The Importance of Training Weapons | Cheap and DIY Training Knife Options

[@hard2hurt]

Make training weapons for less than $1: amzn.to/3crZ0Si

[@coleaustin6382]

could you link the other foam knife with the wooden core? Please and thank you.

[@hard2hurt]

It's in the description

[@charrleschervanik3632]

I know it gets shit on, but my conceal Carry is an extending baton. For training I have a similarly weighted rubber one that I spar with (that doesnt extend i should say), and I practice with it both in Grappling and Striking. Now I know how much its ineffective but I live in a dangerous neighborhood with a bunch of shifty people and meth addicts. I dnt have the money to buy a firearm let alone conceal Carry it, it was just more cost effective to do this for the time being.

[@Kobudokaiju]

Am make so much training stuff tekko nunchaku tonfa sai

[@DaveFu]

You'll say anything to get in on that big pool noodle money!

[@perrenchan6600]

See, my problem is the reverse. I have a practice light saber thats completely harmless. Im just waiting for the real thing to be invented and perfected now so my training wont go to waste 😏😂

[@ivanpleshakov9491]

:D Mine doesn't even do the sounds properly =(

[@bryantrojasx69]

Oh Vaapad I see

[@TITANia69420]

Fucking genius

[@BlackDogRaider]

Clinch pick BAAAAAAYBEEEE!!!!

[@filipjane6234]

Watch hacksmith😂

[@Philo68]

I’ll never forget my first Arnis class. The instructor told me to look him in the eye and hit him in the head with my stick (he has an Escrima helmet on btw). I remember saying that I didn’t want to do it. It felt very odd hitting somebody in the head with a hard object whilst looking them in the eye. After that lesson I realised that most ‘normal’ (good, sane, sober, moral) people could not stab someone or set about them with a club, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Edited for autocorrect!

[@GratitudeAboveAll]

I mean, lot's pf people are stabbed here in the UK, including two of my friends, one of which stabbed the other in the neck.

[@Philo68]

@@GratitudeAboveAll Stabbed but not by people with ‘normal’ wiring/upbringing.

[@GratitudeAboveAll]

@@Philo68 Well they had rough upbringings yes but it's still pretty common.

[@carbonado2432]

soyboy?

[@-sussusamogus-7013]

Me and my father were playing with sticks and then i asked him if he new how to use a knife for combat and he said yes, and the first thing he made me do was hit a piece of foam with a stick. I couldn't do it

[@yarinel3251]

I heard someone advocating that you use a rigid training knife every so often so you can see what more realistic reactions look like, a lot like what hard sparring is for combat sports

[@Sk0lzky]

Rigid stuff is very important but if you have no protection, at least for your neck and face, it might be better to only do drills with them.

[@zplitterz]

For hard sparring, rounded tip helps to prevent punctures with full force thrusts. But fencing masks help for hard shots to head. Other wise goggles for reasonable force with floppier tipped knives to protect eyes.

[@burt2800]

@@Sk0lzky Always use protection when using rigid stuff

[@youngmf6052]

Haha, “rigid” is a weapon in my art. This is basically live weapon training. Not a good idea. You can kill with a proper plastic knife strike, just depending on you skill, power, and target. Rigid plastic vs rigid metal isn’t much of a difference if it’s thick, hard and thick. Like your mom likes it😎

[@SansAziza]

My instructor told me a story of how they used to use live blades only. (They were preparing for Japan.) The local hospital would just have guys waiting outside every day.

[@CesarHuert1915]

YES SIR THIS IS WUT WE NEEDED.

[@sleepykid156]

Back when I trained in this Japanese swordsmanship style called Toyama-Ryu, I scoffed at the fact that they are doing gekken(sparring) with foam katana with plastic core. But in comparison to shinai kendo which have very restrictive goals and with more traditional Koryu schools that does no sparring whatsoever, they got as close as they can to two dudes fighting with a sword

[@dannykrise9721]

Its easier to get live reaction and get instant feedback with a stiff trainer. But it limits training capacity cuz Noone wants to get poked with a hard piece of plastic. I like using a red marker. Not so much issue with the pain but easy to say "yes thats a 6 inch gash on your chest, see it?"

