Best Way To Use A Knife | Don't Believe The Hype

Knife fighting is an important element of self defense. But many people in the community think of the blade as a lightsaber. Today, we cut through the b.s
MERCH STORE
combatsd.square.site​​​​
Get 10% off your @Combat Corner Professional order using code BBLADED
combatcorner.com
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: / rob_combatselfdense
Twiter: / robcombatsd
Email: [e-mail]
LISTEN: The Pod of Five Rings
tinyurl.com/fivepod​​​​​​
music provided by
EPIDEMIC SOUND
FMA, Kali, Escrima, Arnis, Knives, Blade, Combative, Self Defense, Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, Kenpo, Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Kajukenbo, Pekiti Tirsia @weaponizedboxing
#kali #escrima #filipinomartialarts

[@choyastigph]

Knife fighting is very essential in the Philippines. Regular person here can't buy guns, and drinking along the roads and street corners is common and they do it everyday. And wen they got drunk enough they trip on people. if you ever went to Philippines slum area where alleys fits only 1 person and too many dead ends where you can't run from hostile people you really need something to defend yourself. Kali is very effective in our country.

[@yacubgraft1687]

i would rather train with a guy who gets into unexpected knife fights, and has actually stabbed people than a guy who just spars

[@choyastigph]

@@yacubgraft1687 i wud rather have any training than nothing.

[@thorstenmarquardt7274]

It also is in Europe

[@belly9024]

That's why Filipinos are so nice to each other because you never know who can kill you. Even grandma with a cane hehe

[@belly9024]

@@yacubgraft1687 I need to see battle scars don't care about the color of your belt

[@charleshurst1015]

I did Krav Maga and a few other things, thought I could handle someone pulling a knife on me. Then I started training Kali - put on the safety gear and sparred - realized I never want to be in a knife fight ever, ever 😅

[@Jeremy_Walker]

Bingo! In real life.. Knives are terrifying.

[@animeink5822]

Whats Kali?

[@charleshurst1015]

@@animeink5822 It's one flavor of Filipino martial arts, Escrima is another. It's main expression is empty hand, knives or sticks. In my case, my instructor made me buy safety gear (fencing mask and padded gloves) and we actually fought each other with training knives... That was the thing that finally made me realize how much of what's out there in the martial arts world is bullshit 😅

[@animeink5822]

@@charleshurst1015 o yeah cool. Thanks.

[@kingsman8475]

I earned shodan ( black belt) in Shito-Ryu karate, kodakan judo, and jiu-jitsu. Confronted with a knife, I would refer to my early days of track and cross-country.

[@HUVideoer]

My trainer have said a few times that the stuff we train in traditional Jiu Jitsu is better than nothing, but the best knife defence is always grabbing ANYTHING (chair...broom, bucket.... whatever) to keep the guy with the knife away

[@CombatSelfDefense]

I’d agree with that, but I’d say the best knife defense is to keep it from being drawn in the first place.

[@dr.dylansgame5583]

@@CombatSelfDefense Exactly this is something people rarely talk about neutralize a threat before it can start. So many people who think they've won with a weapon start gloating about how bad it's gonna get for you. Meanwhile I would already be grabbing the wrist and instead of trying some disarm that more than likely won't work even with lots of training I would rather Sock him to make him lose even just a little grip on it. He'll then struggle to turn it towards you if you get the wrist from underside problem is if he's stronger or more dexterious then you are. But that's why I would rather strike instead of disarm since fighting a possibly losing battle since the strikes will make him have to focus his attention on stopping that hand first. Basically giving a second layer of defense to your grabbing hand. Whether it be from infighting elbows to the temple or chin. Or a damn good straight punch whether vertical or horizontal. If you get them to flinch you've basically already gotten control of the situation. This is all of course if the situation can't be deescalated. In a normal brawl i'm defensive and wait for every counter since my opponent eventually throws a heavy punch with all their weight to break my good guard. This is then when I counter almost like the reverse of standard shell boxing systems like Peekaboo. But I find weapons are a whole different animal where you have to neutralize it before it can start going in the first place. Since unlike a Fist or Foot I can't block a bullet also the reason I bought clothed body armor recently on the off chance I'm in a life or death shooting scenario or something at least I would have a chance to catch the person off guard. That and just as much as I learned how to run away as fast as possible I also learned how to close the gap as fast as possible for that very scenario dart and dashing is the best skill outside of great defense, footwork, and, head-movement. Having erratic movement in a short space makes it hard for a person to focus on you. This can get you up in their face outside of their vision radius and give you a free hit or two similar to a Dempsey Roll in boxing. But with more tight compact and erratic slipping even double slipping in the same direction.

[@rjvanloon4769]

Same here. My teacher always taught us that it is best is to avoid the fight. Knives are nasty, so if you can avoid it, it is best. Second best is to keep distance, using anything at hand. Only when that fails any kind of defense is an option; and in that case 'it is better to medidate in jail than be crippled for life at home...or in a casket'

[@matkasim]

so right . grabbing something. nicely put

[@Wastelandman7000]

Or a large caliber hand gun LOL Kidding aside, I do agree. Anything you can use as a shield is a good thing. The same thing could be said for having something in your off hand. In Europe they had sword and cloak and dagger and cloak styles for a reason. If you have a coat or even a ball cap in your off hand that can deflect a slash or trap a thrust. Or throwing things at them. A can of corn to the face will do wonders to correct their attitude. At least till they wake up.

[@jasonashley4579]

As a student of kali and escrima for over 25 years and having survived a knife attack that got me into those two arts, I can that your best bet with a knife is to target connective tissue and cripple your attacker and then just get the hell away from them, forget about the sparing.

[@Wastelandman7000]

Good call. My target of choice would be the tendons on the inside of the wrist. Cut those and that hand is useless. Not to mention if you nick the artery, if they don't put pressure on it further up they'll fall over dead from blood loss very quickly. Also if your knife is up to it, just below the knee. They can't walk, they can't fight.

