Karambits Suck (For Fighting)

Karambits are sub-par fighting knives, they have always been sub-par fighting knives, and they always will be. If I have to see one more Kali instructor talk about how their $80 instructional can allow you to become an unbeatable knife fighter while using a 1-inch long blade, I'm going to lose my mind!
It's ok, we all thought karambits looked cool at one point in out lives. Realizing that karambits suck is just a part of growing up. Hopefully, this video can let some people grow up just a little bit faster.
Editing by Alexander Thill! His page: www.fiverr.com/s2/3c90da8d75
Thanks to Metrolina Martial Arts for letting me film in their gym! Their channel: / @metrolinamartialarts
My Twitter: / armchairviolenc

[@ArmchairViolence]

READ THIS before you put any more dumb comments on my video. If your argument is any of the following, I've taken the time to pre-rebut you. You're welcome. 1. "That cheap folding karambit sucks! Get a REAL karambit!" I'm NOT criticizing the specific karambit that I'm holding. I'm criticizing Western karambits BROADLY. The one I'm holding is just the one I happened to be able to borrow for the video. 2. "It's not the weapon, it's the person wielding it!"/"You have to learn to use it well!"/"Doug Marcaida!" Anyone with a karambit would be BETTER if they had trained with a BETTER knife. A sufficiently skilled fighter could kill you with a piece of string, but that doesn't mean a piece of string is a good weapon. This is the "it's all about the individual" fallacy that I covered in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpmsq6p3e81obdk 3. "It's not for 'fighting,' it's for getting close and assassinating people!" A) That's murder. Why are you encouraging people to carry a knife exclusively used for murder? Go to jail. B) If you can get close to people and sneak attack them with a knife you could kill them with ANY KNIFE. C) If your weapon only works when you can get really, really close to someone that hasn't drawn a weapon, and then sneak attack them when they least expect it, your weapon absolutely sucks. You can only win in a VERY specific scenario. I could win with my BARE HANDS in that scenario, so why even bother with a karambit?? In an equal scenario, the better knife usually wins. If you need 12 different advantages, your weapon sucks. D) The people that usually do actually murder people like this (i.e. people in prison) almost always use the knife to stab. Which is the thing that karambit sucks at. The karambit isn't even a good knife FOR ASSASSINATION! E) Stop living in an Assassin's Creed power fantasy. Get an actual knife. 4. "It's for tearing flesh! Like a tiger claw!" You clearly didn't watch the video all the way through. 5. "It's small and concealable!" There's a million different knives that are small and concealable. My EDC folding knife is smaller than most karambits but has a larger and better designed blade. Virtually every other folding knife is small, concealable, and BETTER than the karambit. 6. "Any knife can still be useful!" Yeah, but I'm not going to cut my steak with a cheese knife, because it sucks at that purpose. Come on, you know you're rationalizing. You're better than this. 7. "You clearly haven't been in a real knife fight!" Wow, I guess I should have deferred to historical societies where knife fighting was more common in order to see what kind of designs evolve when knife fighting is a regular occurrence and matter of life and death. Oh, wait! I did! Perhaps it is YOU that doesn't understand real knife fights. 8. "You can't compare small folding karambits to giant historical knives!" If this was your argument, I applaud you for being way smarter than all of the other arguments thus far. Obviously an 18 inch long knife is going to be more effective than a small folding knife. The point is to look at the design elements incorporated. The knife I held up at 2:58 is my EDC. It has a longer blade, more cutting area, better thrusting abilities, and a more reinforced point. It's better than the karambit example in every way and it's still SMALLER and takes up LESS room in my pocket! Even when you account for knives of the same size, karambits still suck. 9. "You need a karambit with an emerson wave feature! Then it's great!" Or you could get a knife that has a wave feature AND is a good weapon. My EDC already has a wave feature, and it's far more effective than a karambit (see number 8).

[@EXSF-1]

Why do we even use karambit to self defense? They are inspired by tiger claw

[@EXSF-1]

Which is very lethal

[@ArmchairViolence]

@@EXSF-1 4:41 Did you actually not watch the part of the video about tiger claws, and then talk about tiger claws, while replying to a comment that specifically calls you out for not watching the part of the video about tiger claws? Or are you messing with me? I am a victim of Poe's Law here lol

[@plkyxander3780]

What I find funny is that 75% percent of this video is just opinionated rather then factual, also I don’t own one, but I would rather carry a high quality karambit than one of my huge blades especially for EDC.

[@emoryogglethorp8180]

That has got to be the most internet comment I have ever read, really making yourself look like an ass here LOL

[@ams8163]

Can I kiss my opponent in the mouth to deescalate the situation?

[@ArmchairViolence]

I feel like that will either work really well or not at ALL! There is no in-between lol

[@jomess7879]

I got out of a fight by telling the person they had pretty eyes. I didn't mean to. He grabbed and pinned me against the wall and my ADHD brain noticed that he had silver eyes, which I think is pretty, so my brain high jacked my mouth to communicate this to the guy about to punch me.

[@ArmchairViolence]

@@jomess7879 That's actually brilliant, because continuing to pin you against the wall now seems super gay and he basically has to let you go! 🤣

[@institches2750]

@@jomess7879 Top-tier reverse psychology! You made him WANT to let go and gtfo.

[@jomess7879]

@@ArmchairViolence he did look at me with disgust while I stared at him thinking, I can't believe I said that. He did let me go

[@treadstoned9915]

Karambits suck for fighting? Tell that to my hundreds of cqc kills on Ghost Recon 😎

[@gw1357]

Its even better on Splinter Cell. UbiSoft (the company that makes both games) uses Kevin Secours for their motion capture and he's a karambit guy.

[@treadstoned9915]

@@gw1357 I love splinter cell. I wish they would remaster them all and actually do them justice.

[@gw1357]

@@treadstoned9915 Me too. I think Ubi is working on a reboot to the whole series.

[@qnno5134]

bruh

[@nexus6163]

I miss wildlands! I see you fellow tactical shooter gamer🤘

[@SladeChurch]

Love how he says if you want to be good at knife fighting, like people go out and challenge others to a knife fight🤣

[@grayman1]

lmao i legit fucking spit my drink out

[@HOMGC]

I do wtf lmao there are competitions lmao duuuuuuh

[@voidi7930]

England and new zealand ?!?! duhh

[@garyt3hsna1l82]

10% of my power should suffice....

[@bearellie6985]

I know right. WTF this dude is harsh.🤨

[@lordnicenstein5105]

So the Katana never was real, it's just a Tanto getting more aroused 🙄

[@jamesjafari1148]

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with their experience . -Mark Twain

[@disco4535]

Always resort to passive aggressive insults when you lack the intellect to address points made coherently, and lack the balls to just insult them directly.

[@adoniskarim7958]

This is what happens when you take some pharses that you don't get from tiktok and try to use them when you don't have any argument

[@billiambyte]

"You cannot logic someone out of something they did not logic themselves into"

[@keuwlcat1319]

@@adoniskarim7958 poop not pee - rosa parks

[@jcpbd1776]

This quote has only became more cringe the more I see people use it

[@BDAILY365]

Rule #1, run if you see a knife attacker!

[@davefletch3063]

Rule #2- you generally do not see the knife attacker until the blade is in you

[@patrickferryman6579]

Karambits are great knives! I love using them to cut down boxes at work, they are far superior to boxcutters or "safety knives"

[@dariusstarrett8837]

facts. more fun too lol

[@drewsmith9809]

Samsies!!

[@Stowneyo]

The funniest shit here is that you just cut the tape of boxes and then flatten it

[@patrickferryman6579]

@@Stowneyo yup. Karambits are perfect for that

[@widiandritalempong4405]

That's how you use it in a fight, to rip wide open in a very close position. not to stab, cut or extension of your reach

[@ramonstrocen8385]

Challenge Doug Marcaida to a karambit fight and if you win, we'll believe you

[@LaurenceIbita-pr2fg]

Agree

[@charmzee8749]

He’s still right though. Other knives offer better reach and better control. I find that i like my karambit more as a tool than to use it for shadow fighting although the karambit feels better i can bring out the best moves with a regular edge. But with a few mods the karambit could be a great fighting knife, not only a super great tool and a great control knife.

