Bad Axe Throwing comes to Windsor

By Kenneth Pastushyn

Bad Axe Throwing, the world’s largest axe throwing club, is bringing the thrill of a popular Canadian backyard pastime to Windsor.

Bad Axe was founded in 2014 and based in Burlington, Ont., with 20 locations throughout North

America. There are other locations across Canada including Mississauga, Ottawa, Kitchener, Vaughan and Toronto in Ontario as well as Winnipeg and Surrey, B.C. Bad Axe was open on Nov. 24 for birthday parties booked in advance. Walk-ins that evening were also welcome. For most of the guests, it was their first time throwing a standard 16-inch camping axe at a wooden target. Of course, safety is the number one priority and a waiver must be signed before participating.

“When you book an event with six or more people there is always a coach with you,” said Rebecca Jokiel, president of the Windsor location. “When it’s walk-ins, we teach you safety and we will oversee you, but we won’t be with you.”

Bad Axe Windsor has six coaches and one operations manager certified by the World Axe Throwing League. Before starting, the coaches explain the safety rules which include no axes out of the range area, no food or drink inside the range and no unnecessary swinging of the axes. You cannot  swing around your legs and you cannot swing the blade behind your head. Also make sure you throw it towards the target and not backwards. Finally, all axes must be placed on the axe holders after everyone has finished throwing.

“Our goal is to get everyone a bullseye at the end of the night,” said Jarrett Jokiel, operations manager in Windsor and son of Rebecca. “It’s our goal but it’s not guaranteed.”

Some throwers hit the target right away while others take more time. Certified coaches like Jokiel first show newcomers the two-handed, overhand as if you were gripping a baseball bat as you swing overhead, just like throwing a soccer ball inbounds.  

“When you come forward, let it slip out of your hand and don’t try to flick it,” said Jarrett.

As for the follow through, you can step into it or stand still, but don’t go past the red line. If the novices are doing well, the coaches will show them some trick shots.

Jarrett Jokiel also demonstrated the “one-handed axe overhand throw” with one or both hands and with two axes in each hand. He also demonstrated “underhand throwing” like a bowling ball with one and two axes in each hand.

Jarrett can also do triple and quadruple axe overhand throws – and he started only in June of this year. His father started a month earlier.

“I tried it at a team building event in Winnipeg and loved it,” said Andre Jokiel, Jarrett’s  father and a co-owner who is  licensed and affiliated with Bad Axe. “And I thought I’d bring the love of axe throwing to Windsor.”

Bad Axe’s grand opening will be coming soon where more team building events will take place and axe throwing leagues will begin in January. There is no beer being served yet, but Bad Axe has applied for an alcohol license.

For an event it costs $40 a person. For walk-ins it’s $20 an hour.