[@miguelangeldiaz9380]

Yup

[@sophisticatedmorons]

💯

[@dariusvilla5680]

That's extremely useful for grabbing and leveraging arms that the attacker uses to keep you from running away so he can stab you. I wouldn't certianly try to "win the knifefight" to bleed in surgery. Another heads up is that the attacker's arm that's holding his knife or whatever other melee weapon he is using to threaten and attack you along with the weapon itself moves very fast and unpredictable even with heavy long melee weapons, like a baseball bat or an ax.

[@darkythecrazyninja5228]

Ivan Kill bill Resident In the air 2nite Natalie Cuff, front Nelson 1 arm neck hand

[@markkocsis5255]

I love the end quote, "there is no knife fight, only someone being stabbed". It really stresses the point, that this isnt just about taking a punch but losing your life. At my local gym we went on for days about techniques on how to stike, how to defend and parry, all that fancy stuff but when we actually faced off 1 on 1it almost always ended the same, people swinging fast and dodging then both of them being cut or stabbed when the distance shrank.

[@Xynic48]

With only 4 days of training that seem pretty expected. In any martial arts, it takes a lot of training until the movements becomes subconscious and purely muscle memory. While knife attacks are usually surprise attacks and there's really no defending against that, and the best self-defense is still just running away, it is still better to know how to defend yourself in situations where it isnt a surprise attack like in a house robbery. And in case you are already stabbed but not dead yet (chances of surviving a stab wound is surprisingly high), it's better to know how to disarm the attacker effectively and not just grab the attacker's hand and overpower him/her with brute strength (which usually doesnt work). There's no 100% full-proof self-defense martial art, everything is situational, but it's better than fighting an armed individual with just pure brute strength, adrenaline and survival inctinct.

[@anonymouslakernerd7214]

How is a house robbery not a surprise attack?

[@Xynic48]

@@anonymouslakernerd7214 By surprise attack, I was mainly referring to attacks where you dont have time to react like when you're just chilling on the sidewalk then the person next to you suddenly attacked you. In a house robbery, unless you are sleeping or not in of the house, there is a chance you will hear them before encountering them. But of course, I was just giving an example, a house robbery can technically also be a surprise attack if you werent aware they already entered your home. And that's just one scenario, there are many other potential scenarios.

[@prestonbrown5771]

IN a knife confrontation One person is dead the other is in prison . or both dead /in hospital.

[@TearThatRedFlagDown]

We do sensitivity drills with knives just to prove the point of how dangerous someone with a knife really is, even without any sort of training and also that the longer you let it drag on, the more likely it becomes that you'll get cut or stabbed. Most people can handle maybe the first 5 ~ 10 knife attacks but after that they'll become slower and so the knife guy has the advantage, so that's why one of our core principles is to not be defensive, but to be offensive right from the start.

[@horizonblack]

I am a weapons trainer with 20 years of experience, and I also focus on "real world" techniques. I have a few neck bearded things for your consideration: 1) The boxing style of knife fighting is popular in American military. The reason is not combat effectiveness- it's because you will be effective with very little training. 2) The most common injury to the assailant holding the knife occurs after they have cut/pierced their victim. Blood causes the grip to be slippery. Now, when force is applied, the assailants hand can easily slip onto the blade. 3) The down side (no pun intended) to the boxing style is that you are giving up the length of the blade in reach. It is what it is. 4) Yes, jab/control with your forward hand. Save stabs,slashes, and hand clearing for the rear hand. 5) No... training with a weapon will certainly improve your effectiveness with that weapon. It's absurd to say otherwise. Stick fighting is not just swinging a stick.

[@ObservantPiratePlus]

Exactly. A knife is just an extension of your hand, and once it's in your hand, it's not about some kind of "fencing style", it's about using what you know and simply incorporating the knife into your martial arts that way. Well done!

[@hangten1904]

Nobody wins a knife fight because everyone goes to jail.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Very good point.

[@MarthLuna-wq3ny]

True that.

[@DT61636]

No one wins a knife fight... because?... knife fight.....

[@DarkPhoenixTSi]

I thing I learned doing FMA, and martial arts in general is that there are no winners in a knife fight. Essentially, the loser of the knife fight bleeds out in the street. The winner bleeds out in the ambulance.

[@senseierictollett4830]

I'm a Filipino martial artist as well judo grappling ect. The art is the art and the fight is the fight and if you understand that everything is applicable 🤙🏻👆🏻

[@mordi2537]

Good breakdown

[@dapro5002]

Really cool vid! I also really like Craig Douglas’ knife stuff (he even says he just teaches people to wrestle and box with a knife), and Ryan Hoover’s stuff (who literally said he’s not a knife fighter, just a fighter with a knife).

[@CombatSelfDefense]

I look up to both of those guys a lot

[@metalrobot3000]

I was always taught to stand southpaw with the knife so the blade is in my power hand and is in the front that way you have the most reach with the blade as possible and the weapon is between you and you opponent also always try to cut your opponents own wrist or hand when he attacks in my own personal experience training these are some of the most important concepts for knives

[@setxapart5505]

We train the same way. Knife in lead hand. We use the practice knives that "beep" and light up when a strike lands. I will say this, however, that when both my opponent and myself are simultaneously holding lead hand, I can land a quick slash or two to his knife hand fingers before he reacts. Cut those tendons, and the knife drops. Bottom line - your vitals are that much further from the assailant's blade and your offense/defense in the forefront. Of course, I don't plan on any one on one knife fights in the near or distant future👍

[@raphkazak3572]

This is évidence...you'r right

[@armynurseboy]

Weapons stance, particularly bladed weapon, is generally the opposite of empty hand. You look at any fencer, sword fighter, trained knife fighter, etc, you will see that they almost always lead with the weapon side. It is, as you said, to keep the weapon between you and the opponent, and to shorten the distance between your weapon and the opponent. The only time most folks have reverse the stance is when they have a shield, and then shield side goes forward.

[@JackShen]

I agree, but in a lot of the South American and other culture knife dueling still happens. Also, if you fend of a attacker with a knife and create space, and for some reason you can't escape, and access a knife, your in a knife duel, albeit probably on the wounded bleeding side to start off.