[@nef36]

"Be a wrestler, and challenge a taekwondo black belt to a taekwondo fight (you have to use taekwondo) then we'll believe you when you say taekwondo sucks for fighting"

[@jzues5107]

Don’t take this the wrong way but you come off unbelievably condescending. Maybe tone it down a tad. This is the first video I’ve seen of yours and probably the last. Unless it’s a video of someone kicking your ass. Then I’d watch. Haha!

[@giacomo8875]

@ramonstrocen8385 a crazy good fighter can probably kill you with a flip flop. That still does not make a flip flop a good weapon.

[@holywaterbottle3175]

If you're ever expecting to fighting people in full plate armour, remember to practise your wrestling.

[@holywaterbottle3175]

@PJ Rivera I know

[@Vlad_Tepes_III]

@PJ Rivera Technically, wrestling is older than the currently extant human species, because we see non-human great apes wrestling. Grappling is pretty much as old as the opposable thumb.

[@ArmchairViolence]

@@Vlad_Tepes_III How old are constrictor snakes, though?

[@jomess7879]

@@ArmchairViolence if you want to get technical, most animals grapple. Even your example of the tiger holding on to its prey to kill it could be considered grappling

[@Vlad_Tepes_III]

@@ArmchairViolence At least as old as the dinosaurs. Definitely older than venomous snakes.

[@bunnieseatliverspots]

The karambit's main drawbacks are reach and angles of attack, although the latter should be caveated since traditional, double-edge karambits open up more angles. Beyond that, comparing the karambit vis-a-vis historical/military knives is apples and oranges. The karambit is an asymmetrical weapon often used with other tools or weapons. In ancient times, that usually meant larger fighting knives or swords; today, it could mean anything from firearms to flashlights. Hence, the retention ring. The entire purpose of the karambit is to be felt before it's seen. The small blade is easily concealed in clothing, and it works best in clinch and grappling range. An added benefit of its design is ease of use: If you can throw a punch, you can more or less use the karambit intuitively. All that said, is the karambit the most effective fighting knife ever? Hell no. Does it suck? Also, no.

[@TheNomad_Brothers]

Totally agree with you the karambit is ,mainly a grapple/close quarters knife(which I think some ppl forget)and in my opinion good for a type of brass knuckle as well,you just gotta be creative with it cause it can be incredibly deadly.

[@Narguhl]

Every short doublebladed straight knife can do this to. Neck knifes e.g.

[@bunnieseatliverspots]

@@Narguhl In what way does that mean the karambit sucks as a fighting knife? Clickbait video title notwithstanding, it's one thing to say there are better combat knives than the karambit. It's another entirely to say the karambit is ineffective -- especially when the method of analysis is comparing it to historical/military combat knives. That framework ignores the fact that the latter style of knife is illegal to carry in most places, if not outright impractical. It also ignores the methods of using a karambit -- which are often different from conventional knives.

[@Narguhl]

@@bunnieseatliverspots Oh no! Clickbait! Welcome to youtube. There are countries were a "historical/military combat knive" is forbidden but a karabit is legal to carry? Sound like very strange law. Also the law does not effect how good or bad a weapon really is.

[@bunnieseatliverspots]

@@Narguhl Yes. Single-edge Karambits under four inches are legal in much of the U.S. -- including where I live. I agree it's strange, but alas. And as I said in my previous comment, it's also about practicality. Most people don't want to carry a bowie knife as their EDC. Hence -- small, concealable karambits are a popular choice. In fact, their design features make them especially attractive to people who carry firearms, because the retention ring means you can use it in tandem with pistols. Personally, I think that's a bit extreme, but it's the reality. Bottom line, karambits don't suck.

[@vincemargiotta3014]

I used to carry a fox karambit every day when I was younger, it was amazing. I was doing a lot of manual labor, and its shape was lovely to do things like cut weeds too thick for a weed eater, or slice open bags of salt or concrete.

[@Tired_Nk]

any knife could do that bru

[@user-wd4ge2zh2c]

Bill hook and hawk bill style blades are great for utility.

[@happyhourk12]

A lot of the western daggers you cited, though they can cut, they are primarily a piercing weapon. Thus the ridged narrow stiff blades

[@andresmartinezramos7513]

All knives are piercing weapons, slashing is not effective.

[@happyhourk12]

@@andresmartinezramos7513 I would disagree. Slashing can be effective but it does matter where and what you mean by effective. Does it kill as easy? Nope military has known that for ages. Are slashes like a moulinet effective in keeping multiple people at a distance? Yep! So as Matt Easton always says, context is everything.

[@MiddleSumatra]

​@@andresmartinezramos7513 karambit adopt from "tiger claw", puncture first then shreed the skin. work similar to skinning knife.

[@KainChrist]

While you make good points, your points seem to suggest you were under the impression that Karambits were meant to be main weapons. They are LAST RESORT weapons.

[@dsyrdragon3309]

The karambit is incredibly defensive as well , and it does this insanely well , especially western variants, I imagine we didn’t see a major need for double blades and longer ones because we likely used it as you said , a last resort , and I’m no expert but it likely came about the west during 18-1900s and as such we had ranged weapons that made melee obsolete in most cases so a big demanding blade wasn’t required, it isn’t a downgrade it’s an adaptation

[@TheMarcosvolta]

no, his direct statement is that they are tools that were repurposed for combat. like the japanese kunai. kunai arent diamond shaped with a finger hole on the bottom, thats just anime. kunai were any sort of farmers tool that could be fashioned or sharpened into a blade. karambits werent meant to be ANY weapons, but they evolved out of necessity like the kunai.

[@sparkyy2890]

And there are other last resort weapons that are better

[@alvinaldama4171]

yeah, some of modern law enforcer or military personnel carries a karambit for LAST RESORT weapon, let's not forget CLOSE -QUATER COMBAT to the context of karambit. comparing apples and oranges, karambit is not typically for thrusting like the bayonet. The discussed weapons has different disciplines usage, e.g. karambits and kunai both have the ring, both originated as a simple tool but differs on how they are used to be an effective weapon. karambit - swinging motion, for close-quarter combat most of the mentioned weapons - thrusting, target may be a bit far bayonet - around 30cm karambit - around 7cm you can easily conceal carry a karambit in comparison for a 30cm bayonet as a self defense weapon.

[@alvinaldama4171]

@@sparkyy2890 somehow I agree with your opinion.

[@anon6952]

Yeah all of my carry knives are not weapons. They’re apple slicers. My concealed handgun is my defense tool lol

[@mtabby8791]

Yeah until you fly to a state or country without fire arms then you are what god made you.. a pimple faced pin cushion.

[@billenclosed7131]

Guns are for those that can't fight, pussy way out.

[@miaouew]

Karambits are really good leather cutting blades. I use a Milwaukee branded curved blade carpet cutter for cutting rough panels of leather out for projects (8-12oz or around 3-5mm thickness). It's great because you can just poke the tip into wherever you wanna start and drag it down to the end. If you need to go slower the fine point lets you aim to go around curves etc.

[@billybob-gb6ol]

That's called a hawbill blade not a karambit

[@zero8xkira]

I'll just carry a medieval long sword because it'll give me the better advantage.

[@azizcook1651]

It's not the Weapon or the Martial Art, it's mind behind them.

[@Irkham_MdL01]

The curved design of the karambit knife is specially crafted for continuous cutting effect when you place an object at the base within its curve. That's why it was perfect for cutting roots and crops in the past. However, I admit that the overly curved design might not be ideal for flat surfaces as it's challenging to place objects in its curve. But the right curved design is perfect for cutting muscles, tendons, and even flat parts of the human body like abdomen when attacked from above or below, not from the side. By applying a slight pressure like a punch, the flesh can be placed inside the karambit's curve, allowing you to execute quick sideways movements and perform various maneuvers, even enabling grappling without worrying about dropping the knife.

[@Rose_Butterfly98]

And that continuous cutting action makes it perfect for opening boxes. When I'm not picking fruits with it at least.

[@jojomaster7675]

It honestly doesn't matter where you attack from, as long as you don't get stuck on bone, you can just stab the blade in and drag it through thier flesh.

[@feilox]

it's not that the blade pointing forward is bad. It's that it's sharpen with a flat/concave edge. It should be a convex like katana/kukri etc.. that way the blade doesn't get stuck like a razor blade into skin. Your wrist have to "give" in order for that face forward curve to "bite" in deeper, otherwise you're just holding a razor blade. Curving it the other way you won't need too, but then it'll ruin the idea of the karambit.