[@therandomdickhead5744]

Creative, I like it

[@impoverishedcalamari9270]

Sounds like a pain to clean. Now people got a reason to avoid the marker in training

[@tzaeru]

Being slashed over the ribs is ultimately quite harmless though. Getting stabbed between the ribs much less so. That's kind of a problem with pens, since some pen markings can look very dramatic while in truth they wouldn't be particularly dangerous injuries. While truly serious injuries might be represented by a single small dot that might not look like much.

[@junichiroyamashita]

If it is painful it is better,it will hurt less than a real one

[@reynaldovazquezjr8227]

I just can’t believe you still don’t have a million subscribers. (In my opinion) you’re the best self defense instructor on KZbin🤷🏻‍♂️ofc it’s my opinion, some may disagree, but I really hope to meet you one day and put in some work!

[@scottgill2643]

Easy Answer: this channel is more of an opinion channel, rather than an instructional one. The reason why we all come watch is because we think we're hearing good opinions. I should know, I TOO think they're good opinions.

[@redactedcanceledcensored6890]

yep, his down-to-earth, no-bullshit approach is rare

[@snazdogdbfan251]

@@redactedcanceledcensored6890 the more people it offends the more likely it is to be worth listening

[@skunkworks9391]

We use the EVA foam knives, they are cheap in the UK. Occasionally we add them to grappling sessions without telling one of the fighters. Adding an element of surprise really ramps it up.

[@mick1287]

It baffles me that people don't see the value in having someone keep coming after you in training. If they don't react with fear and trepidation, it's going to mimic most real life scenarios. If someone wants to hurt you, the sight of a knife won't scare them, and a non-vital stab wound may NOT stop them. It probably will take multiple strikes. If that's what you're training to, you're more likely to be successful. Thanks for what you do Mike!

[@Sk0lzky]

Even deadly strikes usually don't stop people immediately, and when they're very keen on fucking you up they might even get over losing a limb. In case of an armed opponent such a person will still be dangerous (may even be more because they're gonna prison rush you once they realise they're fucked Anyway)

[@MbisonBalrog]

If they bleed profusely eventually they stop

[@zacharycovell6308]

Or if they're all hopped up on something, I've seen videos of dudes tank a whole clip and still rush cops

[@cameronchicken8439]

I stabbed a guy in his femoral artery and he went from punching and kicking me in the head to instant shock and submission. I helped him call an ambulance and I got out of jail two days later without charges. the femoral arteries are behind soft tissue so a small knife even less than an inch could hit it and it’s as deadly as hitting the heart but there’s two of them and you can hit them from the ground and also they aren’t covered by body armor and people are less likely to defend their legs in a knife attack. The guy lived but it was a miracle(?) and he is back in prison for trying to shoot a homeless shelter in spokane.

[@Sk0lzky]

@@MbisonBalrog that's the point, "eventually" is usually after a few seconds to a minute, that's a lot

[@DivingDonut]

I carry a fixed blade as a defensive option, I make knives, as a hobby, so I made myself an aluminum trainer and a sheath for it. It's fairly easy to do, even without much tools. I used an 1cm thick aluminum plate, sawed out the shape, the handle meticolously, the blade roughly with a very blunt and round tip, then rounded the edges on the grinder. But you could do the same with a hacksaw, some files and sandpaper, just needs more time and effort.

[@beeyotch4232]

My instructor teaches a blend of different styles, but we only train Filipino style martial arts for knife defense and counter-attack training. Those rubber knives can hurt, but it lets you know you got hit and to respect the attacker, even in practice. The little foam bits we use to train the children, as they can have some fun with it too.

[@shawncarter253]

One of the most memorable classes I had was everyone brought in a few white t-shirts. There were red, blue and black fat Sharpie pens. Each pen was used for 1 round per t-shirt to see how many times you would be stabbed. Scenario 1 defender didn't have a pen. Scenario 2 defender had a pen. I learned a lot that day.

[@MistaReinhart]

I like how real Mike is. You have a no-nonsense approach to self defense training but you still make it fun. Thank you Mike.