[@canopus0898]

Yes, there's an art cal Esgrima Criolla (creole fencing) where it gets use a jacket or coat like shield and a knife like attack weapon. I posted a comment about that, but he didn't like it.

[@SwordFighterPKN]

It's interesting only in the West do you go from empty hands to weapons where everywhere else weapons are first and empty hands are last resort. Even historically in the west it was weapons first then empty hands.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

I’m not sure exactly if you mean in terms of escalation of violence or training methodology. In terms of training methodology, I recommend learning empty hand to weapons, as I see people get more proficient at both much faster. In terms of personal protection, I also recommend being empty handed (but armed) for as long as possible. Mostly because not every altercation is a life or death altercation - until you make it one.

[@SwordFighterPKN]

@@CombatSelfDefense More in terms of escalation, since a weapon is superior to empty hands. I agree with you that not every altercation is life or death and weapons make it that way. I done both empty hands to weapons and weapons to empty hands. I find going from weapons to empty hands to be shorter progression, but that is more from a HEMA perspective.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

@@SwordFighterPKN I think the other issue is that the US is largely a FIREARM culture. Meaning when people are carrying, they’re more likely to be carrying a gun than a knife or a blunt object, meaning that drawing it in self defense means you better be prepared to use it appropriately.

[@SwordFighterPKN]

@@CombatSelfDefense - great point. Again I don't disagree with your video it's just an interesting difference from history and other parts of the world.

[@hopelesslydull7588]

@@CombatSelfDefense The point about firearm culture isn't wrong but also, most people I know outside of the city in the US South carry a knife everywhere. Not just for self defense, though that is a factor, but for utility. The awareness you need to have to depending on how common some weapons are is interesting. If it's safe to assume almost everyone has a knife, how does that effect your strategy for getting away from the fight?

[@leonardjurado7417]

I used to think the same way(kickboxing + knife) is the most practical way to use knives, but when I sparred with a trained knife user (FMA), i lost. Same goes for MMA guys who sparred with the same knife user. I used to think that I would only lose when I get fatally stab or cut. It was only then when I realized that I could also lose if my knife is taken away or if I loss my knife (my hand cannot anymore hold it i.e., defanging - like my wrist being cut). Note that everytime we strike, we leave our stricking limb (arm or leg) open for a cut. That's how I found my FMA coach, who is also trained in Muay Thai, Wrestling and BJJ. Based on my experience, boxing/muay thai + knife might work against a normal person or an mma fighter who is not a trained knife user, which is enough in most cases. Based on experience and what I've sesn with other sparring sessions (i.e., mma fighter vs knife user) using boxing/muay thai + knife is not the optimal use of a knife. If you have gun, are you gonna use boxing+gun or gun tactical techniques? Of course, you would be better off to use systems that optimizes your advantage i.e., your weapon, the gun. Same goes for a knife, you use the knife to your advantage by using stances that optimizes the knife (capitalize on your advantage i.e., having a weapon/knife). Use it to your advantage (especially the DISTANCE created by the weapon). Even Prime Myke Tyson would think twice when attacking an untrained person WITH a knife. He would keep his distance. That is what a knife creates, an advantage in distance. Doing a boxing/muay thai system does not capitalize on that advantage. Look at fencing, it utilizes distance advantage. I agree with the 2nd part, wrestling + knife. Just like in fencing, the basic moves translate in a fight with a knife. Unlike fencing, you can hold your opponent's knife arm with your non-knife hand. This happens a lot. Also, arm drag seems to be very useful in a lot of situation, esp in knife defense. Regarding arguments concerning FMA/other knife systems - my take on it is (1) For unarmed combat use Muay Thai/Boxing + Wrestling + BJJ (or other similar systems/arts)... if you have a weapon (2) Use FMA or systems that capitalizes on that specific weapon (kendo, fencing, FMA, etc.) as primary while also using grappling techniques. Personally, I always carry and train with my glock. That's how I treat my knife training, I don't group it with my unarmed training. They're just naturally different for me(unarmed as oppose to armed). My take away from all of these - there is no one complete system - no one ring to rule them all. Have fun training guys!

[@mordi2537]

Wrestling+Knife

[@NAMELESSINTERNETADDICT]

Judo also compliments BJJ and Wrestling very well. Look at Khabib and Makachev.

[@weaponizedboxing]

You’re right, I didn’t trademark the term. 😊 Thanks for the mention brother. -Dax

[@franklaferriere5754]

I'm 100% into this and been doing this style of knife fighting for 44 years. I was into boxing in high school. Got into ma at 19 meeting my first teacher, Sensi Benji who was from the Phillipines. He was into JKD, Wing Chun, Kali, and boxing. He showed me this style of fighting with knives. It's very effective.

[@bountyhunter1303]

This is same basic principles, I've learned from my karate, aiki justu, eakrima, street bjj.. One of the BEST INSTRUCTOR I LEARNED FROM, taught ESKRIMA, stick or knife as as extension of BOXING...Like how using angles for attack from kali....all systems I've trained uses flashlight for practical self defense, all system I've learned teach know how use a weapon, as if a extension from empty hand...

[@mizukarate]

I like the idea of having the weapon fitting your unarmed style. I also like the idea of learning specific weapons training. Together seems to be the best long term option.

[@everettplummer9725]

I carry a karambit, Cold Steel knives, one is a double edged, that's good for throwing, a Recon Tanto, a Buck 119, a Benchmade utility Balisong, and many that I made. I call my tanto shaped one, "The Disenboweler", somewhat shorter than a sword.

[@franklaferriere5754]

I have two USMC kbars, two Gerber Mark II, and various double edges for both throwing and hand use. Love them all.

[@Savage_to_Sage]

I've seen some of the best stuff from people who have been in prison... There's an interesting story about the 9th and 10th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) who were in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. Apparently they spent a lot of time observing knife fighting techniques... They took some of those techniques and changed the way that they moved and how they held their hands up to make a fist... No more Irish Dukes up or English style of Boxing...

[@3nt3rtain]

I'm not mad. Nice to see practical and accurate assessment of weapon training. Adapt to what you know...