[@Rose_Butterfly98]

@@feilox dude, it has an outer edge as well, that one is convex.

[@mb2776]

yep, anything the tip catches, it will direct to the blade. that's why a sickle has it's shape, to catch lots of grass and to direct it into the blade with a swift cut.

[@fireandcopper]

The winner of a knife fight dies in the ambulance, loser dies in the street

[@RamseyDewey]

I always thought those things were box cutters with a built in keychain ring!

[@Bary-vo6ph]

Hello king 👏🏻

[@davidgeldner2167]

Arrogance at its finest

[@bloodyclovis5964]

You know Ramsey you are a genuinely funny guy and I'm big on your channel you exercise temperance and wisdom

[@stevegermond7712]

Hold a knife like object in your dominant hand and punch yourself right behind the wrist with your non dominant hand slightly extending a knuckle to separate the bones. If you did it correctly your said knife is on the floor and just a small glint of why there is a retention ring.

[@matthewmaxcy1574]

Lol this is what happens when you have someone who doesn't know fighting knives makes a video and uses a folding karambit as a example.

[@thnzxc]

Exactly.

[@SladeChurch]

Straight blades are better in my opinion, yes the 479 fox body karambit is good. But my bastinelli pika is small, and can be easy to conceal in the hand. So my attacker cant stop me from defending myself.

[@drgngoddess]

@@SladeChurch Dude told me a drunken boxer with them knives , deadly drunk lol

[@m.houston6643]

@@lemniscatelogos7917 I ordered one this morning. I hope it’s as sharp as shown in the videos. From what I’ve seen I don’t think this guy in the video would be talking all this shit if he got sliced by that thing. 😂

[@_Azryl_]

@Matthew Maxcy EXACTLY this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about

[@andrewnapier6504]

My only complaint is once world war 1 came around bayonets switched to being shorter as the long bayonets were impractical when it came to the trenches.

[@TaskForce_Raccoon]

Ya he's very wrong on that subject. Most militaries still use bayonets today, and they are usually a lot shorter than bayonets of a century or two ago.

[@bob67497]

Yeah, I used to own a karambit, and honestly, the contextualization that it was designed as a smaller version of a sickle makes it make a lot more sense. I will say for the one I got (because it was forged specifically unlike the dollar store cheapo ones you find, with a PROPERLY supportive spine) that it would have been alright, if I really needed to use it in a fight. The thing is, its small blade area and sharp interior curve made it way better as...a box opener. And I occasionally had cause to cut rope with it. It was a high-quality tool, made from very good steel and it served me well for the time I had it, but I wouldn't have wanted to use it instead of say, my 13 inch double edge combat knife. I just carried my karambit sometimes instead of that for self-defense because it was WAY easier to carry. Also, inb4, "Why would you carry a knife for self defense?" at that time, it was old habits from a time in my life when that actually mattered. I used to spend a lot of time alone in a meth-heavy city at night. My ACTUAL training (not just hobbyist bullshit) with my knives was genuinely a thing that mattered for my self-defense for a little while there (I was also too young to own a firearm legally, but was allowed to carry knives). Having used one in training alongside other knives (none of which resembled it, I had 3 other knives that are genuine combat knives and all are straight bladed and have at least 6 inches of edge and very solid designs that make for good penetrative stabs) I agree pretty close to completely. I can see some particular utility with an inside curve in eviscerating a target, but that isn't something you're likely to be able to accomplish if your opponent is also using a knife. Something people don't think about much (because they're just keyboard warriors) is that you don't want to be anywhere near your target if you and they BOTH have a knife. "In close" is deadly range for a knife, which means knife fights are all about footwork and positioning (whether through dodging or grappling) that enable you to land a killing blow and then get away while your opponent finishes dying. Any situation where a karambit could be particularly deadly can be accomplished just as easily by using a reverse gripped straight bladed knife, even if it's single edged, just as easily. I REALLY wanted that karambit I had bought to be GOOD, but honestly, it was just kinda cool. They're fun, but if you want a combat knife, fun isn't on the priority list.

[@aaftiyoDkcdicurak]

You should publish that.

[@bob67497]

@@aaftiyoDkcdicurak I mean, "Put 'em Down and Take 'em Out!" which is a manual of knife-fighting I read when I was learning this shit put together by experienced knife fighters from Folsom Prison already exists. I think my relative inexperience with knife combat is redundant compared to their tried and true knowledge that *I* learned from.

[@SmokeyJembe]

Underrated comment 💯

[@sacredlawliet6321]

know that in the history of Indonesia & pencak silat, actually the karambit knife is not the main weapon. on the contrary, the karambit knife is for the last weapon, that's why it is designed small as if it doesn't carry anything (to trick the enemy). in the film as if karambit is the main weapon. no, in a movie like that just to look cool bro 😎

[@psychopathmedia]

I bought one online for a few bucks as a novelty. It's way too small for my hands and has no guard, so I don't really trust not-cutting myself with it, and the "handle" is bare because I used the paracord they expect you to wrap around it for something more useful. Plus it always falls out of the Kydex necklace thingy it came with. But as some cheap-o thing to be like "hey check this out" (or as a box cutter) it's fine

[@TheQue5tion]

The whole farming tool origin actually makes more sense, especially in Silat. It's said that when Hindu priests were travelling, their guards would sometimes use the karambit while protecting them. Now, looking at how some punches are delivered in Silat, it makes sense for the karambit to be an incidental weapon instead of an intentional one. Imagine you're travelling with Hindu priests, or anyone else. You're mostly living off of the land, so sometimes you have to cut up roots and shoots to make a meal better. If you're being attacked at such a moment, and you don't have time to grab something better, then the karambit in your hand can make it less difficult to parry a blade. On top of that, every time you punch your opponent the blade can cause some damage. It won't drop them immediately, but it could make them less eager to go all in and at least increase your odds of winning. In short, it's less like a knife and more like a pointy knuckle duster.

[@EXSF-1]

That just a Tiger claw for stab and tear

[@investlikeawarrior]

I never knew Buddha had body guards. Stupid me just assumed he was welcomed everywhere he went after he became a teacher

[@ratorboxchannel7958]

Good info.. just one correction.. silat is from the malay people from the malays archipelago .. now be called indonesian 🇮🇩 and malaysian 🇲🇾.. and they are not buddha or buddhist martial art ...

[@TheQue5tion]

@@ratorboxchannel7958 from what I understand, for a time Buddha had body guards called the Satria, who used Silat. Since he traveled, it doesn't seem too unlikely that his guards picked up other art forms, and he was himself something of a warrior before his journey of enlightenment.

[@TheQue5tion]

@@investlikeawarrior yeah apparently they were called the Satria. And of course he had body guards. The man was preaching peace and love, which is bad for business for any government as well as religious zealots.

[@lifestudent6744]

I carry a karambit with my firearm and have had 2 instances where people have tried to grab my firearm. The one time a person caught me by surprise and actually grabbed my gun in its holster, I used my karambit to control their arm and force them to let go. It also gave me the ability to use my thumb to pry their fingers off the handle. I don’t do much knife fighting, so I can’t tell u how effective a karambit is by itself. But I would let everyone know that protecting yourself in modern time takes a combination of weapons understanding how to use them together.

[@lusca6357]

Do you open carry?

[@Principlesof98]

maybe you should consider moving to somewhere safer?

[@lusca6357]

@@Principlesof98 movving to another place is more easy said than done

[@TheMarcosvolta]

or, y'know, maybe dont walk around showing people that youre carrying. out of sight, out of mind. people wont reach for your weapons if they dont know theyre there. ive read a ton of stories online about armed citizens who get robbed for their weapons, lol. honestly, i dont think even 1/4 of firearms owners in this country even know wtf theyre doing armed, theyre more of a danger to themselves and those around them. i know a few guys who have accidentally discharged firearms in city limits too. everyone in this country seems to think that once you buy a gun, all required gun knowledge, safety, training and overall thought process must come along with it instantaneously and for free. we have licenses, insurance and regulations for vehicles, but not for weapons that can clean house in elementary schools. real fucking smart. galaxy brain shit here. land of the dumb and dumber.

[@mrdojob]

And why do you still life in this area?