[@mrfrack]

Awesome content as always Mike! One of the items we use to train for stick fighting, among other things, is a strip of garden hose the same length. It stings really bad when it hits but it won’t break anything. It is a step up from the more rigid foam weapons we use and a step down from actual sticks.

[@NASkeywest]

In going to challenge my wife’s boyfriend to a duel and give him the plastic machete.

[@juliansanderson839]

He’ll see it’s plastic. Give him a semi-hollowed out aluminum machete. It’ll look convincing enough but gold like a soda can.

[@MR-nl8xr]

At this point, you're better off having the plastic one.

[@daywalkervictus]

Sounds like you need to talk to a divorce lawyer and get her served with the real thing.

[@adamhartley5104]

Your wife's boyfriend? You need to just kick his ass ole boy ..

[@MR-nl8xr]

Lol, guys, he's joking.

[@polerin]

You might check out the Belegarth / Dagorhir weapon construction techniques. They tend to use fiberglass cores around walmart blue camping foam, rigidity and safety, with a little bit of sting. they also have safer ways to create flails / spears / arrows / etc.

[@TechandTools1]

I 100% agree with you about people saying they'll stab the crap out of someone. I'm like you and call bs. Knife fights, to me, are the dirtiest and most violent type of fight imaginable. I've posted on here before and I had someone agree wholeheartedly. I have some super sharp knives and I guarantee red will be flying everywhere, it's terrifying to even think about. Thanks for talking about that.

[@overlorddante]

There are some cool larp weapons modeled after real weapons and typical improvised weapons. If you're worried about visual impact in training, these are a good option.

[@Caldor101]

100%. Practicing with soft floppy weapons with intensity is important for the safety of the person you're hitting. I can't say how many bruises I've given and received using rigid knife trainers and analogs. I've seen some trainers be made by grinding down a live blade so that way it doesn't have an edge or point, but those often have burrs or other edges that will still cut or hurt the you or the person you're practicing with. Thank you for some examples of trainers. If I may share another, one I really liked recently is a typical plastic water bottle that the water is emptied. Tightly screw the cap back on (or leave it off for less rigidity) and the user grips the end with the cap. I like this option because it makes a lot of noise if you get hit by the bottle collapsing a little and doesn't collapse as much as some rubber knives for disarms. I've got a drawer full of trainers that are metal, plastic, and rubber with various types of blades from push knives, fixed blades, and folders. I currently EDC a folding karambit and also found one similar mechanically and in blade shape to avoid inadvertent bloodletting for practicing deploying it and also shadowing techniques since I don't currently have a training partner and am currently down for recovery from injury

[@groundfloorguthrie]

Appreciate this idea. I have collected a few implements, but I do not carry b/c I do not have training. One barrier to such training is a dearth of appropriate instruction, and/or - this is the kicker - the additional expense involved in taking that training. I don't find myself in a position financially to comfortably afford both empty-hand as well as weapons-based training.

[@sjambok1]

I've used tightly rolled saran wrap as a knife facsimile while I'd train. It was cheap and easy and you could go ham on people. This was in prison (working) so I was using what was available but I'm sure I still have one sitting around somewhere

[@nobodyspecial2835]

Awesome video. My 7yo daughter practices with a bilasong trainer. She loves it.

[@mattsully5332]

Humans do not come preconditioned to hurt other humans, yes there are exceptions, but they are extremely rare. I read a couple great books on the subject, On Killing and On Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Even after all the training and conditioning that our soldiers get, most of them still won't shoot another person. Most shots (by a large margin) go over the heads of their targets. I recently started training with a Jo in Shindo Muso Ryu, where we use the actual weapon, and go full strength, but only against someone else's weapon.

