Knife training

[Popsickle]

Any ideas on what videos or books are better than others? On top of basic unarmed hand to hand combat and self defense i would like to learn how to use a knife for home defense in case lethal force is necessary in a life or death situation. A situation like that may never arise in my life, but i would like to study it and know how to defend myself and my family for the 1 time it happens rather than not know anything.(A GUN IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME)

also any ideas on a good knife would be appreciated. I'm looking at the Boker Applegate-Fairbairn Combat knife at the moment. I like the more simplistic designs.

[Thecarotidpulse]

Hey Pop,

welcome to the forum.

To be honest I hope that you'll find the sort of answers you're looking for.. but I can't help but feel that you're asking the wrong people. A lot of people on here are collectors, and appreciators of knives in the survival fight against the wild.... I think you'd have better luck contacting your local martial arts school.

THe other argument in favour of that is that nothing and I mean NOTHING beats training under the supervision of someone who knows what they're doing.

Secondly, I have no info for you about the Boker other than i've heard good things about them.. but I wouldn't buy a knife just for its combat capabilities.... You can do more than enough damage with a kitchen knife, so why not just get a good knife for other things? like when you and your family get caught in a hurricane or a flash flood and you need to live off what you find...

And thirdly my 2c about self defence.... in my line of work i've seen lots of violent situations and to quote the line from "the guardian" the only difference between you and the victim is the attitude with which you hit the water. Unless you're the sort of guy that pple hire Hitmen to take out you should be OK with a solid mind and a good grounding from a Martial arts school.

I'm sorry that I haven't been more of help, but hopefully this will point you in a better direction.

P.s if you're going to buy a solely combat oriented knife, get something with a big guard that extends just past your fingers, and don't get something too expensive because 1) you won't have your knife break on you if you stab someone, not likely
2) there is no way in hell that you will be able to keep that knife if you use it.

Serrations make my life a lot harder because the flesh grips the blade on stabbing.. when it grips the serrations they make extra damage.

[Popsickle]

great advice....a friend of mine gave me some of the exact same advice. "get a knife that you can use for anything"

[Thecarotidpulse]

The Ka - Bar heavy bowie is a nice beginner's sheath knife.. you can find the review on this site.

[Popsickle]

one step ahead of ya ;-) checking out the videos as we speak

[jackmcmanus21]

you should look for a martial arts school that specialized in and teaches weapons training

[sharpshooter996]

Hey Pop. If you truly need to learn how to defend yourself with a knife, and that is what you really want, I would strongly recommend the art of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. A Filipino Martial Arts.

I have studied this art briefly with a close friend and would have to say nothing else compairs. It will teach you so much more than just how to eliminate a threat with your edged weapon. And if you are going to learn an art like this you must have a training partner. And before you even think about purchasing a knife you need to get a plastic/rubber trainer, you simply can not train with a real knife.

Cardio makes some great points. Any martial arts will be of a great benefit. and taking a life is only and i mean only the absolute last option. 9 out of 10 circumstances do not require such action. and you have to be prepared for what is to happen next.

Above all be prepared, and have a plan. and another plan and another plan. You must be smarter than your opponent. because you will be the one caught off guard, thats why you need to have a clear mind and know just how you are going to react. that is what makes the difference between life and death.

just some closing thoughts- "the knife is quicker than the gun", "id rather be judged by 8, than carried by 6."

[Tac45]

For your home a knife may not be your best bet. A nice maglite 6 cell torch would be my suggestion. Much easier from a legally defenceable stand point too. A lot of folks would look strangely upon a blade that looks like it was made for battle. A knife may not stop the threat quickly.

The Maglite is very solid. It's built like a heavy baton with a light attached. The bright beam is very disorientationg.

Training is of the utmost importance. Videos and books are not enough. Humans don't react in text book ways. Even if using a blunt impact weapon training is required. Last thing you want is to loose what ever you are using to defend your life to an attacker. That is always the greatest threat. Have a look at the cool holsters for pistols from the major manufacturers. Then have a look at the pistol holsters that are made for duty use. Duty holsters have different levels of retention. Non duty holsters usually have one. The simple reason is that in an altercation you don't want to loose your weapon.