[@stevenbinum7659]

Good video. excellent points.

[@gerhardmayer6289]

Thank you for the upload

[@thelastgeneration1926]

you're right actually. totally agree subbed

[@charmmaeonineza1501]

I've already met a couple of sensei and they both agree that if you wish to learn knife handling learn from the butchers. They know which slices and cuts make the most damage with the least effort. This is especially true in my country since butchers here also handle the slaughter. Oh, and my teachers have also shared anecdotes about how these butchers fight, too, and it's definitely no cakewalk to go against them. P.S.: One of my teachers was a tailor and he admitted that he got additional practice from his shear and scissor handling.

[@alexgac1801]

If you want extra knife practice, I suggest you cook a lot, with appropriate knives. And by "appropriate", I meane the biggest knives you can afford and store safely ;-)

[@DrFoxhound]

Great video! Subbed

[@Perentie101]

Before I took FMA, I also thought why not use the knife in the form of a boxing punch. Boxing is a great martial art, and it has some crossover with knife fighting. But once I took FMA I began to see the logic behind the martial art. I was taught FMA from a more self defense point of view, and that's how most people learn it, and that's how it should be taught. We do learn offense too, and one can learn more later in their development. But the point I'm trying to make here is that FMA wants you to handle a knife fighting situation the best way possible. In boxing, you are squared up (or at least in sparring range) with one another trading punches, because that's what boxing is (at least most of the time since it's practiced mostly as a sport). But you don't want to be squared up (or arm's length distance) in a knife fight especially if the other person has a knife. You will end up just trading knife blows. In FMA we're taught to keep the distance and angle against our opponent by using footwork, and to defang the opponent (that is, to take away or eliminate their weapon). In FMA (at least the way I was taught, and again I believe it's how it is mostly taught), the general philosophy or approach is to take away or eliminate the weapons specifically the knife (or stick, sword, gun, baseball bat, etc) of your opponent, or if he's unarmed to first destroy his hands and arms, or sensitive areas such as their eyes. You're not looking to just hit any part of the opponent. The philosophy is that if an opponent has no weapon or if their hands and arms (or eyes) have been disabled, then the opponent is (far) less effective in fighting you and more importantly is less apt to attack you since you now have the upperhand (since you have a weapon, and your hands, arms, and eyes are working perfectly). FMA has a general philosophy or approach which is very sound for most situations. You mentioned in another video and possibly this video also, that in a knife or stick fighting situation, it can get crazy especially when the adrenaline rushes in, and that everything happens too fast and unpredictable to use FMA stick or knife techniques or patterns, and that the various drills (such as the Sinawali stick drills and etc) just can't be used in a real fight. The drills are learned at a slower pace and cooperatively, whereas in a real fight everything is fast and uncooperative. I agree with you to some extent. And when I tried actual stick fighting for the first time with someone (not actually using wooden or rattan sticks because that's just too dangerous, but rolling up newspaper into a thick roll and taping it, and it does hurt still when you get hit but just not as hard), a lot of what I learned I couldn't execute for the reasons you mentioned. But what I learned was that the purpose of the drills especially the various Sinawali drills isn't to actually replicate drill moves in a real stick fight (because again you're opponent isn't cooperating), but to learn to FLOW and strike with your stick or sticks (or knife). The drills also teach you how to strike and get practice with it. But getting back to the concept of flow, it's a hard concept to convey. When you stick fight or knife fight your level of awareness, movement, and speed is heightened. For you to stick fight or knife fight, you mind (and body) is accepting a different type of fighting reality where you have to be able to react to things that move faster and hit harder than hands/punches and kicks. And your mind can only deal with this fast reality (with lots of information) if your mind and body enter a flow state. It's a hard concept to convey. When you stick or knife fight, you don't have time to "think" in the traditional sense, you just have to flow and trust it. The Sinawali drills help you develop the flow, but also give you the various striking options available when you stick fight WITHOUT having to think about it. If you "think" in a stick fight, you're always going to be one microsecond too slow for that one attack or counterattack, or defense. Everything is feel. Your body should be supple, and your movement and footwork should be fast and natural. There is no thinking in the traditional sense, just flow.

[@PejoTO-se3rd]

This is so good

[@matkasim]

great explanation on weapons and grappling as being related

[@farinfasfarinfinfinhas7903]

Great vid 🔥👍

[@lydavis6712]

I was watching a whole bunch of videos on knife fighting and a lot of the techniques I tried by sparring with Brita water filters against friends and figured out that the opportunities for a lot of the moves from the videos rarely show up in a knife fight. Then I thought that it would probably be pretty effective if I just punched but with a knife (Brita bottle water filter) in my hand and I am glad I am not the only person who thought of this.

[@Basta11]

1. Don't every be in a situation where a knife will be used violently. Stick to safe places, be home at a proper hour, don't be a dick, don't drink and look for trouble. 2. If you see a knife and have the ability to run away. Well, run away. Lol. 3. If you think a guy is hiding a knife (they'll normally hide it until its too late), get away get away get away. 4. If you have no option but to fight, if you have time, try to find some weapon to equalize the situation - furniture like chairs, bags, use obstacles, doors, whatever helps to keep distance. 5. If you have to fight, stay out of reach, dodge. When the opportunity presents itself, grapple. Your best chance to survive is to control the knife hand. Use 2 hands against one. Always look out for another knife. 6. If you are able to disarm the knife, secure it, either throw it where it can't be recovered, keep it out of reach from the attacker, always be mindful of where it is. 7. If knife is out of the picture, use your martial skills to defeat the guy, pin him down, choke/knock him out, break bones, whatever. 8. If you have the knife and he's still going for you, use the knife defensively, move, don't let him get it back. Cut whatever gets close, usually his hands/arms, legs if he's kick, head he's trying a takedown. 9. Try to get to a safe place immediately. Get help from law enforcement or the hospital if possible.

[@calvinmurry1096]

Well said. Most folks think they are going to see the knife. Like in all these instructions video. Oh no you won't. Knives are to be felt and not seen. Most folks have been hit several times before they see the knife. How you react after getting stabbed will determine if you live or die. You won't see these large swings and stabs. It comes at you like a rapid piston. You have to learn to pin the stabbing arm to prevent the rapid stabbing.