[@burt2800]

I'm lost, what do I do if I want more fitness tips, self defense techniques, gear reviews as well as concepts and principles that make me hard to hurt? You didn't tell me

[@dramaticreaper]

AHAHAHA

[@4philipp]

That’s simple: don’t get into a fight

[@ryanjamesloyd6733]

Straight up. best training knives I ever made was 1/2" pvc pipe insulation (basically the same stuff you got, just a tube, and cheaper), wrapped in duct tape with an electrical tape handle for a little more rigidity. (they look a little better and last a little longer than just the foam. looking better doesn't matter, but it helps people feel like they've got a training weapon, rather than just a scrap of foam. Gets you more into the spirit of the thing. and you can make them kinda blade shaped in profile, so you keep your edge alignment in mind)

[@Matthew-the-bladed-bard]

My wife and I talk about this all the time. Constantly looking for better ways to do application training with trainers of stuff in our collection of things. Great video subject.

[@jc-kj8yc]

I used to practice FMA before I moved cities and in my old gym we had a similar approach to yours. For knife sparring we used short rattan sticks wrapped in a thick layer of foam with a soft tip. Basically like the second one you showed. But for drilling and even sometimes for advanced sparring we used dull steal knives with a wider "blade" and round tips. These were designed in a way to emulate the knives that are most commonly used, like switchblades or big pocket knives. So they looked real, but there was no risk of hurting someone with it, except for stabs to the face, so we had to be careful there. And interestingly the look of them alone intimidated most people. Against a foam knife they would often just rush in and try their disarms, but against the blunt steel knives they'd hesitate and be way more careful. Even during drills when there was no risk of getting poked with them in retaliation. Something about the look of shiny steel apparently already sends major warning signs. For grappling we usually used a third version, which were shaped like real knifes, but were made of rubber. Sparring with those on the ground was still intense, but there was really no risk of injury whatsoever. On a sidenote: we also used the foam you use to make your training weapons to emulate kali sticks and used this as a warm up weapon by playing tag. It was like normal tag, but you'd whack someone with the foam stick. It's exhausting, it teaches distance and it's fun as hell 😁

[@ryannachtrab]

Haven't watched the video yet, but I have my fingers crossed that it's a plug for the "Hammer Time" weapons training course

[@Sceadusawol]

"The buckler" ...Is a trainer, for the HEMA crowd (certainly what I consider mine to be).

[@martijnoerlemans765]

yeah well most HEMA people I know are constantly bruised and injured. Seems like those guys are beating the living fuck out of each other.

[@joakimlonnberg9383]

@@martijnoerlemans765 If they are injured all the time they should look at some more protection gear, i trained HEMA for 20 years now with two injuries (broken ribs and broken fingers) bruised up is a part of the sport, we do hit each other with steel wepons...

[@solbein]

I practice FMA. At our school we mostly use aluminum (rounded edge) knife trainers. Firstly because there is a psychological component. Not, "I need my opponent to react realistically", but more to get people accustomed to defending against something that actually scares them. You touched on this a bit with people's tendency to not want to stab someone. They have a similar tendency about getting "cut". It can be difficult for some people to get past the panic reaction that comes with "I got cut". And having a metal blade (not sharp obviously) slide across their skin repeatedly helps to drill that out. It's also useful to have a stronger, more rigid blade when you get into disarms and weapon manipulations, as a lot of the plastic/rubber analogues will fold/bend and not allow leverage. That being said, these weapons require a fair amount of sensitivity and control, and are not for hard sparring. It is good to have safer analogues like the things you mentioned to allow for that type of training as well.

[@0713mas]

I have also worked as a bouncer/ security for many years as well as LEO and IMO hands down favorite is the S.T.A.B. system from Karl Tanswell and along with using the shock knife. That is the most realistic I have found, but obviously it's all a mindset. So the foam stuff is very useful as long as you aren't only training with those head strong young cowboys.

[@LouisRosasGuyon]

How you practice is the best version of how you'll perform. During combat, stress destroys your ability to perform, so we practice to develop muscle memory and reflexes so that we can respond to combat stress effectively. Practice is critical to success.

