Cushioned Rubber Inset Grip
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You want to learn to use and defend against knives
You are a practicing martial artist and you decide that maybe there is more to defending your self against an edged weapon than some of those "fancy commando kung fu " moves you are learning in the Dojo. Chances are the Sensei, Shidoshi, Sifu, master or grand master will tell you that you are learning everything you need to know in the Dojo. Maybe you bought into it too. That is until the instructor decides to work on knife and counter knife techniques in class and you realize that the "Steven Segal flashy shim sham" wouldn't really work out on the street against someone who is un trained or even someone who is hopped up on narcotics. So what do you do?, Where does one learn Knife fighting? I guess you could try to track down your local dope dealing hood and ask if he'll show you some techniques from the ghetto. Maybe you could start a pen pal relationship with a prison inmate. It is often said that men in prison learn to fight with shanks and knives for survival. A more realistic approach would be to start in the phone book. Look for a martial arts school that offers a knife protection or defense program. If you are not satisfied with the phone book search, then try the Internet. Google has all the answers.
The Internet
Anyone who is interested in learning knife or counter knife techniques, and decides to type in knife combat or knife fighting will see; displays of links for Marc "The Animal" MacYoung or Hock Hocheim's methods of knife fighting or knife combat. These are two of the most respected names in the business of knife combat instruction. Marc MacYoung has an entire slew of web pages and Internet propaganda that would convince you to buy his "knife fighting" library; as does Hocheim. There are also hundreds of Escrima, Kali Silat and Israeli military combative programs advertised on the net. This plethora of options can only add to confusion. You ask yourself; "What is the best?" This is truly a million dollar question. For the most part people will simply choose the best style or system to suit their own particular taste. This article is just a reference to help assist knowledge hungry individuals who want to learn the basics of edged weapon combat.
How to decide on a good knife combat system
When looking for a good knife combat system there really are several details that one should be concerned with. There are always the basics.
Is the program easy to learn and pick up?
Does the system require lots of time and hours of training?
Is it efficient and practical?
There are some other things to to take into consideration. Things such as terminology, philosophy, is the system vetted and what is the source.
That's right I did mention terminology. You may ask , "what does terminology have to do with knife fighting?"
Terminology
Let's take the simple terminology of what it is that you wish to learn. Do you want to learn Knife fighting, or Knife combat? Is there a difference? You bet! Terminology often reflects philosophy for example let's take the term "Knife Fighting". Knife fighting implies struggle, when I hear the term knife fighting I often associate it with dueling. Dueling is the back and forth cat and mouse game of tag with edged weapons. This is truly not the mentality you want to have when dealing in edged weapon combat. The more you tag back and forth the more you get cut, the longer the struggle , the more likely you will be bled out and killed. This is serious business! Many programs that offer "Knife fighting" teach dueling. Many of these would be experts are simply "Joe black belts" from sing Sang's Dojo who want to dabble in the imaginary world of knife and edged weapon combat. The problem here is that knife and edged weapon combat is far from imaginary. This stuff is real and deadly! As someone who has been in the martial arts over 25 years I cringe at the sight of those "Knife fighting" systems.
"Knife combat" is another term which is often used in edged weapon combat instruction. This is a term I favor more, and yes once again it does matter. When one hears the word combat one can't help but think of war and soldiers battling on the front line. The thing about war is that it is deadly. Everything about war is death. You either kill or be killed. This term does not suggest that two people will frolic about back and forth with knives re enacting a theatrical version of the West Side Story. The term knife combat suggests that this is war. It is kill or be killed and it is all about efficiency. Efficiency is quickness when dealing with a knife wielding adversary. More importantly combat is one of those situations that to make it out alive is to have survived. This is knife combat.
Philosophy
The philosophy in which the system portrays is also very important. The philosophy behind the techniques is really the attitude of the instructor. Is the program stressing the importance of survival at all costs? Does the program concentrate too much on exact techniques? Does the program rely on fine motor skills or inform the trainee that in the heat of combat the body looses all fine motor skills when the heart rate exceeds 180 BPM? Does the program concentrate too much energy and time being on the ground? What stances, postures and grips are used and why? Your choice in a system should heavily rely on the mental and psychological aspect of the system and you should always have an explanation of why you are doing a stance, posture, move or technique. Recently there are more and more systems out there that rely on ground fighting with knives. There are actually instructors with so little common sense that have the audacity to try and pass off Jujitsu ground fighting as a great defense method in countering a knife. For anyone out there who believes that the ground is where you want to be in the street; I hope you have good life insurance. By the way you deserve what ever happens to you. This is not to say that you should not learn take down counters or ground techniques to aid in recovering if taken down. Ground fighting is a combat sport and not practical in a life and death scenario.