[@goldygold1847]

I'm a chubby 50 year old lady. Never been in a knife fight. Never started shit and always avoided conflict. Got my black belt in limalama as a young lady, 20 years old. Body is falling apart with premature arthritis now though, lol. I can't even kick anymore should i get accosted or robbed. All i got are my hands and elbows so I carry 1 or 2 knives in my pocket every day where ever I go . My trainer years ago always taught to avoid conflict and always walk away. This has served me well. But I still carry my knives and train myself to air punch with them in my hands. These videos by all these youngsters still help me learn and I very much appreciate KZbin, the content creators and comments with this wealth of info out there. Old enough to remember when there was no internet. I was lucky enough to have a small martial arts school in my town. I may not be anyone strong or tough but with the knives, my old training and these videos to keep me alert, I remember to keep scanning my environment to avoid putting myself in a bad situation but if I get assaulted, this old granny will surprise stab you and hobble away as quick as possible without a second thought, no kidding. Respect your elders kids, because you never know which old fart will stab you if you mess with them. :D

[@pje6882]

have you seen or heard of a monkey fist. Steel ball wrapped in para cord that you can swing. It is bone breaking effective and can cause an attacker pause after the first hit and can create distance for sure

[@kevgamble]

What marvelous advice. Many people still don't realize or accept that 99.9% of self-defense is in item #1 on your list.

[@Gatsquatch.300]

Stab 2 I have never thought to be a smart position to put yourself in period. Unless someone can show me a rapid defense to leaving you back so vulnerable on that slash

[@jordantheokay3168]

Whenever I see those military demos of what they call knife fighting I get a chuckle. Any time you see two people standing 3 feet apart forcibly serrating there knives agent's eachothers blades it's a bunch of crap. A knife is like a gun; to be used definitively from the draw to stop the fight or make room to run your ass away. If for some reason it goes on longer I totally agree with your approach. A fight is a fight is a fight so fight like you are trained to regardless of what is in your hands. A flashlight saved my bacon one night as I noticed the hevey foot fall of a meath head comming up behind me. Blinded him and got away even though looking at him he posed no threat to me knife or no I still chose not to fight.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Bingo. Knife demos are great signs of hand eye coordination and speed, but not an accurate representation of how the training should work

[@theblackmonk3153]

I’m a boxer are you saying I should jab with a knife or use boxing the same way for self defense?

[@Thebestplacetobe619]

Hey this is useful!!!

[@Henrick2112]

Cool video.... Best part is your Deathstrike shirt!

[@williamstansbury2717]

As he alluded to in the end it's usually a knife attack rather than a knife fight and instigator frequently doesn't expose his weapon until he's too close for his victim to have much chance of defending. Having said that the first rule of knife fighting (after have a knife) is anything sticking out can and should be cut so sticking your limbs out in a normal fighting stance is asking to get them sliced up. The best all around strategy, environment allowing is cut and run when your opponent attacks cut the extended limb as you move your body out of range wait for the next attack (unlikely) repeat as necessary. This strategy is the most defendable in court for those in places where that will be a consideration. If the environment will not allow such movement then you're stuck with going offensive hope your opponent doesn't have a defense, or counter offensive when your opponent makes their first attack cut the limb and move in cutting them somewhere that will result in rapid incapacitation. Before some says something cutting can be done with a slash or stab (thrust) they're both cuts.

[@mac11daddy6]

“The Knife is the very last weapon you will learn to use” Leon The Professional

[@roypaulcarter4654]

Nice class rob

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Appreciate it!

[@franklaferriere5754]

​@@CombatSelfDefenseYou are one of the few I've seen talk about this. I was actually taught this style of knife fighting by my first Sensi. I started in boxing, so when knife fighting? Its what I use. I train with USMC kbars and Gerber Mark II's. Been doing so since 1979 when I met Sensi Benji in Gloucester Mass. He did not have a dojo building, but actually taught in his backyard.

[@Sithikus]

Good video man.. My EDC is a karambit in each pocket. 30 plus years FMA FTW

[@juantrevino1574]

I learned something thank you :)

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Awesome! Glad you liked it

[@WB-zr7pq]

Love this, very practical approach. Also the "Mirakuru Energy Kanji T Shirt" is bad ass... Is ali the only place that sells it?

[@DAVIDANDREWSPTUK]

Good video and points I agree in just using the boxing punches and angles for the knife If the knife is long and big enough, you can use the lead hand as you would in fencing I have had the unfortunate luck growing up in London to be in fights and attacks that involve knives

[@fromthesticks2027]

Kudos for sharing publicly your method of self-defense. I don't mean to criticise you negatively publicly but to raise your level of awareness abit to the fact that a sharp blade in true knife method is not used like a stick (impact weapon). The fee equal are more similarities between boxing and stick fighting than knife fighting. Because a knife is a sharp tool it does not require load up (a long travel arc around its fulcrum). The sharp edge is made to work and a cut however superficial is a precusor to death as the next cut and the next are always only two to six inches behind it. My second point is that the idea of the exchange is a fair idea in boxing but in fighting another knife an absolute formula for death. Someone made the incredibly important point that fighting with a knife does not begin or ever stay within exchange distance (I cut, you cut) and that's why people say there is no knife fight. There is no knife fight because there must be no fight/exchange or trading of cuts. This may mean both walk away tired from maneuvering/attempting to out maneuver. Credible points about fighting the weapon in the clinch or grappling range. At grappling range the philosophy is not to lead a killing blow but to intercept that killing blow rendering the other armless/weaponless. No exchange/no trade. It very much is a fight. A person who trains knife 100% all the time may look very different from anything you have ever seen. I have seen some very weird methodologies - very unconventional and appearing to be a nightmare to negotiate. My own method left a group of FMA students looking at their masters in confusion as it seems that particular methodology was built to fight its image (self). Be encouraged. Continue to study, train share. Remember any oversimplification of anything is perhaps a lack of experience. Always share the difficulties/indeterminates. No wonder a true statement is built on openness and flexibility of means to the goal - going home. Blessings young master.