[@primaltactics6885]

I 100% agree that practicing with different types of trainers is the best option. Like it doesn’t need to match the exact style and weight of your blade, though that does have its advantages, and training with something that’s seemingly different but that you can go harder with also has its advantages. I bought a few cold steel trainers and I don’t mind getting hit a little hard with them, but you can’t go crazy like with the foam. I made some trainers out of old foam mat and a metal rod core, covered it in duct tape and that works well, but don’t want to damage it either so I don’t go too hard lol

[@irbadltald2532]

Love to see a video on knife defense and your thoughts on all the different knife defense styles out there. Thanks

[@cyberserk5614]

We use wooden and rubber weapons for training. For seminars we used to roll an old newspaper, tape it together and go crazy on each other but the paper rolls leave a mess that you have to clean up after training. I like the idea with the foam noodle.

[@jaimemunoz5920]

I got to tell you man over the last 3 or 4 months my recliner fu has gotten really good.

[@gamepiggy960]

Yeah about the "putting knife in someone, I cut somebody who was threatening me and reaching for my neck I cut his arm pretty bad and after I went into shock by how easy and scary it was

[@overlorddante]

There are also plenty of cases where people get shot in the head and remain a threat. Can't always count on an injury stopping the altercation. Be ready for the relentless.

[@robbbartel2874]

Yes. I train with a weapon. And it is a training weapon. I just started training in Marcaida Cali who is affiliated with Funker tactical and they endorse the Fox 599 as the karambit knife of choice. FOX makes a live blade and a trainer whitch makes it a great choice for our purposes. Not to mention the quality also. (This is not the first art I have trained. I have obtained a base in many others before training in weapons. Which I would also recommend)

[@alfhar3649]

I've fought in a sport called Dagorhir for 8 years, it's full contact medieval combat with foam covered weapons. Its one of the best ways to learn how to fight with weapons because everyone's always trying to win, you can hit people as hard as you want without causing any serious damage, anyone over 16 can start, and it's free. There's also usually outdoor events that people go to so you can fight people from across the nation, learn different methods, and fight against different styles.

[@renjimalarky9185]

Agreed. Full speed/contact weapon training. The safety standards in weapon creation in bel/dag/amt is amazing

[@rodrigolaporte274]

Very cool video! yeah we use training knives similar to the hand made one you've shown, they're made of some rubber with a rigid core like plastic or aluminum. They're cool for sparring, and you can slash and stab, you can still feel them a bit, actually you still need to use some light gloves and head/face protection. Then you can have some wooden knives for practicing drills and techniques and maybe some 'a bit harder' sparring. And also there are some metal blunt ones but TBH I've never sparred with them nor plan to hahaha.

[@punxone]

Probably the greatest end to a video ever!

[@GrizzlyHansen]

I 100% agree with this, I love axes and carry them whenever possible(which isn't often). I used soft sticks and duct tape to create my trainer axes. The duct-taped sticks give a lot so long as you're wearing Hema gear you should be fine.

[@justinumel1329]

Yet another great video, Mike! I train and teach FMA and agree 100%. While I do use all of the fun specialty toys because I'm a nerd like that, for free sparring the pool noodle/pipe insulation is the way to go for safety, provided you are honest with yourself and your skills. I do love the Nok knives and cold steel knives if we are focusing on disarms. Also, because I train with a bunch of FMA nerds, the Akustrike knives are super fun because the give satisfying visual/auditory stimulation via lights and buzzing noises when you deliver accurate strikes. Thanks for posting another great video. How is your weapons trading going? Hope you do another weapons sparring video. Peace.

[@MarcusArmstrong037]

People would laugh at the LARPers at the park, with their foam swords, pvc and pool noodles; but I saw the value in that type of weapon for training. I took some back to my HEMA, kali, and kenjitsu schools. They elevated our training by being able to practice with more realistic energy. And as you said, the context matters. We still trained with the blunted metal and wooden weapons when they were the closer analog to the skill being practiced. Not quite $0.75 per weapon, but they were cheap enough and easy enough to build that it wasn't a big deal if one broke.

[@WinningDeadlyEncounters]

G 19 strong side pocket fixed blade ( Northman by Amtac blades ( comes with trainer ) Other strong side atienza edc 4. With trainer ) use sirt pistol gor training. Go over the need to make sure everyone in the room while training is unarmed. Buddy check awesome video keep it up.

[@semja]

I have a bokken or two. But I don't get to train with it often. I totally agree with your point to train with them.

