Hey guys, so for Day 5 of Paper Week I will be showing you how to make a rope dart with a newspaper.

Rope darts are a type of 'soft weapon' used in Chinese martial arts. They are considered to be one of the most deadly weapons used in kungfu, as well as being one of the hardest to learn. A rope-dart traditionally has an 8 -10ft long rope, with a metal spike or dart at the end, but for training purposes you can use a soft object such as a tennis ball, or as in this case, a newspaper.

WARNING, this could still cause damage if it hits you in the face. I am in no way responsible for any damage to person or property if you decide to make this.

Step 1: Gathering Materials

To make this you will need:

1 x newspaper
3 x 10ft lengths of para-cord
A roll of insulating tape (for beginners I recommend using brightly colored tape - for high visibility)

Step 2: Paracord

Tie the three lengths of para-cord together at one end and melt the ends to stop them from fraying.

Now you'll need to braid the para-cord - I used a pencil taped to the side of a trunk as a simple jig.

To braid the para-cord, put the left cord into the center, then the right cord; continue this process until you have braided the full 10ft. Then tie the ends together and melt them.

Step 3: The Paper

Roll up the open newspaper horizontally, then fold it in half and cut it at the fold. Secure it with tape then fold it in half again.

Step 4: Step 4

Once again, secure it with tape and pass about 10cm (4in) of the para-cord through the gap. Cover the whole thing in 2-3 layers of tape, tie the para-cord together, then use more tape to make sure the knot doesn't come undone.