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[Hock]

“I just love the knife!” I hear from some folks. I sometimes wonder what kind of "knife love" they actually experience about knives? What does it really mean when they say - and when we say - “the knife?” Does it mean "all things knives?" The study of knife fighting? Like killing? Maiming? Violence?..

See the 4 May entry
http://www.hockscqc.com/blogs/05-11/index.htm

[Kentbob]

I would say that for me personally, there is a certain artistry in edged weapons, and in the arts associated with edged weapons.  There is a certain artistry in a well made firearm as well, but it is a different kind.

I like looking at knives and thinking about what functions they would be best at, ie hacking something, cutting rope, opening MREs.  I like the knife training that I've done because I think it has added a great amount of depth and layers to my ability to fight in close quarters.

Also, hacking and slashing at a war post is as good at relieving stress as shooting a pistol is, and better exercise at the same time.  The caveat to all of this is that I never allow myself to forget that the intent of my weapons and weapons training is to hurt someone who is trying to hurt me.

Kent

[Hepcat]

I was first interested in knife defence in the early 90's while working as a bouncer.  Found my way into Arnis/Escrima and my respect for the knife continued to grow as a force multiplier and weapon.  I have a power point show I run students through and want them to think about the results of steel vrs flesh encounters and the emotional results (as well as the physical) of using a blade.  Any one that appears to me to not "get it" is someone I will not train with.

I have many knives, some work out better for me than others.  Currently my favourite warpost knife is a 7" Kabar. I admire the function and utility and would hope I am not living in some fetish fantasy land. My daily carry is usually a pair of Waved spydercos (Delicas or Enduras). They just plain work and the trainers available are a bonus.  I would hope to never be in a fight involving knives but I train to defend myself and like to have lots of tools in the tool kit.

[grlaun]

I have always remembered Hock's comment that knife fighting is a 'nasty, dirty, wet business'  THAT alone punctured any illusions I had about how 'cool' knife stuff is...
I train for results: unarmed, impact weapons, edged weapons and fire arms.  Some of those results are life changing and/or disfiguring... While the weapons themselves are designed for looks at times their use is not just to cut rope, open mail or boxes.   Keeping the purpose of the edged weapon in mind should sober the user.  The training should be fun and exciting but the underlying seriousness of what is being done should be kept in mind. 

Just my 2 cents...

[sarguy]

“I just love the knife!” I hear from some folks. I sometimes wonder what kind of "knife love" they actually experience about knives? What does it really mean when they say - and when we say - “the knife?” Does it mean "all things knives?" The study of knife fighting? Like killing? Maiming? Violence?..

See the 4 May entry
http://www.hockscqc.com/blogs/05-11/index.htm

I think the "knife love" is more or less the fawning over a tool that supposedly imbues the possessor with some sort of power. Kinda like people who thing owning a sports car means they can actually drive worth a damn.  IMHO, for those folks it's all some form of playing with one's phallic props until they come to grips with the "dirty, nasty, wet" end of things.

Did they think knife fights were like on Micheal Jackson videos or West side story?


That said, if you did happen to participate in some sort of knife design, I'd be game for one, plus the accompanying trainer. Some things are just too cool to pass up. (Meaning I'm probably guilty of some sort of knife fondness myself)

[whitewolf]

Only way to gain experience in the knife culture is to train in it-taking Hocks seminars is  great way to wake up to reality-it is not cool it is scary-(at least to me)-as i get into the training more and more i see instructors to stay away from and who to learn from.
Personally I think that the mental aspect of defense against a knife is paramount-if you melt down and fall on the floor praying he will not cut you will get you damaged if not killed-one has to attack attack attack-and i use Hocks statement- its not over till ts over-finish him first -WW

[TLE]

I carry a knife because it gives me an edge. ( no pun intended) If my life s on the line, it might help me survive, and it might not. If i was in a state the allowed concealed carry, I would carry a gun.plain and simple. I did when I lived in such a state. I did go through the stage where i was always on the lookout for new designs and bought many, many ( read- too many!)moderately priced knives.  Went to knife shows , got all the catalogues etc... I have bought just about every knife DVD/ book out there and attended numerous edged weapons training seminars. Now, I have sold almost all my knifes, DVD's and books, haven't done any " official training " in years and have couple of knives  that are confortable for me carry and access.  What have I learned? A knife is no good to you if you don't have it with you- it is really helpful if you can access it quickly- the pointed side goes in- and you better figure on some heavy legal shit if you use it.

[Mr. Barnett]

When you look at my knife, you can see that it's been through hell and back, the factory edge is long gone, and so are the teeth from the tiny serrated section.  I use it every day.  When i leave it at home for some reason, like when my wife steals my clothes to wash them, I get stuck somewhere without my knife, and there's never anything around like a knife when you need one.  I wear it mainly to keep making holes and tears in my pants though.  As for having an "edged weapon" on me, well, that don't hurt either.  What would be bad is if I had to use my knife for a weapon in defeat of an enemy.  Hopefully it would be more bad for the enemy than for me.  I actually dislike the fact that I've had to learn and practice destroying someone with an edged weapon.  Dean Goldade was the one person that I asked help from to help me with a knife attack.  After that, Well, here we are today.    It's like that though, and what I've learned has been an incredible journey around the world.  I've met the best teachers in the world, and keep the mentality that if you 're going to learn to do something, damn-it, learn all the way through, -to an end that never arrives, because we never really stop learning.