[@SharkmanAdidas]

My double edged karambit has a different opinion.

[@the_Kuwaii_Killer]

That's what I was thinking😭🙏

[@wolvar6933]

I bought the cold steel karambit training knife to mess around with and you just confirmed I need a real one and can justify it by using it as a gardening tool. I approve this message.

[@captainbeaver_man903]

I dont know bro, if someone slashed my neck with a karambit Im pretty sure Im still gonna die regardless of how other knives are better. I'll be sure to tell them that they could have used a better knife though before I die though.

[@michaelmcintyre5188]

Yea...and? he could more easily cut your neck with a straight long thin blade. sure something CAN be used to kill and he even said as much but that doesn't mean it is a particularly effective weapon.

[@captainbeaver_man903]

@@michaelmcintyre5188 if Im being assaulted by a karambit it doesnt matter how "bad" it is at the job, Im still gonna bleed all over and probably die. The only time all these things matter is if you are using the blade as some sort of side arm in combat. If im getting punched by a dude and I decide to cut him with a karambit it really doesnt matter that a stiletto would have been a better option. The argument in the video is basically "sure a karambit will kill, but other knives kill better." Who fucking cares? Dead is dead, it doesnt really matter how you get there. If I had to choose between being unarmed and a shitty cheap karambit to protect myself Im going with the shitty knife because its still a knife. The 9/11 hijackers used small utility knives to cut the throats and attack the air marshals and faught their way into the cockpit and those are definitely terrible knives for fighting, worse than a karambit even. But guess what, it doesnt matter because dead is dead and if the weapon you have gives this result then it is effective regardless of how efficient it is.

[@guitarbishop1]

Glad someone realized this. A lot of the people agreeing have probably never put real time into training with it or don’t have much of an open mind to adapt it to any real use. A blade is a blade. And to say it’s not good for stabbing or puncturing is asinine. Hand it to a child & then tell me your non-puncturing theory again. 🙄

[@Dautar748]

if I slashed you with any other knife it would do better fanboy

[@MrFreeman012]

Yeah… of course you’d still bleed out *if* someone slashed your neck with it… That’s not the point. The point is that it would be harder to even achieve that feat with a modern karambit. It’s so short that you could only really do that easily and reliably within grappling range. Plus, the carotid is always going to be a harder to hit target compared to puncturing the heart or the lungs. Seems like a needless difficulty to me, especially when, as the would-be victim of an attack, you’re the one who’s reacting. You don’t have the element of surprise, unless your attacker had some irrational assumption that you were unarmed. I don’t really like the idea of a weapon that becomes significantly less useful without the element of surprise, though. I like having the odds stacked as much in my favor as possible.

[@hraughr]

karambit having a short blade makes it legal to carry in some countries, so it's most likely a person with a karambit vs a person with a fist and the way karanbit is held does not prevent your usual martial art techniques. So it's a downright upgrade in that sense. It will also most likely be used by the person escalating the confront ation, because he's armed.

[@JTC161]

A well design karambit that are double edge would still be a very deadly weapon plus there are trapping move and cutting while using the ring. But i agree that for most people a regular knife would be better. The original karambit are every small knife that can be conceal in the palm of your hands, mainly used as a hidden weapon

[@Packaroo]

It is better to have a karambit than nothing at all, in the case of a defensive action. Then again, some people can deliver a world of hurt on an opponent with only a pencil.

[@toha2939]

Ok I know nothing about martial art or selfdefense but, isn't the object is to defend and not kill ? Would it mean that you can/should use the "claw" instead of "teeth"? Or do you just go for the most effective/deadly method in fighting and selfdefense? I'm just asking, not denying your claims since I know nothing lol.

[@ArmchairViolence]

With a weapon like a knife, using it in a less lethal capacity makes it much less likely to actually stop an attacker. It's just like using a gun to only try and graze your attacker in the shoulder. It might hurt them, but it will not stop them. Unfortunately, the only reliable way to use a knife to stop someone is to kill them outright.

[@CombatSelfDefense]

inb4 every American FMA enthusiast talks about how many people were historically killed with a karambit, even though they’ve never seen it used before.

[@crabmudd9]

the most annoying thing about kerambit is its use without being detected by you when fighting. without you knowing it, your opponent has armed himself with kerambit without you seeing it. and without you knowing it, some of your body's muscle tissue has been cut off by it. lawan anda yang mengguna kerambit juga tidak akan menggunakan kerambitnya jika anda menggunakan pedang, logika dalam perkelahian pasti juga dipergunakan 😂

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Dude, gtfoh. No one is knife fighting on the regular in the United States. Stop your fantasy bullshit, put your lil dickk back in your pants and go do something worthwhile.

[@rikaau2402]

does anyone know where he got that karambit from?

[@THEBOOMER110]

There's a reason why in FMA Karambits have their own movements and strikes from that of Sticks and straight knives, cuz its has a curve physically and in learning. So not technically a bad knife but rather difficult to use effectively if you have no prior training.

[@blacksnapper7684]

Facts talk about “maybe you just suck”

[@THEBOOMER110]

@@blacksnapper7684 sure bruh hahaha

[@owlobsidian6965]

But I would ask what is the point in using an implement that is both harder to use, more effort to learn, and yet gives no advantage over an easier to learn and use one?

[@THEBOOMER110]

@@owlobsidian6965 my thoughts are because of tradition, karambits started out as a tool that commoners carried to harvest rice, so would make sense back then to learn how to use it

[@habe1717]

I would consider a knife that is harder to learn with no clear benefits as a bad/worse knife

[@Swordsman_HEMMA]

Okay, but we can all agree that that one scene in The Man From Nowhere was rad as hell, right?

[@deviledegg5664]

The karambit is a great tool to aid in grappling like he said in the video "a tigers claws are meant to hook into the prey and pull them closer" that being said I'd rather pull my gun or run in a defensive situation. If i cant run and dont have time to get my gun I'll use my karambit to buy time to either run or get my gun. Best knife fighting technique is running away towards a gun.

[@joelsalminen5309]

Bro, if you don't habe the time to get to your gun, how do you have the time to get to your karambit? I wager a gun is several times faster to draw than a karambit.

[@deviledegg5664]

@joelsalminen5309 if someone is right infront of me they have the potential to grab control of my wrist or my gun before I can fully get it into the fight. Using a knife first can create distance and a distraction. I work in tight environments and have been robbed while the dude was basically 5 inches from me. I can also draw my karambit pretty quick cause I wear it open, my gun stays concealed

[@joelsalminen5309]

@@deviledegg5664 I see.

[@billenclosed7131]

you don't understand how quickly you can get a Karambit out and slash. In my opinion depending on a gun is for pussies.

[@MeditationIsMedication02]

Bro hasn’t a clue what he saying

[@Spades01]

Do you?

[@aprre]

@@Spades01 Yea they do cause the karambit basically stabs into your fucking body and then hooks inside - so you can draw a long cut downwards or upwards depending on which side the blade it on

[@Spades01]

@@aprre might be wrong but isnt that shape of the blade kinda shit for cutting? Looks more like its for hooking

[@pomboperdido4255]

@@aprre in a knife fight your enemy is going to move, your not in a film 2 - use your mind, 2 guys with a knife, one get close, do you really think the other guy is going to stop and wait to be stabbed? and wait to also get slashed? NO, HES GONNA START STABBING AND RUNNING BACK, and trust me this work pretty well, just think about why boxers punch while go backwards (and even if is a untrained person he still have fear and adrenaline, hes gonna do something) 3- all knifes can stab and slash 4- the hook actually makes stabbing more difficult srry for bad english

[@sebastianiglesiasperez8472]

Only one issue, the katana did not evolve from the tantō, it evolved from the tachi, which was longer and more nimble. It specialzed into a short two-handed sword that could deliver powerful cuts in confined urban spaces.

[@ArmchairViolence]

From wikipedia: "Katana originates from sasuga (刺刀), a kind of tantō... sasuga lengthened and finally became katana." Source (if you can read Japanese): web.archive.org/web/20201117093425/www.touken-world.jp/word/word/page/4/

[@sebastianiglesiasperez8472]

@@ArmchairViolence after some research i have come to the conclusion that we were both wrong and right at once. The katana, as far as i am currently aware, has its origins in both the chokutō (that originales from chinese blades) and the wantō (wich is indigenous of japan and i suspect it is also sometimes called sasuga, which translates to "dagger"). Out of this two blades developed the tachi wich would later become the uchigatana or katana

[@ArmchairViolence]

@@sebastianiglesiasperez8472 I'll consider it that we were both right, as the katana is in the evolutionary line of both.

