There’s something wonderful about performing a physical act of strength and skill. It makes you feel capable and determined. Or at least that’s true for me.
So when I had the chance to try throwing an axe, I jumped. I jumped in the car and drove over to Mo’s House of Axe where I had a ball throwing an axe (and a tomahawk), and I enjoyed a terrific brunch, too.
Mo’s House of Axe is one of the newest and most unique Things To Do in Los Angeles, with safe axe throwing, and a full bar and restaurant. For families with kids 9* and up, it’s a great way to spend time together.
Mo’s House of Axe
611 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles 90005
The Experience at Mo’s House of Axe
Whoever decorated the interior of Mo’s had a sense of style, and a good sense of humor, too. You’ll feel like you’re in a cabin in the woods, and luckily that cabin serves tasty food and drinks, and lets you throw axes at targets, too.
The look and feel is upscale, with leather couches near the throwing bays for lounging whenever you’re not throwing an axe, and mood lighting to help feel like you’ve escaped from Los Angeles – if only for a moment.
Mo’s is a place you can feel comfortable taking your kids, and they can handle a super fun Birthday Party for a crowd of teens, but it’s also a place you could easily spend time with a bunch of grown-ups only, like for a work party or a Mom’s Night Out.
Turns out that Axe Throwing is something a lot of people can enjoy.
Related: Things to do with Teens in Los Angeles
How it Works
Axe Throwing is the kind of activity that requires signing a waiver ahead of time, so you should know that going in. You can reserve a Bay online for almost any size group, and you can choose to throw before dining or after. (More about the food later.)
Safety Measures in Place
We’re talking about throwing sharp objects, like axes and tomahawks, so safety matters. First of all, you should wear the proper clothing for the activity. You’re going to be moving your body, so it’s best to avoid tight-fitting things, or clothing that restricts your movement too much.
You’ll also need to wear closed-toed shoes, for what may be obvious reasons. Leave the flip-flops and sandals at home, and come with those toes covered up. But if you forget, or don’t get the message, they’ll have some back-up shoes for you to borrow. Sort of like at the bowling alley.
The staff at Mo’s is interested in you having fun and not being hurt, so they make sure you’re aware of all these rules and best practices before and during your visit. But the best thing they do to help ensure safety is they give you a Throwing Coach.
How to Throw an Axe Properly
Coaches can make all the difference in performance in any sport, and the throwing coaches at Mo’s House of Axe do that for sure. But more importantly, the coaches help keep everything safe by keeping everyone aware of the rules, of how best to throw an axe, and of what not to do.
There are two basic ways to throw, according to the Axe Coach who taught me. There is a two-handed method, which seems to be a great way to start out, and a one-handed method that I tried once I felt more confident with two.
The two-handed method allows for more stability and accuracy, at least in my case. Throwing with two hands, I was able to land my axe near the center of the target after just a few tries. (OK, not quite in the bulls-eye.) Using one hand didn’t go as well for me. Your results may vary.
The key is learning to aim, rocking your weight back and forth from your front leg to your back as you throw (regardless of how many hands you’re using), and perfecting the timing of when to release the axe on its way towards the target. Too soon and it’ll go high, too late and it may hit the floor.
Axe Throwing for Family Fun
I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of my time sitting at a desk, so getting out and throwing an axe (or almost anything else) is pretty far outside my normal exercise. And I think that’s part of what made it so fun! I got to use my muscles in this very new way, making big movements and swings, which I’m sure are probably part of the newest pilates-type craze that we’re going to start reading about soon.
Kids move their bodies like this much more than adults do, generally, so it’s probably not going to be as novel for them. However, adding an axe to the mix will surely make it new for everyone.
Science note: there’s a buildup of dopamine** in the brain as you’re winding up to throw, and then there’s a release you’ll feel in your body as the axe flies out of your hands toward the target that’s exhilarating – just for that brief moment. And then you want to do it again. Super fun!
Things to do with Teens and Tweens in Los Angeles
Parents of Tweens and Teens know that it’s a challenge to find activities you can all enjoy, or it may be a challenge to persuade your kids to join you for families activities at this age. Sometimes the cooler the activity is, the easier it is to persuade them.
And it doesn’t get much cooler than throwing axes.
Plus you don’t have to be especially athletic to enjoy axe throwing. So whether your kids are “nerds” or “jocks,” I predict you’ll all have fun.
Bonus fun: Upstairs at Mo’s House of Axe you’ll find a quiet(er) room, with no axes for throwing, but lots of space and a wall filled with Board games. So if half the family wants to throw and the other half wants to play Scrabble, you’re all set.
Eating and Drinking at Mo’s House of Axe
The menu at Mo’s House of Axe is simple, yet filled with plenty of options for hungry axe throwers out there. From salads and veggies to serious meat-and-potatoes, there are plenty of options. And they have Gluten-Free and Vegan choices, too.
The really nice thing about the menu is that it’s not crazy expensive. With the exception of a couple of pre-order items, including a tomahawk pork chop or a 1/2 roasted pig head, not for the faint of heart, the food prices are very reasonable.
Mo’s is also known for Weekend Brunch and a Weekday Happy Hour – and the Happy Hour prices extend from food and beverages to axe throwing, too.
Drinking Options
There’s a full bar at Mo’s House of Axe, with signature cocktails, craft beer, and a decent wine list, that all sound delightful, but be aware of the drinking and throwing rules. No one can throw if they’ve had too much to drink, and the team at Mo’s gets the final say on that. Everyone’s safety is important to them.
Give Mo’s House of Axe a Try
Whether you’re an axe-throwing pro or a newbie like I was, I predict you’re going to like Mo’s House of Axe, and I think your family will, too.
*Feel free to contact Mo’s House of Axe and discuss the age guidelines before you go. You know your kid best and they may or may not be ready to throw an axe, regardless of their age.
** This is based on listening to podcasts about brain science. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. I was an English Major.
MomsLA was a guest of Mo’s House of Axe for this review.
Sarah Auerswald is the co-Founder and Managing Editor of MomsLA.com.
MomsLA is your source for Things to do with Kids in Los Angeles
Disclaimer: MomsLA has made every effort to confirm the information in this article; however, things can often change. Therefore, MomsLA makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy of the information published here. MomsLA strongly urges you to confirm any event details, like date, time, location, and admission, with the third party hosting the event. You assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our list. MomsLA is in no way responsible for any injuries or damages you sustain while attending any third-party event posted on our website. Please read our Terms of Use which you have agreed to based on your continued use of this website. Some events have paid to be listed on MomsLA.