Mr. Barnett

[Mr. Barnett]

Like watching the Army Training on knifes presented on FB.
Here's what i saw:
1.  no determined attack.  just a dueling attempt.
2.  defence against a dueling attempt, and you are empty handed, would mean, run.
3.  at least the guy grabbed the knife bearing limb, but then had no idea what to do next.
4.  rolling around on the ground, I mean mats is fun.
5.  saw no basic fundamental motions indicating that any training was done other than "grab the weapon bearing limb" on the defender, and no real knife attack training, because there was no real knife attack. 
Anyways, I was disgusted with that video.  Maybe i didn't eat enough breakfast, and have been grumpy all day.

Mr. Barnett

[Webby]

For me it's a two fold thing

1. Self-Protection and teaching others 2. Understanding the criminal mind set. I train to teach, sometimes it's just a lecture on edged weapons sometimes full-on counter-knife fighting. I read everything I can on edged weapon's ( from crime stat's and news story's to training manuals ), I watch DVDs, You Tube, Train with other instructors, talk to Police, nurses, criminal's, kid's, anyone who carry's or deal's with those who carry. I've done this for as long as I care to recall. It's made me a good instructor and a better person..

Webby...   

[whitewolf]

web -glad to see you review vidios also- WW

[Mr. Barnett]

It's hard work.  My hat is off to all you guys out there doing this as a full time profession, or even maintaining and operating a school.   All the homework is necessary.  But it pays back when you have good students.  Great even. 

Sometimes, 2 cents is all i've got
G.

[Benjamin Liu]

I've carried a knife since I joined the Cub Scouts when I was 8.  I did not get into knife training until I was in my 20.  I had a little training in my teens, but not much, and mostly Karate disarms.

I decided to get training since I always had one with me as a tool.  Even now I evaluate a knife to carry by how useful a tool it is.  I leave my Gerber Guardian IIs, Fairbairn-Sikes, Applegate-Fairbairn, Smatchet, etc. at home in my collection.  I carried an A-F Bootknife one summer EDC as an experiment.

IMO this thread is over-thinking the issue.  People tend to like some things better than others.  In martial arts, some people are really into kicking, some into wresting, others into hand strikes, others weapons, etc.  I knew a guy who really liked all the fancy jumping and spinning kicks.  What I do is very different from those I know who trained for years in the same dojo I did because we prefer different skills.  Even though we all pretty much knew the same things, we each had things we stressed above others.  When it comes to weapons, some people like working with sticks, other swords, some throwing weapons, etc.  and some like knives.  I knew one guy who really liked the Sai, but other than him it wasn't a popular weapon with schools I trained at or people I knew.  I've not spent any time lately in a big dojo, but I remember when the Nunchaku was the most popular weapon by far, probably more popular to actually train in that all other MA weapons combined.  Students who like knives probably just prefer them to other weapons, and there is no moral issue here any more than there is a moral issue with a student who prefers a Bo to a Nunchaku.

[Kentbob]

I've carried a knife since I joined the Cub Scouts when I was 8.  I did not get into knife training until I was in my 20.  I had a little training in my teens, but not much, and mostly Karate disarms.

I decided to get training since I always had one with me as a tool.  Even now I evaluate a knife to carry by how useful a tool it is.  I leave my Gerber Guardian IIs, Fairbairn-Sikes, Applegate-Fairbairn, Smatchet, etc. at home in my collection.  I carried an A-F Bootknife one summer EDC as an experiment.

IMO this thread is over-thinking the issue.  People tend to like some things better than others.  In martial arts, some people are really into kicking, some into wresting, others into hand strikes, others weapons, etc.  I knew a guy who really liked all the fancy jumping and spinning kicks.  What I do is very different from those I know who trained for years in the same dojo I did because we prefer different skills.  Even though we all pretty much knew the same things, we each had things we stressed above others.  When it comes to weapons, some people like working with sticks, other swords, some throwing weapons, etc.  and some like knives.  I knew one guy who really liked the Sai, but other than him it wasn't a popular weapon with schools I trained at or people I knew.  I've not spent any time lately in a big dojo, but I remember when the Nunchaku was the most popular weapon by far, probably more popular to actually train in that all other MA weapons combined.  Students who like knives probably just prefer them to other weapons, and there is no moral issue here any more than there is a moral issue with a student who prefers a Bo to a Nunchaku.

I agree with a lot of this.  On a certain level it's the same as people who prefer vanilla over chocolate, or Glocks over Springfield.

But there is another category of people who Hock talks about, that just think knives and learning to fight with knives is just the coolest thing ever.  I admit, I used to fall into this category, until I gained some wisdom.  I still like them for their artistry.  However, in a pinch, a sharpened implement is a sharpened implement, and I'm pretty much willing to fight with anything with an edge or a point, instead of some people who want to live in their perfect world where they have their perfect knife on them at all times.

Kent

[Professor]

I've carried a knife since I joined the Cub Scouts when I was 8.  I did not get into knife training until I was in my 20.  I had a little training in my teens, but not much, and mostly Karate disarms.

Scouts....

Pulled my knife for a knife fight in scouts....he was threatening my youngest brother with a knife at a boy scout camporee - another scout ran to get me.   

Guy ran when he saw me walking up from our with my buck knife in my hand.  Never did see him again.

Ah "in the day"....

   That would have gotten ugly fast - I had a bad temper in those days.