Blowguns are one of the few primitive types of weaponry that have made it to this century.  Efficient, simple and effective, blowguns are still used in many parts of the world as tools for hunting and self-defense.  But as simple as blowguns may look, they are, for all intents and purposes, still weapons.  No child should be playing with them, even if an adult is around to supervise.   Blowguns may look like fun toys to have but they are definitely not designed for kids.

Understanding the blowgun
A blowgun consists of two parts: a long, hollow tube and a projectile.  The hole in the tube is narrow enough so as to allow some sort of projectile or dart to be inserted and for air to be blown through.  The blowgun may be made with materials such as wood, bamboo, plastic or steel.  The projectile or dart may be made with the same materials or any combination of these.

Why kids and blowguns don’t mix
There are several reasons why blowguns are not for kids.  Here are just a few of them:

Younger children could hurt themselves or others
A blowgun is narrow and elongated while darts are sharp.  Kids, especially younger ones, are not really concerned for their safety or are just too trusting of themselves to actually consider a blowgun dangerous.  To them, it’s simply just a toy.  Children could easily harm themselves if they accidentally trip on the device or hit someone with it.

Projectiles could be swallowed
Darts come in a variety of sizes, majority of which are small enough for a young child to swallow accidentally.  A child could also hurt himself by attempting to fire the blowgun by inhaling with the other end of the blowgun still in his mouth and reversing the direction of the dart.

Furthermore, some dart varieties come with small parts that could be detached, chewed on and swallowed.  These parts could also cause choking.

The more accurate the blowgun, the more dangerous it is
Kids learn fast and it shouldn’t take them long to figure out the subtle adjustments they need to make in order to be able to fire accurately at a target.  In general, shorter blowguns are much more dangerous than longer blowguns because they are designed to be more accurate.

Shorter versions also do not require a lot of air to blow, so any child with enough air in his lungs could force it out and fire the projectile easily.  There could be some problematic consequences if it hits a person, an animal or another child.

It is illegal for a person younger than 18 to use or own a blowgun
Thinking of giving a child a blowgun as a gift?  Think again.  Your state does not allow it and in some parts, it’s illegal for even grownups to use, particularly if you live in Texas, Ohio, Florida, California and Massachusetts.  There is also an age requirement for its ownership and usage in states where it is allowed.

Part of the myth and mystique of the ninja involves their ability to fly, scale walls or travel huge vertical spaces seemingly without a lot of effort. This physical prowess of the ninja has made them very popular mythical figures.  But have you ever wondered how they really travel from one distance to another?  Many modern-day ninjas can tell you but they don’t necessarily need to have superpowers.  The answer to their seemingly superhuman ability actually lies in a simple tool – the ninja grappling hook.  If you’ve always wanted to unleash the real ninja in you, this is an important gear to have.

What is the grappling hook?
The ninja grappling hook is a tool made from metal.  It usually has three or four hooks arranged in a circular fashion for balance.  The hooks have one handle, which is attached to a rope.

The ninja grappling hook is used to scale vertical obstacles such as walls, rocks, concrete or trees.  They were traditionally used by ninjas to help them transfer from one location to the next, usually to climb up or down with the use of the attached rope.

Uses
The grappling hook is not just for ninjas alone.  They also have many practical uses for rock or mountain climbers, hikers, adventurists and even the military.  Grappling hooks can, for example, be used to move distant objects or create makeshift bridges across deep chasms or crevasses.  They can also be used to attach to objects and drag them from one place to the next.

Buying the ninja grappling hook
When buying the ninja grappling hook, look for a steel make.  This will help ensure solid stability and longevity of the tool.  After all, what’s a real ninja if the hook gives due to corrosion in the middle of a climb?

Inspect the length and material of the rope attached to the hook as well.  In general, ropes are made of nylon, which is sufficiently strong and can hold up to a few hundred pounds of weight.  Look for a good length as well.  Most retailers offer ninja grappling hooks with at least 30 feet of rope.  If you need a longer rope, you could purchase additional length and attach this instead.

Using the ninja grappling hook
To use the grappling hook, hold the tool firmly by the end of the rope nearest the end of the hook.  Swing this rope around until you obtain a sufficient momentum.  When you’re ready, you can release the hook so that it reaches and attaches to your target.

An important thing to remember: always practice on using the ninja grappling hook.  You have to be confident enough to use it efficiently and safely so that when you truly need it for an emergency, it won’t fail.

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