[@davefletch3063]

@@ArmchairViolence Wikipedia isn’t a source

[@OptimusSledge]

@@davefletch3063 You can't read.

[@travisemery7153]

So as someone who has trained with both straight knives and a karambit and has studied the use of historical knives i also own several so I would like to point out a few things 1. So I don't like folding knives for self defense because of reasons I won't go into he but I do use fixed blades and the karambit I use is a lot smaller than the one you used in the video which in my opinion fits the mind set behind the use of it which is that a weapon of self defense against unarmored attacker's should be felt not seen 2. The rondel, bollock, choora and pesh-kabz are weapons that are designed to be anti armor weapons primarily chain mail armor but are effective against plate armor as well they make use of thinner but beefier tip or spin so it can slip between chain mail rings or gaps in plate armor and still be strong enough to split rings and peirce deep into the body and not brake the quillion/parrying dagger was designed to be held in the off hand to trap an opponent's weapon so that your primary weapon could be used to deal with them and the kandjar is used similar to the sica or falx were you do a casting cut that because of the inverse curve of the blade drives the tip of the weapon into the target it's not actually a thrust and it can have some affect on armor but was mainly used against people who would wear several layers of clothes some of which could be silk which is resistant to cutting and as far as Japan and China if you were not of certain class you could not carry a weapon or knife which is why you see so many farm tools used as weapon because it's hard to outlaw tools you need to grow food And now in closing I will say this if you are wanting to compare the function of two weapons I think it's unfair to use weapons that are very specific in their use and doesn't fulfill the same purpose in a fight I also am posting this for the purpose of having a discussion on the topic and who knows you or someone else may come back with something that 100% changes my mind on the subject also in my opinion there is no ultimate knife that is perfect in every situation every knife has it's context for were it's good and were it's bad thanks for your time and have a wonderful day

[@MrBingo-rv4mk]

You seem very knowledgeable on this subject, so I want to know which knife would be great for a starter like me with a budget of under $50 if possible. I’ve owned certain machetes for self defense within my house but I want to try certain knives out. Any recommendations?

[@Narguhl]

Bollock daggers were used in civilian and unarmored circumstances. They were more like a EDC knife which could also be used for stabbing people if you need to. The rondel was the anti-armor weapon. The question also was not to compare knifes but to ask the question if karambits are advertised realisticly as a SD weapon or a fighting knife. With an obvious answer.

[@Grimdarkog]

@@MrBingo-rv4mk heres a tip, you dont get knives for home defense. Get something bigger than your machete. If you want to collect knives any knife will do. Under 50$ you aren't going to get anything amazing but Kershaw makes some nice quality sharp out of the box pocket knives for 30-50$ and the few I have I am happy with. Knives start to get good at about 100-200$ range. Source: Knife collector

[@andreasplesko1543]

Wow thanks for the information!

[@habe1717]

Do you know what punctuation is?

[@Dubmajicks]

3:01 It was not called a Tanto, it was called a Wakizashi.

[@IzunaSlap]

Elder Scrolls Morrowind taught me the difference! Also katana vs dai-katana

[@fng007]

In fairness the knife was the tanto, wakizashi = short sword, katana = long sword, and Norudochi = great sword. His delivery sucked but had some valid points. However if you took someone who knows how to use whatever weapon vs one who didn't I'd still say any blade is better than none. 🍻

[@Snarlacc]

​@@fng007 I'd still say the Tanto did not evolve into the Katana, they existed side-by-side, as did daggers and swords in europe.

[@fng007]

@@Snarlacc you're not wrong. Most blades evolved side. By side or in tandem for just about every culture. 🍻

[@krieger8825]

That is a tanto tho. A wakizashi is a Japanese shortsword that is tucked next to a tachi. Either the image is just bad or its a ceremonial sword used only for seppuku

[@ikhbayarjargalsaikhan3065]

what is this karambit name plsss

[@thomasgrable1746]

Doug Marcaida can do amazingly deadly things with a karambit. But, I will wager he could do even more with a real combat knife.

[@jomess7879]

Doug isn't what you would call "normal people" though. I've seen him take a training karambit and it to get joint locks, chokes, and throws. I vaguely remember an interview where he said that he carries a training karambit because now he has to choice as to how badly he hurts. Doug is in a class of his own haha

[@PeacefulVictorytoTruth]

I stand on Doug's D.A.R.K. series .. The Tanto Karambit

[@darrenstettner5381]

Dancing around doing flourishes isn’t the same thing as being deadly. Deadly is a sewing machine type attack with a stabbing knife. It doesn’t look cool but it works. Slashing attacks can make gross wounds but it’s stabbing that actually kills people.

[@PeacefulVictorytoTruth]

@@darrenstettner5381 Being Hired for Special Forces. To TRAIN our ELITE soldiers.... Doesn't Say anything huh...

[@darrenstettner5381]

@@PeacefulVictorytoTruth no. It doesn’t. Our troops don’t need practical knife fighting skills, they kill people with missiles and artillery now. No one is gonna knife fight so his made up movie shit is just as good as any other garbage that they teach in combatives. Knife fighting stuff is just fantasy in todays age of combat.

[@justing1810]

Wow you made some really good points thank you

[@paul6925]

Don’t you need to consider what kind of armour or shields those historical knives were meant to go up against? I think some of them were meant to be thrust through helmet eyeholes or joints in armour.

[@renzol2214]

Good points made. A Karambit is not the ideal fighting knife, but if you are a practitioner of any martial art and you've got a Karambit (or any EDC knife on you) it will help you increase your damage potential. As for the ring, I would argue that it makes for a more subtle deployment (if you're talking fixed blade or Fox karambit) than say a standard knife as you can just hook your finger in your pocket and pull. With other knives you'd need the whole hand. Anyways good video 😉👍.

[@SongSteel]

Yeah, this video is somewhat of a joke. Instead of using an actual fighting or EDC karambit, he uses... a single-edged, , videogame karambit? This is what happens when someone with no qualifications wants to sound like the expert.

[@akaraikiriakatsuki3157]

Well, that's up for debate, it's easy to critic something you're not on the receiving end of a true practitioner.

[@masoudahmad4348]

But what if the karambit with two side Sharp side???? Would it work???

[@thebestofvancity1170]

Never take knife fighting advice from someone wearing a batman shirt 😂 I would suggest actually watching knife fighting experts and see the knifes in action and make a more informed decision.

[@iamantipathy5549]

Never said he was a expert. No such things as knife fighting experts 😂 how can they have enough experience to be experts in KNIFE combat.

[@sebastianpostigo4025]

@@iamantipathy5549Generalmente se hacen expertos mediante la práctica pero no están detallada como las prácticas de MMA ya que en MMA puedes tener una pelea real y ganarle a una persona En cambio, en una pelea con con cuchillos reales terminaria muy mal Por lo que la mayoría de expertos se basan en la práctica con cuchillos de práctica o cuchillos sin filo A su vez, muchos de estos expertos como Doug Marcaida son ex militares por lo que complementan su conocimiento con lo que han hecho en la práctica

[@harrybaals2549]

I once dated a woman who carried a karambit. I asked her why she didn't just carry a regular knife like me, noting the disadvantages. She then countered by explaining that as a woman, she isn't betting on squaring up with a man and using the knife as a guard like me. Being disarmed is a much greater likelihood for her, so the security of the ring helps. She liked that the karambit could be very destructive in grappling positions, where she is pinned. She can keep her arms tucked and close to make it harder to get pinned, while still being able to slice by holding it upside down. She also had it double edged to be even more chaotic. So we tried an experiment where I would pretend to attack her, once with an object pretending to be a regular knife, and the other a karambit held upside down. With the regular "knife", it was pretty easy to handle and disarm her. The "karambit" did give me a much harder time. As she wriggled around I realized how easy it would be to get slashed in the struggle trying to pin her arms or disarm her. It quite literally felt like I was trying to wrestle with a big cat that was trying to rip, tear, and claw me, as you eloquently put it. There is no doubt in my mind that she wouldn't be worth the trouble for a would be attacker. Now, that being said, I suppose you could get similar results with a curved blade knife held upside down, but the grip is just much more secure with the karambit

[@kevinmorrice]

yeah, theres something more confidence boosting about the rings security, either hammer or ice pick, that knife will not leave your hand unless YOU want it to, what people also tend to forget is the karambit fighting style is meant for really up close personal, like in real knife fights where they try to get as close to you as possible before drawing there knife, so in that tight space, a karambit allows much more versatility in attacks as its fighting style was meant for awkward positions that are more likely to occur

[@mb2776]

@@kevinmorrice yep, the example in the video of losing the blade due to impact is super stupid. In a fight, most of use aren't super trained instructors. Adrenalin is rushing, you probably hold onto the handle on your knive like crazy with white knuckles. Also, I don't try to learn special stab techs and stuff. A karambit in a ice pick grip is just like my fist with a blade at the end. In a grapple, I will find the finger ring but the stick handle of blade and then getting a hold onto it...idk. with the finger ring, slip and grap.