Shooter got it right in one. Out smart your opponent. Keep a cool head and think ahead. Training will help in this regard. Your actions will become an automated drill.

But by all means buy a knife. Buy plenty. That's what these forums are all about. The love of sharp pointy things.

[Tank]

if yout looking for a good knife to use for self-defense i would get the Gerber Guardian Back Up Fixed Blade Knife - Plain Edge here is a link to a site that sells it http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4746.php
i have had to use this knife in the very same way your thinking it gets the job done with out haveing that thought in the back of your mind that you might kill the person because the blade is to big and the sheath takes skill to get out fast so you dont have to wory about someone getting a hold of your knife


Tank

[Shaolin]

Yes, checkout some Filipino Martial Arts (FMA).

[kurodrago]

There is no weapon more lethal short distance (except firearms!!??) over the knife. Historically, in terms of combat, all cultures have developed their own type of knife fighting techniques to use it effectively. In some cultures is a sign of virility and power have always carry a knife, for purely deterrent purposes and / or self-defense. A fighter trained in knife is a dangerous figure whose defense against it can consist only in flight or in distance with a firearm. It 'also true that it is difficult to meet people who have reached that level of proficiency in the use of arms. But we must not underestimate that provide a knife is not at all difficult, and here that the attacker, without a specific preparation martial in the use of this weapon, it becomes a credible threat and deadly for the person even partially aware of techniques of self-defense.
The training in the use of the knife in combat techniques and their defense can never recreate the real situation. In fact, a person can become acceptably adept at handling the knife in simulated battles, but the feeling of discomfort when faced with an adversary armed with a real knife can never be recreated in training.
In the seventies has recognized the need into the U.S. to train its Special Forces to combat real with the knife. The solution is adopted then was to go to the best teachers of traditional martial arts available. Despite the high level of technical masters, the deepest problem of this type of training was the assumption that the knife attacks were "coded". The students were taught to react to attacks very specific knife, which in reality would not have met so easily. Then in the eighties a new generation of instructors has thought to change approach and go directly to who uses the knife "for trade". E 'so that the Filipino martial arts have known their success in the West.
Defend themselves from an attack with such instruments requires, in fact, a spirit of readiness and a decision movements uncommon. These skills may be innate in some people but most of us, developed with training instructors with constant preparation.
The biggest problem is the lightness with which some characters who bear the title of defense staff of instructors and how real then address the lessons on certain topics.
Not always the faces of crooks, but is rare to find people really prepared. Without fear of refutation, Careful attention, wary of those who teaches to disarm an attacker armed with a knife with a karate kick in hand, as seen in films. Or the attacker has the reflexes for some obscure reason on (alcohol, drugs, physical injury or percussion), or your foot and your leg will be cut, stab, injured.
The fighting with the knife is a question of courage, technique separately. This applies in comparison knife against knife, but it is even more bare-handed when we must defend from an attack by knife. The idea to obtain a deep cut pleases no one. The sad reality is at least one cut him suffer always and in every way. The ability to receive a cut in the less vulnerable part of our body. You can not expect to face a clash off the knife without even get a scratch, except that our enemy is very inexperienced in using the weapon (which most desirable situation, but we must never give it for granted).
Any knife will do if you do!!!! From cold steel cippo to more expensive knive like exstrema ratio ect...
The real problem is you must have with you when the situation presents itself, and know and use.
Book "Master of the blade"
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Blade-Secrets-Deadly-Fighting/dp/1581605641/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222389510&sr=8-1
I don't like its system but for beginners is a open mind:)

[Thecarotidpulse]

Great post! Very informative.

I am an Epee fencer, and once I asked my coach (a very experienced fencer who has been coaching for 30+ years) what he would do if he engaged himself in a duel, or had to defend himself with his saber.

He said that he would parry, disengage and handily pull out the pistol from the back of his pants and shoot the MotherF****

(only time I've ever heard him swear =) )