Is the program vetted?
It is always reassuring to know that the system you are training in is vetted. Being vetted is another term for has it been applied in real life, and was it successful. Once more I refer to the Internet. You will see a million people out there marketing their system by saying the C.I.A. uses it, Special Forces, Navy Seals, NY PD, etc. etc. The bottom line with this one is to do your research. there is no sure fire way to find out this information sometimes. Read about it. If they claim that the system is used and vetted by agency A,B,C,D; then google the system and agency or organization. Research, if it seems sketchy or un realistic it probably is. Another way to back up weather or not the system is vetted is to verify the instructor or founder's credentials. Research the source!
Verify the source.
This is my favorite part. Sometimes this is almost as entertaining as the vetting issue. Just like the vetting issue , where the systems have been used by Agencies A,B,C,D,E,F and G, The "Designer, Master, Guru,Instructor or Founder", will often claim their expertise through an unlimited number of platforms. Most often the favorites are Navy Seals, Secret Agents, Criminals turned good and Martial Arts Masters. My advice is do the research here as well. I will give you an example lets compare between two of the most respected names in the industry, Hocheim and "The Animal" Marc MacYoung. Hocheim is an actual military veteran who served in the 1970's after his service in the military he became a police officer in Texas and later on became a private investigator from 1997 to 2000. He even got into the private security field and has authored several books. I have to say this guy is legit and can back up any of his stories.
Now let's talk "The Animal" . Mr. MacYoung or "The Animal" as he calls himself has led a life, he self proclaim es as "street fighting and deadly knife battles". He notes himself as one of the most analytical thinkers on surviving violence. Although he is intelligent and much of his program is spot on as far as mental preparation and mind set, I have not bought in to his hype. He professes to have seen been part of and witnessed all kinds of deadly street battles and knife fights. Anyone who can claim the things that he states on his websites should by all rights be serving a life sentence. Although he may sell lots of books and put on a lot of seminars, I recommend to do your research.
Curriculum
The two gentlemen who I have mentioned above are the two top names in the enterprise of knife combat instruction. Of course there are several other options to choose from these are simply two of the more popular examples. I would like to give an example of what I feel a great knife program should entail in it's curriculum. Curriculum is the most important factor in choosing a solid program. Once more I refer to the How to decide on a good knife combat system portion of this article for the basics.
- Is the program easy to learn and pick up?
- Does the system require lots of time and hours of training?
- Is it efficient and practical?
I would also like to cover some very important issues that should be taught as part of a good knife program.
- Footwork
- Types of Knives and blades, and how they apply in combat
- Vital targets, (And I don't mean O'Sensei's mystical Chi point chart)
- Take down defense
-Transitions I.E. Knife verses Knife, Knife verses Unarmed, and Unarmed verses Unarmed Techniques
Food for thought
When looking for a good system you will have to find one that appeals to your core values and personal preferences. I hope that this article has been of service to you. I strongly recommend doing your research and keeping an open mind. If you are a Martial Arts student training at the local Dojo and your instructors are upset because you choose to venture outside the Dojo to enhance your knowledge in self protection training; then I also recommend that you look else where to train. Knife Combat is real, it is painful and it is deadly. Remember this may save your life or the life of a loved one. Anyone who would try to discourage enhancing your abilities in these areas doesn't deserve your time. Below I have linked several legitimate references for knife combat training. I hope that if you are truly interested in learning these techniques that you find a system that is right for you. I also pray that you never have to use it.
Marc MacYoung's NoNonsense Self Defense
Andrew Curtiss is an Army veteran of 11 years. He is author of Combat Application Techniques: Principles Of Destruction (book on Knife and Hand to Hand Combat). Andrew is the former 1995 American Independent Karate Association Men's black belt champion in Kata, Sparring and Weapons. Andrew holds a 2nd dgree black belt in Tae Kwan Do and Shurite Kenpo Karate. He is a former kickboxer and current professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
His Websites:
http://www.freeselfdefense.zoomshare.com
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