[@kevinmorrice]

@@mb2776 the best thing about ice pick grip with a karambit is you can still punch, I've seen techniques that alternate punches and cuts, such as punch then flick your arm for a cut, or wide slash followed by a hook punch, plus, you can even use the ring as an impact weapon, that's why I love a karambit, some people say it's not useful for defence ,but if your clever it can be used in a diversity of ways, it's all down to technique and adaptability. Id happily use a karambit for defence any day simply because I used to do boxing, which is the basic amount of skill for a karambit

[@biglc034]

The weapon you have is better than the weapon you don't. Pretty much every peasant tool turned weapon starts out this way. Some find purchase as descent weapons, usually with a little/lot of modification, but most are incidental weapons at best.

[@vik12D]

What are your thoughts on a SOCP dagger?

[@llllllllIIIIIIIIIII]

This guy sure doesn't know Doug Marcaida. 😂

[@elijahwilliams7975]

Exactly

[@lowki805]

The karambit was originally a FARMING TOOL used by Indonesian countrymen. During times of war they were used as a last resort SELF DEFENSE WEAPON. They’re not used for assault or assassination, but to control or subdue an opponent in combination with light grappling. People are much less likely to struggle against you if it means they’ll slice their own arteries. Also the “tiger claw” design makes it ideal for use in a fist fight. The torque your arm generates while punching forward is enough to easily carry the blade of the karambit through flesh, creating long deep gashes without having to adjust your fighting style from that of an average boxer. Basically it’s the best knife for those used to defending themselves with boxing/grappling, and for those who want to end a deadly confrontation without inflicting any fatal wounds. Rather than piercing vital organs, it’s mostly used for causing blood loss, forcing your opponent to retreat. It’s difficult to keep fighting when you’ve only got 15 minutes to get to a hospital. You’re essentially comparing a farming tool used for self defense, with murder weapons. They’re unlike almost every other knife, because they were designed for a completely different purpose and were then used as weapons out of necessity. That’s why there’s an entire martial art built around how to use them. Normal knives have universal functionality so they don’t require any special knowledge to use, just slash and stab. The karambit requires actual experience to use. I understand the points you’re making, you’re very knowledgeable. Comparing the karambit to other knives without knowing HOW they’re used or WHY, is just a bit disingenuous. It’s like comparing nunchucks to baseball bats. Yes one seems obviously more straightforward and efficient for almost every purpose, when you have no idea how to use the more complicated nuanced option. It’s easy to assume “big stick > two sticks” when you ignore centrifugal force and the physics behind what’s happening. That’s basically what you’re doing with your comparison. It’s not that the karambit is bad necessarily, they’re just used in a unique way that’s drastically different than most other knives. But for their purpose, there’s nothing better.

[@dtoad5576]

It's not only just a little disingenuous. It's outright b.s. as this video poster wants to sound controversial and get more views.

[@henryposadas295]

That is actually exactly what the video said. You just repeated it.

[@invictusbp1prop143]

Agree with almost everything you said. Definitely some truth in the idea that if you can employ a tool like a karambit effectively, most opponents will decide they didn't really want to fight that bad when they realize they've been unzipped in a couple places and the red stuff starts flowing. Only the lost dedicated and/or psychotic of opponents is going to stay in that fight. Fighting with blades is nasty nasty business and not very appealing to anyone that's not just out of their damn mind or determined to take your life out of some rage-filled very serious personal quest.

[@thanatosignis5702]

Idk why you have so many up votes, it's already been proven that a Big stick is better than two sticks with a rope attaching them, it's been scientificly proven for the same reason you said " Centrifugal force and physics" by the KZbinr Shad I believe. You also seem to be arguing two different things about the Karambit when he specifically said he was only talking about the knife itself in combat not the skill level of the wielder. Like of course some one with training is going to be better at knife fights Even if they use a karambit.

[@-Hermaeus-]

Where can I learn to fight with karambit

[@ThatJamesGuy88]

I think it’s *possible* a custom fitted karambit could work well and not injure the user. But we all know karambits are “weapons” first, and I prefer knives that excel at cutting apples, rope, tape, and other daily tasks.

[@Kuroiraven]

I know right, one can have custom knives, but a survival knife always come through in more general areas

[@MyFriendsAreElectric]

Agreed. I doubt even a poorly fitted one will hurt the user. In slashing, the force is against your palm. The ring stops it slipping and is a secondary stopping point. The finger guard on a conventional combat knife puts as much pressure on an even smaller area of your finger so this doesn't make sense. I found the whole video kind of dumb. Mostly comparing a small concealable knife (that does draw quickly from a belt line) against much longer, harder to conceal knives that would most likely be strapped to a leg and need a much more articulated draw.

[@josiahgill1176]

4th degree here, freaking love your vids so much, dude!!!

[@GregorMar]

What is the knife that you are using in 6:33 minute? I like it want to find one.

[@ArmchairViolence]

It's actually a really cheap, stainless steel knife from united cutlery I happened to have lying around. Item number UC2696. www.unitedcutlery.com/ProductDetail.aspx?itemno=UC2696&cat=SO

[@121Mayan]

All these MMA guys love to diss anything that's not in mixed martial arts. Like dude how do you know it works, if you have never trained in it ? Why are you so critical.

[@thnzxc]

You noticed that too huh? Glad it's not just me.

[@lazyandslower4377]

@@thnzxc you’re not alone

[@nineshotmat]

Yep 💯

[@BahOnbike]

Finally someone notice that. 😂 MMA guys seem to hate TMA because they don't train with weapons. Karambit suppose to be last choice of weapon, it's movement is circular more to slashing for quick kill in neck area. You aren't suppose to see the weapon coming at you, it's a hidden weapon.

[@aaftiyoDkcdicurak]

He's the guy that would tell samurai not to use firearms.

[@yourpalcraig]

I still use one as edc. I’ve gotten good with it and I like it :) I have the CRKT provoke it’s fun and great to deploy.

[@blacksnapper7684]

For some one who trains in kali that’s personally my dream blade😂😂😂

[@MrNoAvail]

If I had $150-$200 I could dump that would be the first thing I brought. The provke makes my knees weak

[@SS-ek5lz]

What karambit is he holding in the video?

[@krishnakamble9698]

In fact, a knife with that small of a blade is best held in the position of a karambit (the ring in the index finger) so that its full potential can be delivered.

[@dvldgz6306]

I love knives. I hate karambits because of how cumbersome they are to sharpen. I always thought it wasn't a good design unless you want to use it for manual agriculture.

[@RollingDutchmann]

idk how you sharpen yours but I've done it with ease

[@manuelnunez8802]

The point of the kerambit is its potential for concealment. It's a sneaky weapon, used as something to slip out and cut the throat in close combat, particularly combat grappling. But against...say, a large Kabar knife? I'd obviously take a Kabar.

[@cjames9320]

Not very sneaky with a giant ring sticking out of your pocket

[@5jump]

Kabar knives are substandard. Get a knife with a full tang.

[@mrdojob]

Any small knife is easy to conceal and probably a lot better.

[@ChippyPippy]

That's literally the purpose of every combat knife ever made. The Rondel and Tanto were specifically used in battlefield grappling.

[@TheOfficiaITristam]

@@cjames9320 Doesn't have to stick out............

[@jorgefernandez6407]

Thank you... Subscribed!

