Beauty and the Hammer Throw

The basic mousetrap may be simple, but it is an engineering feat (bear with me, this post is actually about hammer throwing). With just three parts, it is able to accomplish its task for hundreds as years while more complex versions have tried and failed to be more efficient. But if one part is removed, and it no longer works. There is the beauty, not just in its simplicity, but in the relationship between its parts.

While hammer throw technique is far from simple, it offers the same inter-connectivity. Like the mousetrap, hammer throw technique has its component parts: the feet must complete the footwork, the knees must stay bent, the hips must try to stay level, the core must push, the arms must relax, etc. However, like the mousetrap, remove just one element and the others go with. Without proper footwork, balance is thrown off and the core can’t push the hammer. Vice versa, if the hammer is not pushed, the lower body will not be able to do its part.

The hammer throw is impressive to watch in part because of how everything fits together. But, unlike the simple mousetrap, it is also beautiful because it is so complex. The rhythm, the footwork, and the power all combine to produce a great throw. What also sets the hammer throw apart is that each element, while not independent, is beautiful on its own. The footwork, for example, is more complex than many dance moves; it most be done swiftly, precisely, while being both powerful and delicate. The result can be mesmerizing.