[@theitguy8835]

I used to train genbukan ninpo mostly with training weapons but for some reason I did train Tonfa with my real solid oak ones. We needed to always use control with it though looser grip than a true attack. So if you hit anything solid it would slip a little. Side note with knife training we used a little ref paint on edges and tip to show if you were slashed or stabbed and where

[@jc-kj8yc]

I think tonfas are kinda hard to emulate. Most of their power comes from momentum and with a foam weapon you don't get that, because the weight just isn't there. You could use foam tonfas for sparring to work on the blocks, tomahawk strikes and "stabs" with the butt, but the rotation strikes are really hard to practice in sparring

[@amnesty9043]

I got a twin, we used to use foam sticks and dry erase markers to practice stabbing or evading. we don't see each other all that much no more due to growing up and having jobs now. but when ever we meet and sleep over, I will normally still ask if he's down to practice shanking each other and no doubt he always agrees so we use anything we find around the room

[@j.wyliehartwell8769]

Another thing I have found is helpful for flashlight fighting, is buy a punching bag as cheap as you can get and practice jabs and hammer fist with it on the cheap punching bag so you don’t mess up a good one. Canvas bags work well for that.

[@madshad3351]

Awesome. Training aids. I use the pool noodles for everything. I like the hammer you made. Very cool. And if people want to train with real weapons. Then build a cardboard dummy or something. Takami mats and cut them. Sticks and logs. Old tires. Etc. Thank you

[@pipeh-2688]

Never thought such a simple thing could be so useful, thx for the tips!

[@RedBannanaProduction]

I use a Bunal Kali soft stick for weapon sparring. Pretty universal for medium length stick shaped objects and I think they're the right level of rigidity to be realistic for weapon vs weapon stuff while still soft enough to be used safely with minimal gear.

[@bewbew0016]

Absolutely agree. It sounds funny, but my old team would train wearing tight white tshirts and red washable markers. We also used airsoft guns for CQC, room clearing, etc. Simunition is cool and all, but it's expensive to train with.

[@marcusianhuber]

I do HMB (historical medieval battle) where the goal of our training is to win team fights while using blunt steel weapons. Almost all of our training is done with soft equivalents to replicate the differences in a grapple. The only time we use steels is when we're hitting bags or everyone is in full armor.

[@zplitterz]

PVC gorilla taped hammer was the highlight. All of it though is spot on. Thanks.

[@stevenparsley9254]

We used to use sticks of driveway caulk. After a good practice, step back and check out where the caulk lines are. Worked great and cost nothing. But great to see when the knife went. A lot of broken caulk though.

[@XD-cf6gr]

Completely agree on using trainers, use some force in the strikes and people will respect the pain it can inflict. I only found one viable way of getting some meaningful practice in with live blades. Using trees to maximize the speed I can manage on an unrealistically hard backstop has given me some notable advantages in the raw, brute follow through force I can apply as well as the ability to ignore most all reverberations from using uncomfortable things like rebar. I likely lost some speed but weapons are 90% timing and range control so I figure it's a worthwhile tradeoff.

[@sitnamkrad]

I used to train mainly with a 1 handed sword and sometimes a buckler. The only thing "training" about the weapons we used is that the swords weren't sharpened and were checked for sharp splinters and the like before every training. This was training intended for proper historical reenactment, so in shows and demonstrations, the same weapons would be used. The first days of training would go into proper sword control so you could hit someone in such a way that it looked like a legit swing but hold back in time before impact to not do damage. We would train on clay blocks for edge alignment and follow through (because it's reusable and shows edge alignment well, clay is not a good human analog, that's not what we used it for). While it was all unchoreographed, we did have some rules about where we were allowed to hit. No boney parts like elbows or knees, definitely not the head, stuff like that. Before we would be allowed to spar without direct supervision, we would have to take some sort of exam to make sure we got all that drilled in, as well as a stress test where the trainer would push our limits to make sure we wouldn't suddenly break down and forget all our trainning. We did have some training weapons, namely for daggers and polearms, those were considered too uncontrollable to be safe with just a blunt. And no, we never had any injuries other than scratches and bruises. But I do feel the need to reiterate, since safety is important, a large part of our training was dedicated to making sure our oponents DON'T get hurt when we hit them if that's not the intention.