[@Leftyotism]

Gotta say, I love the rings at the end of smaller knives for comfort and utility.

[@dallastiger1]

I know something about this weapon being Silat practitioner. The problem is most in the West have no idea about the origins , purpose or traditional practical use of this weapon. Kerambit is a favorite Silat weapon for what it is. It is silly to conceive of preferring a karambit vs say a parang or American Bowie Knife. After the Karambit fad hit, anything in the West with a ring on it got called a karambit and it was touted as an "ultimate" self defense weapon. I note most are over inserting their fingers into the ring which is imprudent and causes problems of several sorts....and shows a lack on understanding /training in the method. Not a farming tool at all. An agricultural hooked blade would only need to be be single edged .....not likely double edged as is traditional. It was a last ditch female weapon used very close quarters , concealed and "last ditch" and as such is good for extreme in close work....Again , it is typically concealed and would not be openly revealed/displayed for some sort of long range encounter. ....It is not a "male" battlefield weapon. Definitely NOT a primary weapon so much as a backup .Also the twirly , whirly kerambit spinning is hardly traditional practical application.....it is akin the Wild West "gun twirling".....Kerambits only "suck" if you don't know the appropriate use /the correct "when /where /why" of the weapon.....before the fad the weapon was largely only known to Southeast Asian Martial Arts styles....principally Silat folks and after the fad blew up you could still argue most in the west don't REALLY know the true weapon info ....just a lot of applying the kerambit as extension of what they already do, which is apart from the traditional science of the kerambit. Where I will agree with you is there is no doubt that for combat a big blade is much more useful and versatile than a kerambit. It is good for what it's traditional use is....but it is undoubtedly NOT the Ultimate Combat blade.......

[@FireStar-gz2ry]

There's a lot here that I some what knew, so imagine my surprise to find out that this was a lady's weapon lol I don't practice Martial arts, tho I am fascinated by weapons and their uses, so thank you for this in depth post 🙏☺️

[@timothywilliams7931]

The wirly twirly motion? You mean the flail? That's designed to make the karambit an impact weapon hitting nerve ending and soft tissue. Also it doubles the length of the blade and adds an extended cutting option when the target is out of range for a close quarters cut also the ring is used for a pseudo brass knuckle tool.

[@timwhite5562]

No shit. Clearly if you're looking for thrusting knife, you wouldn't use these. I would use it the slash and to use along with punches. Also I don't know who would jam their finger into the whole. If one thinks that it is, they'd be better off not carrying it at all because their dumb.

[@dallastiger1]

​@@timothywilliams7931 Oh yes the Ring can be used as an impact weapon most certainly. And yes there is an extended hold that increases "reach' and is the end point of an "impact cut " if double edged or if single bladed, an impact. I'd probably want to have a fixed blade versus a folder with a questionable lock ( as in some of the cheap flea market folders) if I am delivering that with power and authority. So, that is best used with a fixed blade though rather than many folders. Some odd applications I've seen though might well endanger the finger extended too far into the ring, if an combative , uncooperative opponent twists about /falls in certain ways . I've seen such injuries to fingers . The whirly twirly stuff is , however , not the use of the extended grip or the sudden snapping deployment into that position .....it is the constant repetitive twirling and circling of the kerambit that many seem to enjoy doing....as I said , akin to the WIld West gun twirling competitions.....twirling for twirling's sake

[@redrustyhill2]

What's silly argument. I don't think anyone would choose a karambit as a primary weapon and nobody is claiming it to be. As a defensive tool for someone being attacked, it is deadly. It's concealable, a katana, not so much. I will soon own one as backup to my glock.

[@valeriegogel4214]

B4 I get into your video I have to say.... Any knife can be a great fighting weapon w practice. One of the worst cases I ever seen was two guys that tried to jump someone and the victim used a box cutter to destroy them. He gutted one of em. The classic Bowie is often used for hunting but is one of the bestfighting knives. Especially if u keep it w in the 7 to 9 inch range. 7 to 8 is the sweet spot imo for a fixed blade. Also I never practiced w karambits but I know for a fact a good hawkbill will make a first class fighting weapon. The stabs aren't as great but the slashes are extremely devastating. Now let's watch the video

[@patrickferryman6579]

I'd be curious on your take of knives like the cold steel black talon 2, spyderco civilian or spyderco matriarch or even the spyderco harpy.

[@ArmchairViolence]

Ah, yes. The fully serrated reverse recurve blades. They are the goofiest looking monstrosities I have ever had the misfortune of laying eyes on. Are they good utility knives? I have no idea. Are they good fighting knives? No. In fact, I would struggle to design a knife that's worse at fighting.

[@AzureWiler]

it looks more like an electrician tool, do they come with a rubber handle?

[@BecozPro]

loved this video! 1) Could you link the video explaining the ergonomic problem (I might have missed it but can't see it in the description) 2) Amused that you finished the line before checking up on your lady friend 😅 3) I miss the old outro song 🤷‍♂️

[@ArmchairViolence]

1. It's in the annotations. You might have turned them off! 2. The show must go on! 😂 3. It's good, but I'm burned out on it. I want to record a different one

[@Beowulf975]

The guy in the video has never been in knife fight or hand to hand combat. HANDS DOWN, the karambit (non folding) is the weapon to have in CQC!

[@user-ig7ul9yj2i]

There is no best fighting knife all that matters is how well trained you are with your blade of choice

[@markedeloy]

I was skeptical when I watched this video, but you convinced me.

[@davidsteward9580]

as a karambit knife fighter with silat, in order for you to be effective with karambit, is flanking. Flanking will allow you to get close enough, while avoiding direct contact, to deliver deadly slicing or piercing on your opponent

[@renatoreyes6583]

Sadly most westerners don’t know anything about karambits even less about Silat

[@mrdojob]

I'm pretty sure you can do all of that just as well, if not better with a normal knife.

[@EmveeEss]

I agree with most of this ,at least in concept. But the karambit, or more specifically, a hawkbill, can be a very effective weapon if designed specifically for the purpose of self defense. For example, the Spyderco Matriarch is essentially a re-imagined karambit that you hold on the forward grip (not reverse)... allowing it to be effectively deployed and utilized by virtually anyone even without training. It is a gross-skills weapon. Also, you are also getting into the argument of what would stop an aggressor quicker... slicing or stabbing. I agree that the westernized, ring based karambits are basically rubbish, unless used by someone who has been extensively trained in its use and even then it is questionable when compared to other compact self defense knives.

[@mindblowing4490]

its main use is to catch and counter its not a tanto blade. you have to wait to capture then counter

[@cafecybernz]

Fascinating!

[@sethpadilla3178]

Isn’t their a problem with defensive cuts and offensive cuts? Like I thought when they investigate they will check for wound types to see who attacked(stab wounds) and who was defending(cut wounds)

[@nitrofueled505]

i like how he thinks the ring is the only part of the knife thats absorbs the force when its actually really good at solidifying ur grip

[@Sceadusawol]

The weaponised karambit is not optimal for fighting. But it *is* very handy for assaulting. Which, of course, is not something typically trained by martial arts practitioners.

[@laurilahti9863]

Huh katambit is made for killing

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Interesting point of view. I like your arguments. Well done. Cheers!

[@ChippyPippy]

I thought it was odd that you felt the need to make this video. Then I read the comments.

[@dacedebeer2697]

The whole thing with the karambit is to use it unseen as a hidden weapon in a fist fight, against a real knife it is pretty problematic, yeah. It's so specific and the only way it would make sense to want to use would for sure land you in legal trouble.

[@TheRedHaze3]

You shouldn't be using a weapon, especially a knife, in a fist fight. You're escalating the level of force and that will usually get you in trouble with the law.

[@dacedebeer2697]

@@TheRedHaze3 My point exactly. The only tactical advantage it offers opens you up for certain legal trouble.

[@hosusebastian2521]

@@TheRedHaze3 use it to scare away the attacker. I have a friend who got his teeth knocked out by some thugs. Pull out a knife and i bet ya they walk away

[@gaborkiss1425]

Can it squarely cut off the fingers of your opponent in close combat? Like, more fingers with one big swing?

[@wesleydaub8002]

6" blade Bowie isn't a bad combat/ fighting knife. Another note is that the smaller the blade is the more open handed martial arts, grappling/wrestling you need to know and the larger the blade the less empty handed martial arts you need to know in order to use the edged weapon effectively. You are far more likely to get into a boxing or wrestling with a karambit than you are with a katana or even a Bowie knife.

