eyes and ears so that you cannot be disturbed while throwing/tossing darts at the dart board. This is another reason why I suggested a refocus, a paradigm shift, away from the classic goals and mind-set of winning and winning money. That is, as stated in another article, merely a benefit of having a perfect game plan and implementing it with a focus not on the adversary or his throws or his scores or his lead in the game but on you, yourself, your darts, your kata throws, etc., and your dart board while everyone and all else falls out of focus and becomes just a dim disturbance of your environment, a non-distraction environmental condition you play around. 

Bibliography:

Chaplin, Patrick, PhD. “The Official Bar Guide to Darts.” Sterling Publishing. New York. 2010.