[@leeb55]

There are some things I don't agree with here, you say reverse grip is defensive but when you hold the blade in reverse grip you shorten your reach, defensive would still be better in heaven grip. It would be easier to aim for tendons but maybe I'm taking what you say too literally

[@katipunan5]

Great video

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Thanks!

[@salinalewis3000]

Very good awesome technique I am just starting out with the knife fighting training which I am currently practicing at home basics striving too get too the next level in my training.. and I also can't help but want too practice daily with that being said Good stuff and looking forward too some more lessons thanks

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Glad you liked it! Thank you.

[@Gatsquatch.300]

Basically what I’m learning from you excellent video and I genuinely mean that. Is to incorporate your method. But replace slice punches to ice pick stabs, so punch angle still same but all the moves end in stabs not slashes

[@ytb460]

Those cuts are pretty similar to how I learned 5 element weapons. Good stuff.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Fire Earth air Water Surprise!

[@danielpowell9891]

@@CombatSelfDefense Go Rin No Sho

[@frankmartinez4856]

Thanks for this view! Dealing w/ knives is scary 😧 always carry two daggers, southern Chinese/ Kali trained 😅

[@hawkinatorgamer9725]

Rule number 1 of a knife fight = Do not get into a knife fight.

[@suhribzevolution645]

Thank you master

[@CombatSelfDefense]

I’m not a master of anything. Just very passionate about martial arts.

[@t10claytempered16]

Thank you! Well explained and as you state...No B.S.. I'm retired and partially disabled. Your basics are very similar slashing movement as my Laido practice with a KoKtana where 'small steps' and striking stance are different to keep good balance-- for the most part. My basic boxing lessons as a boy have been very useful and now I have added a knife as a last resort. Things Everywhere are getting more dangerous every day!. I will watch more and encourage others, especially women and older men like myself. Again. Thanks!.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Glad you liked!

[@TenchiBushi]

Weaponized boxing was a term I heard when was starting out in kali in the mid 1990s in the tri-state area. One of my more clumsier than me classmates asked the teacher a tip to be better in knife handling. Our teacher said do some boxing drills. To fast forward a decade and change later to Yokohama, Japan. .I was doing an after class weapons randori with a Bujinkan group based out of there. The better knife fighters of that session had a boxing/kick boxing foundation. Greetings from North East Japan!

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Yeah I by no means came up with the term, nor do I even think it’s a new concept. Anybody who “duels” with a blade ends up doing a version of it

[@raymcdonald4603]

Putting something in your hand,makes a solid punch,and soes the opposite of breaking your hand

[@rohit_7777]

He said no fantasy in the thumbnail but I'm gonna use these tricks in my books. Im sorry💀

[@CombatSelfDefense]

Would love to give them a read.

[@Karma8Kami]

Cool to see there are systems like this these days, back in the day when I practiced and tried out Eskrima, Kali, Hema, Kravmaga and so on bla bla, I kept wondering why there were so many systems that taught "self defense" but then used a reverse grip on their knife which to be honest is only superior for sneaking up on an opponent or rushing in on them, neither of which can be called defense. So having struggled with understanding the use of the reverse grip outside of that I naturally ended up using a clean boxing style while holding the knife in my rear hand which worked alright, it keeps the tip towards the enemy at all times, it closes off paths of dodging by how the blade extends out of the hand by simply holding it and throwing normal punches, it prepares you for a clinch, it also forces the opponent to focus on your weapon which allows for much easier kicks. So yeah, point being I guess you could call that weaponized boxing, just cool that it's a thing now. Having studied some HEMA and Italian knife styles tough I still feel the loss of range and mobility would do more bad than good if you are not rushing or sneaking up on someone.

[@edprince9079]

The Logic of Steel,is a good book to read on this subject.

[@grillinnchillin4009]

I would say if one wants to be able to use a stun gun as a force multiplier for striking an opponent, learning the aggressive handhold would be beneficial for that situation/tool too.

[@Yaveshtolethien]

I change my dominant hand to my jab, and reverse grip. This is the strategy I settled on, in the "what if" scenario, because I have a decent jab, but striking isn't my primary skillset. Also, a knife for me is a throwing weapon. If I have more than one, I'd like the option.

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

In my country, killings with knives rising. The last ten or so have been surprise attacks - stabbed waiting for the subway, on buses, at coffee shops. Usually they are stabbed in the back, from behind & the knife is in & out before they even feel it. They don't face you, show you the knife & let you square off. In "real" life, knife "defence" is a lie.

[@Phlfwlr]

I’ve never done knife fighting before, but it has crossed my mind that using a knife with an ice pick grip would allow a person with zero knife fighting experience, but a degree of boxing experience to turn boxing into stabby boxing. And the chances of stabbing yourself is a lot lower. Also nobody is going to be throwing punches with a knife right there where the chin is.

[@rbh3138]

True words

[@vincentvacuus7010]

I teach Kali as a hobby, and you've struck a truth about Kali in that it should be treated more like MMA and less like Kung Fu BS. BUT keeping knife fighting on top of striking arts also misses the great advantage of the knife: which is you don't need to load up for power, or be conscious where your weight is to throw it into strikes. You don't need power w a knife, so you're free to have your position alone determine your attack. The natural conclusion of this becomes an insane focus on footwork for the sake of footwork, not footwork for the sake of striking.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

I believe footwork is the true essence of boxing. You can use footwork to set up strikes, but you also use it for defense, setting up clinching, countering, and takedowns in the mma context To say boxing footwork only works to set up power strikes is as misleading as saying kali is only stick fighting

[@vincentvacuus7010]

@@CombatSelfDefense Yes, but the need for those weighted shots are there if you are small or need an aggressive fighter to respect your power. The knife frees you from that. How you optimize footwork w attacks changes as a result. In boxing you usually counter on beats and 1/2 beats, THEN move. The knife doesn't need separate beats for attack, you can attack without commitment DURING movement/defense/whatever. Your body can kinda disconnect, feet no longer need to coordinate w hands, plus you have a free hand to either help move or interfere w the opponent's defense. It's chaotic and terrible to fight against. Kali doesn't give you the tools to fight against what its weapons can do IMHO. I've labbed my "Kali" against a few MMA guys, one pro, its always educational. Awesome to see you labbing the knife. Subscribed.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

@@vincentvacuus7010 I agree the knife has a lot of different nuances, but on the whole I think using boxing style movement and accounting for those nuances is more beneficial to the holistic martial artist than the other way around

[@vincentvacuus7010]

@@CombatSelfDefense I respect it. You'd be fine w all the nuances, they're based on very practical things. If you wanted to mix knowledge and are near PA, hit me up my guy.