[@velazquezarmouries]

A sword Bowie or a kriegsmessercould be really good for people with less open handed martial arts experience

[@wesleydaub8002]

@@velazquezarmouries Yes, they would be. I would love to see a home invader's reaction to those blades at close range!

[@velazquezarmouries]

@@wesleydaub8002 i honestly think that a kriegsmesser is the best home defense weapon

[@thehardway8630]

A folding karambit can be drawn with on finger, and does not require you poking the hole perfectly horizontal. If it has emerson wave or a similar feature it can be fully deployed with one finger. Closed the weapon essentially a knuckle duster, and has additional impact surface where the blade would be if it was deployed. When you hold a karambit, you don't put the load of your attacks on the one finger in the ring. You simply hold the knife in a typical fist grip, and your finger just happens to be going through a ring in a relaxed fashion. This allows the force of the strikes to go into the palm of your hand as it does with any other knife. When deployed in either grip, the knuckle dust strike follows with a rake from the tip of the blade, making a fairly painful double whammy. The rake is a very effective cut, because the very narrow tip you complain about isn't for thrusting, it's intended to do this rake slice. If you think it's not effective I suggest you spend a day raking meat, boxes or anything harder than your skin and get back to me. Complaining about the curve of the karambit is silly, as it was intentionally designed to get caught, it's a grappling feature. Fixed blade karambits are typically double edged like a dagger, and gives you alot of utility to use the back side of the blade similar to a scimitar, which is very good for not getting stuck and easily slicing through. The karambit is a very good fighting knife, and has a lot of utility for those who knows it's purpose and use. I do actually like watching your videos, So keep it up. But unfortunately, you're wrong again.

[@dudemannxs]

Yeah... I totally agree with you. Karambits have survived the test of time because they are very effective in Silat. It would have been dumped long ago if it wasn't. The neo folding karambits with the Emerson wave and holding in a reverse grip, coupled with the ability to catch and pull has to be tried to be understood how effective it is in close quarter combat. Even closed the neo karambits make great impact weapons when used in a kubotan style. With the Emerson wave, the knife can be deployed in the middle of the fight right off the opponents clothes. We use the trainers in class primarily in the reverse grip, and can all agree that it's a pretty effective close quarter weapon. The trainer knives allow us to go pretty hard, and I have not really seen the problem with the retention ring happen unless you have a lazy grip.

[@Margarnet]

Nuh uh

[@GeorgePerakis]

All of that is fine and all but you're better off using a knife that can actually kill people.

[@thehardway8630]

Like the Karambit

[@mb2776]

@@GeorgePerakis I don't see it as a kill weapon like a push dagger for example. I see it as a self defense tool. That can be the same knive for some people but I don't have to attack and kill, I have to survive and get out most of the time. yep sometimes, killing is the only option, hopefully not.

[@christophersteingart2237]

This critique of the modern karambit, is like saying pistols are useless for fighting compared to rifles. Like I’m going to keep my large fighting knife on me around town, just in case I get into a “Last of the Mohicans” style knife fight. I better keep my tomahawk handy too. Maybe I just need to leave the house with a full combat load out, after all, you never know.

[@dhexter3777]

Your karambit from amazon?

[@milesackers2935]

I don’t believe The Japanese Tanto gave Birth to the Katana. The Katana to my knowledge is actually a shortened version of the Original Japanese Design that we correlate with the Katana today called a Tachi. The Tachi was designed to be wielded from Horseback hence why it was often 90cm or longer. While the Tanto often only 15cm in length would be a back up weapon for use off of horseback. The Tachi was considered Unwieldy on Foot, as it was too long to be used effectively, but when battles began to be fought with more foot soldiers, pole arms were more became the more preferred method of horseback combat the tachi was shortened a couple of times until it eventually became what we know now as a Katana which is often coupled with a Wakasashi. I’d say the Wakasashi is more closely related to The Tanto because it became the secondary weapon to the Katana as the Tanto was to the Tachi. The Tanto was always a knife and I don’t believe it just became longer and longer until it became a Katana. The history of the Katana is actually the inverse of that which like I explained started out much longer and more curved in the form of the Tachi and then over time and a handful of different sword lengths and names became the Katana.

[@ninoslavtrifunovic7038]

Yep. This kid is full of shit.

[@ebass69]

This guy is a TOOL himself never mind the knife

[@DG123z]

Love your video ❤

[@tusharroymukherjee3370]

Karambits originated as EDC reverse sickles. Only to be used as a weapon in a pinch, not specifically designed for it.

[@garynaccarato4606]

The main reason why the karambit made sense back then was because it was an item which just so happen to be very common in Indonesia and the Philippines which is where they happen to come from but the same also happens to apply to modern day box cutters but that doesn't mean that either karambits or even box cutters are that good of weapons.

[@wasabi5338]

im from the philippines, in a province specifically, they are NOT common here lmao Edit: Even in the American War/WW2, wasnt as common as i expected

[@ishakadriansyah8085]

@@wasabi5338 true, more specifically, only malay/south east asian muslim use that weapon, the christian/buddhist part of south east asia probably never seen kerambit ther whole life...

[@dtester]

A small pocket knife of any type will probably share the same levels of effectiveness and ineffectiveness. Karambit or non-Karambit, I feel they all fall under "better than nothing" equally at that point. 🙂

[@davidegaruti2582]

i mean box cutters have the advantage of being unexpensive and kind of incospicuos ... like if the police stops you and you have a box cutter you can just say "yeah i am going to the house of a mate they need a boxcutter" and it's likely not gonna draw suspicion ... if you have a mall ninja looking karambit , that's much less belivable ... but then yes a high power flash light is a better defensive tool arguably ...

[@wakuwaku6647]

as indonesian, I knew karambit from csgo LOL, maybe I should touch more grass

[@sirsir9665]

The doubled edged boot knife or dagger seem to be the best. You see more likely to stab in a fight and they are perfect for that

[@redrusso9836]

I use a quick deploy karambit on my left side. I use this karambit only when I might be in a clenched position or taking to the ground. I found karambits cut much deeper than most drop point knives

[@TenchiBushi]

Actually tanto falls under (non-sword blade) but it falls under the Nihonto umbrella. To keep it simple of sorts: Nihonto types are the Chokotu: single edge straight sword, Tsurugi: straight edge double edged, Taichi: battlefield sword curved & worn blade facing down, Uchigatana: same as Taichi but a tad shorter and worn with the blade facing up, Katana: shorter than Taichi and less curved, Odachi: longer than Taichi, Nagamaki: long handle with long blade, Wakizashi: short sword/companion blade, Kodachi: short sword. Non-sword Nihonto; Naginata: a halberd, Tanto: knife/dagger. Of course there are variations of the mentioned due to time period and preferences of specific groups. I'm going into my nerd/otaku mode on this one sorry about that. Anyway you gave a pretty good presentation! Good work! As a former infantryman, I prefer the Kukri due to it's many utility uses. I also had a Cold Steel Recon Tanto that held up very well during my deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. I was the only one in my group that didn't have their tip break doing stuff. Memory lane and nerding out again. Gomen.... I'll stop here. Once again, good presentation!

[@davefletch3063]

An the original Ken

[@BiggerBubba]

Literally 2000 plus years of history as a weapon lol

[@epis8613]

As a weapon of last resort after you lost your primary and secondary weapon. People just have these because knives are useful, and sometimes they're the best weapon on you.

[@sebastianpostigo4025]

Si, pero generalmente los cuchillos no se usaban como arma (en soldados) sino Armas largas como espadas o lanzas Ya que el problema de las armas cortas (como el cuchillo) es la distancia Con una lanza puede haber mucha distancia con tu oponente y estar más seguro (pero te expones mucho si se rompe tu lanza o la sobrepasan) Por lo que la arma que se considera la mejor en el combate cuerpo a cuerpo es la espada larga medieval y el martillo El martillo para enemigo con escudo o con armadura Y eso da larga para enemigos con blindaje débil o sin blindaje

[@Road-Jockey_747]

What about large stiletto knives?

[@johnnywishbone932]

I like your channel. I subscribed

[@phoenixpingu]

Karambits suck? Tell that to Sam Fisher