Wheel of death (impalement arts)

The Wheel of Death, in the context of the impalement arts, is a classic moving target stunt sometimes performed by knife throwers.

As the target rotates the thrower must execute a series of rapid, consistent and carefully timed throws to land knives on the segments of the wheel not covered by the assistant's body.

Husband and wife act The Gibsons, from Germany, have been credited with introducing the Wheel of Death into the US in 1938, when they featured in Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey's shows at Madison Square Garden.

The most challenging version is the Veiled Wheel, in which the target is covered with a paper screen so the thrower can't see the assistant.

It was first performed by The Gibsons in the 1930s; a duo named The Zeros followed them in the 1940s, Fritz Brumbach did it in Monte Carlo in 1978 and The Great Throwdini revived it in New York in October 2010 with hula hoop artist Melissa-Anne Ainley acting as his target girl.