[@thedeadmeme7877]

i agree, most martial arts stances have knees bent for increasing power when striking, stability when blocking, and protection from dislocation. but using a knife means you're better off standing tall and loose. you dont need power to hurt someone, you can counterstrike with your knife instead of blocking, and you have much greater mobility overall when simply walking without bent knees, so it's easier to just walk out of your enemy's reach. footwork in knife v knife fighting is incredibly important but not the same as boxing footwork.

[@026safety]

Very forward thinking of you, using the knife to install grappling skill in short order.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

I just don’t consider it responsible to teach “knife fighting,” but I do see the value in using it as a tool.

[@026safety]

The idea of "knife fighting" as in dueling, is super-not-likely to happen unless you're a resident of a 3rd world country.

[@ericharris197]

Telling people to hold a knife like an ice pick is a bad idea. Use the flashlight to blind the attacker if dark. So they can't see the knife coming.

[@uchenwokedi6812]

I love your shirt bro!!

[@frederickg.6155]

Usually one or both die in a knife fight😬😬 I did read about knife vs gun at short range and most FBI agents with the gun lost that battle thus cops tend to shoot quick when knife is presented bc they have heard about the same study.

[@methree3821]

Thanks. Question: Have you been in any knife fights?

[@KNIGHTJUMPS]

Be advised the reverse grip shortens your striking distance and you are limiting angles in which you can strike. You cannot improvise as easily or as quickly.

[@leonardoastros]

Arnis practicioner here, I totally agree with you

[@ChefPelle]

If you listen to people that actually have a lot of knife kills - the soldiers from the trenches of WWI - the best place to stab someone is in the face. Will that kill the enemy? No. But getting a 7 inch blade through your jaw, tongue and cheek usually gets you out of balance. That's what they did - they jumped into the German trenches and stabbed anyone they met in the face. Then they proceeded to finish them off. There are examples of soldiers facing as much as six enemies at once taking them all out with a knife with the face stabbing method. Try it out the next time you face someone armed with only a knife.

[@MPRiley-dw2nd]

The two best things to have in a knife fight: 1. Distance 2. Anything you can use as a projectile You won't always have those. If you haven't trained do not carry a knife. Make them bring their own. Getting cut, stabbed and possibly killed by the knife you introduced to the situation is beyond sad. Belt or belt buckle to the face from distance is better than closing the gap and being within striking distance of a knife. Be safe. Be aware of your surroundings. If someone is creeping you out pay attention. Paranoia keeps a hide intact.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

This is some very good advice

[@MPRiley-dw2nd]

@Combat Self Defense Although experience is a great teacher it is often better to learn from someone else's experience / mistakes. Fewer scars. ;-)

[@beornthebear.8220]

Punching and finger bone and wrist bone strength come from repeated and increasing intensity. Make them strong so they don't break.

[@user-es4eh7rw9z]

Being a 74 year old Vietnam Vet I always carry two knives ... My first strike would be pepper spray ... First move, knife as decoy ... First strike, pepper spray ... Second strike knife ... Last resort, frag ...

[@driver3899]

"there is no knife fight, only someone being stabbed" except in the Philippines where they actually fight each other with knives. But yes stick and knife fighting has somehow entered fantasy levels in western MA peoples minds which is starting to make it watered down and unrealistic The greatest contribution from FMA (or it least it has been to my training) is fast disarms and trips/throws on people trying to hit you with a stick, I can strip a stick from someones hand in sparring in less than a second with a single move and I am only a brown belt, my instructors can do it way faster. Thats empty hand or holding something. Other arts only practice this in compliant demos not in full contact sparing. I love the idea of training wrestling with knife in mind from the start, a real knife fight will be a clinch fight not the way we spar in kali I question the idea of punching with a knife in your hand, your bones get easily damage on someones head in a punch and you need full functionality to hold the knife. I have seen no real world data on this but it looks wrong tom me. Stabbing is stabbing, punching is punching, I dont think you can lump them together like that without making the training of both have flaws

[@judgesfiveeight]

A weapon changes EVERY outcome of contact, affects the primary areas that you need to defend, affects what you can use to defend, affects how you attack and your target selection. You need to be BEHIND your weapon at all times and therefore would very RARELY have your weapon in your back hand. You should maximize your reach... your "reverse grip" is a non-starter against someone who stays behind their weapon, manages distance and uses your "forehand" grip to maximize their reach. Knife fighting is also about staying "small" and not presenting targets... your unarmed experience has you standing too square (large targets ad not maximizing reach) almost every one of the cuts you demonstrated over-exposed your inside forearm, bicep or armpit (in a knife fight, there is such a thing as risking a superficial cut to deliver a fight ender)... I could go on and on... I "get it" that from the standpoint of familiarity and "efficiency" you desire to adapt your empty hand style to a weapon, and there ARE things that will translate. But there are also significant detriments. If you fight someone trained in a weapon-only system, I've got to level with you... you've got a rude awakening coming. Trust me, I have the t-shirt.

[@Eric-cm9ri]

Sadly, I saw a video of two guys about to square off in NYC, one guy had some boxing skills and the other a fixed blade knife; I was saying to myself, dude, referring to the boxing guy, get out of there or your gonna die! Yep! 😥 I study the mens demeanor and the boxer could've just walked away from it but pride cost him his life.

