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How to Build a Fighting Kite

Kite fighting is a hobby that transcends cultural bounds. Across the world, from Japan to India, Brazil to Afghanistan, kite fighting is practiced by children and adults alike. In some places, such as Thailand, kite fighting is even considered a national sport, and in many countries there are various competitions held. If you would like to try your hand at the hobby, you can start by making your own fighter kite out of household items and those that can easily be purchased from your local home improvement store.

Things You'll Need

Wooden dowel, 1/4-inch in diameter and 15 inches long
Straightened wire clothes hanger cut to 12 inches long
Ball of string
Scissors
Glue
Masking tape
13-gallon garbage bag, with no special closures or drawstrings
Crushed glass

Instructions

- 1
  Join the wooden dowel and wire hanger together to form a cross at the center of the wire hanger and the 5-inch point on the wooden dowel. Wind masking tape around them where they intersect to secure them together.
- 2
  Tie a length of string from the top of the wooden dowel to the left tip of the wire hanger. Repeat from the left tip of the wire hanger to the bottom of the dowel then again from the bottom of the wooden dowel to the right tip of the wire hanger. Finish with the right tip of the hanger to the top of the wooden dowel. Wrap tape around each tie to secure it in place. The finished product is the kite frame.
- 3
  Cut a trash bag to the size of the kite frame.
- 4
  Use masking tape to secure the edges of the trash bag to each of the four sides of the kite frame.
- 5
  Flip the kite over so you are looking at the frame of the kite.
- 6
  Tie a length of string to the crisscrossing middle of the frame.
- 7
  Attach another length of string to the bottom of the dowel, about 3 or 4 inches from the bottom tip of the kite frame.
- 8
  Tie one last length of string to the right side of the wire hanger at the tip.
- 9
  Bring all of the string ends together and tie them together. This is where you will attach the end of the spool when you want to fly the kite.
- 10
  Roll the top portion of the string attached to the spool in glue then roll the string in crushed glass. One of the elements of a fighting kite is the glass powder on the string, allowing it to cut the strings of competing kites. This is very dangerous and caution should be used when incorporating this element into your fighting kite.
- 11
  Decorate your kite with permanent markers if desired.

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