Urban axe-throwing: It’s a thing

A new venue in Brussels called Woodcutter offers customers the chance to practise a little axe-throwing while having a beer. “There’s nothing better than throwing axes to start an evening with your friends,” the website reads, and while we at The Bulletin had not considered that before, it certainly makes sense to us now that we hear it.

Don’t worry, it’s all very safe: a team of axe-throwing coaches are running the place, and it’s not a bar as such where people are sitting around waiting to get decapitated during your first axe-wielding session.

Woodcutter is axes first and beer second. Customers can’t come in just to drink; a beer is included in the €17 price of each session. And sessions take place on professional wielding floors behind chain-link fencing.

Technique over strength

“A hundred years ago, people threw axes in most London pubs,” Woodcutter co-owner Julien Vandenitte told Bruzz. “It was actually the precursor to darts.” Urban axe-throwing is, he notes, “spreading like wildfire right now in the US and Canada”.

And like darts, it’s a game, with a target. Friends can play against each other, with axes getting closest to the bullseye getting the most points.

No prior axe-throwing experience is required, and Vandenitte says that practically anyone (18 or older) can do it. “Contrary to popular belief, it’s the technique that’s really important, not the strength.”

Anyone can walk in to Woodcutter on Rue des Alexiens in the centre for an axe-wielding session, or book one online in advance. It is also open to team-building events. Just be sure your colleagues like you.

Photo courtesy Woodcutter/Facebook