[@mattiassogna3058]

Where can I purchase the same training knife you are using in the video?

[@muriloravelar]

Hi, man. I practice Kickboxing. I have been thinking in adding a weapon. I want my dominant hand behind for power, and my lead free to clinch. Do you think a push dagger can work? A straight right cross into the skull. Can I use the same stance to shoot? Thank you.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

I don’t see why not

[@petemitchel1454]

Like old jack burton always says. It’s all in the reflexes. Defiantly just make sure you point the pointy end towards the bad guy. Having a knife pointing at you is very intimidating. Eyes are a great place to aim for. Or they brought. Because think about it. What happens if you stab them there ? Probably gonna end pretty quick.

[@TexasTourettes1]

A quote from my FAVORITE MOVIE!!

[@LoversRfighters]

You can actually argue that having something in your hand better stabilizes your fingers and hand depending on the size and dynamics of the object of course

[@LivingHe11]

Cool Deathstroke shirt

[@Apex_grind562]

I don't see how people could be offended by common sense! Good content!! New subscriber

[@ir3555]

When I was in high school I asked the science teacher about compression in a fist while punching. Because stuff like brass knuckles have support in the palm, and people hold lighters and rolls of coins to reduce compression. Holding a knife would help your fist maintain its force during a punch, American public highschool teacher approved

[@Maodifi]

Great video! I don't think anything you said is offensive to the FMAs. I trained in FMAs for a few years and my dad did for many years. However, I've had to yell from the mountaintops so many times about how grappling is the central component to stuff like eskrima. I think people only get offended because they haven't really appraised their training methods thoroughly enough to understand what kind of benefit it actually provides (assuming they aren't relying on fluff). Keep up the content!

[@CombatSelfDefense]

I think also there's this presumption that grappling is ALWAYS "throw yourself on your back and go for an arm bar," when people don't realize "grappling" is as broad of an area of study as striking is.

[@bountyhunter1303]

Once again, I watched video again, same conclusion, nothing my instructors haven't showed or taught. The principles are the same... you are doing great showing these ideas...but it not "new" or an insult. At least w the people I know

[@maximusrmlmjm]

No offense but I’ve found that your theory doesn’t work against a trained FMA guy. I teach FMA in a boxing/kickboxing gym twice a week. I knife spar with boxing guys all the time (including one of the boxing coaches who’s actually brave enough to actually knife spar) and when they start that boxing style they get torn apart every time. I’ve noticed they naturally start to adapt to a more FMA style or they keep getting killed. Those that don’t adapt eventually stop knife sparring. No one likes to keep getting killed.

[@calvinmurry1096]

What you rarely hear is that real life knife combat usually begins with you getting stabbed a couple times before you even know you have been attacked. Experience knife fighters will tell you that knives are to be felt and not seen. Most guys die from shock. Not the knife. Encounter a real knife fighters while already stabbed and bleeding and shock is the first thing to deal with. Go to the ghetto. Go to jail or prison. That's what a knife attack looks like. I have been in both fights and mutual duels with knives. I have never met an experienced knife fighters who didn't look like scarred up hamburger meat. When they remove their shirt. I am covered in scars. So get used to it. Prepare to bleed.

[@SlickCat]

Straight quick jabs are deadly and hard to block, slashing opens you to arm locks and disarm techniques.

[@keithyoung5015]

Movements are still very wide and sweeping. Knife handling only needs to be short movements. That upward slash for example, leaves your entire midesection, arm and arm pits open. 3:04.

[@alexgac1801]

You are actually less likely to break your fingers if you hold something in your hand. Which leads me to think that most people speaking have no idea what they are talking about.

[@Eric-cm9ri]

I know why you will use your flashlight first because you're martial arts trained. Thanks for the educational video.

[@STEALTHENGINEREPAIR]

How are you ganna go for a slash using the icepick position.

[@Tibosan2]

Same conclusion for me. I'm not trained with knives. But, when I hold a knife, it doesn't make my boxing worst .. 🤷 Personnally, I use reverse grip (flashlight user too!😂) in my lead hand (knife doesn't need power and I like to keep my weapon between me and the threat). what if I had to fight an FMA master like this ? I probably get killed! As sure as I get my ass kicked if I fight bare handed an MMA fighter 60lbs heavier than me ... But for an average agression under stress response, that's fair enough 😉

[@irbrathwaite]

why is there no horizontal slash?

[@williamsmith8790]

Ice pick grip shortens your reach and takes away from your ability to manipulate the weapon. It also takes away the thrust which is much more likely to hit vital organs and stop a person than a slash will.

[@Wiinajamizzi]

I agree with 90% of what you said, but the ice-pick grip has the strongest stab/thrust than any handshake/ hammer grip can produce. Not saying strongest is best, but to say the ice-pick grip has no thrust option is absurd, especially when an awl/spike/ ice-pick is a primarily thrusting tool.

[@williamsmith8790]

@@Wiinajamizzi In that grip you are “thrusting” on an arc. Like swinging a hammer. Or, trying to articulate your hand to punch it out there like a jacked up angle two, our four. It’s still really a slashing motion. Slower and shortens your reach.

[@Wiinajamizzi]

@@williamsmith8790 if you're making contact with the point and you're not drawing/pulling/pushing, but rather driving the tip in to penetrate, it is a stab/thrust more than it is a slash. Arc or not. Otherwise we are just arguing semantics. Curved swords are sometimes used to stab or puncture around an opponent's defence in an arc trajectory, puncturing with the tip. Similarly, curved knives like karambit can deliver thrusts through different grips and trajectories other than orthodox thrusts or stabs. If you're in grappling range or your target is lower than your shoulder height, the ice pick grip stab has little-to-no arc in it's trajectory at all. The only time the ice pick stab is arced is when trying to target something head or chest height at max range.

[@Pifagorass]

Filipino martial arts are universal in machete, stick, and knives. I see they are reusing machete techniques for knives the similar way as you demonstrate weaponizing boxing or Grappling (e.g. Sistema)

[@heavensfugitive6447]

With respect, Your knife grip is a first sign that you haven’t been properly trained with a bladed weapon.