[@theredninja2817]

This is a great video I recently bought a tire thumper it’s a short stick that looks kind of like a miniature shillelagh the truckers used to check how much air is in their tires it’s got a steel pole inside of it that gives it extra weight but just the right amount not too heavy I practice all different types of things with different types of swings and strikes and how I would get to it in certain situations how I would use it with another weapon in the other hand how I would access it and so on I think I might start getting more weapons like this in the futureAnd definitely a tactical whip to

[@jaimemunoz5920]

Yes I do and as an aside this is what rattan kali escrima sticks are for. Back in the day they did not have plastic or such and needed something quick and easy to use for practice. So they went to the "back yard" AKA the jungle in the Philippines and such and chopped down a 2 foot section of rattan and used that as a practice blade.

[@stevelawson4404]

I've been training in knife for a while, and I had my own trainers made using floor mats... I would suggest the Judo/BJJ style mats because they're thicker. Trainers made from these are great. I've been using mine for over 10 years and they're still fine. We only wear eye protection (racket ball goggles), and we can go hard without getting hurt. One section of square mat probably makes 20-50 trainers, depending on their shape.

[@christianmaine858]

Yes I train in knife. I carry a yojimbo spyderco and have a trainer for it. I also have several other models and trainers to match that model.

[@gozer87]

Wooden shapes wrapped in duct tape work well for DIY training tools. Glue a couple layers of floor foam together and tape it up.

[@remarjackson8420]

Any advice on emulating the weight and weight distribution of the actual weapons with the homemade trainers? Thanks for these videos. They are among the best I've seen on KZbin. Love your channel

[@tanyachandler2326]

You could try wrapping certain segments up in duct tape. It may not seem like much, but a bit of tape can make something swing with a lot more oomph.

[@Runliftfight91]

I train a lot of knife work, Silat mainly. I have a friend who i have cut my training blanks from aluminum to match my live knives. As far as training, lots of two on ones, Attack by combination ( just cause your holding a knife doesn’t mean you can’t punch, and I’ve got a broken nose to prove it), lot of training on not getting sucked into the weapon, and avoiding like hell the “single feed” counter attacks. A real eye opener for people is a couple of sharpies and some white t shirts you don’t mind getting marked up

[@BIGGLEdarrigle]

i train with nunchucks, sticks and swords. And if im doing anything live then we use foam ones

[@giannibleya7690]

It's understandable. You can't just kill your sparring partner. Lmao

[@Ventus_the_Heathen]

Plastic guns for close range wrestling and presenting. Real gun for range time. Air soft for disarming (with face shields). Foam wrapped sticks and yoga blocks for improvised weapons (sticks, pipes, bricks, rocks, etc)

[@JeneralDethray]

I'm digging the Gladius.

[@Aqhi007]

Could probably put a thin wooden stick in the centre through the noodle for some stability. Especially for the two piece hammer design. To help keep its shape longer

[@karledgren8150]

I agree man great video it’s all true I see people selling crap on tictok and there not helping people like the key knife it’s ridiculous and there are people thinking it’s going to help it’s so aggravating I asked them to stop selling it and they thought I was jealous no it’s crap

[@senoB]

small FB, folding wave folder, flashlight/pen/marker analog. Interesting alternative is knucks or Comtech Stinger. No guns yet, need time to take course and get ccw. P.S. Nok trainers are awesome. IIRC there was a neat "shock" knife trainer years ago.

[@markcocione3490]

Love the ending

[@geekalpha]

Silicone spatulas, like the kind you would use to scrape peanut butter out a jar make excellent general knife simulators. They have an edge. They don't bruise you like plastic or aluminum simulators. And they don't flop like foam or rubber simulators.

[@WarlordFlanker]

I fight in buhurt with steel armor and axes. In training, we use soft foam LARP boffers. Its safer and we can get more practice with fewer injuries. More high quality content from Mike, love it!!! Edit: For other sports like HEMA, I use a lot of blunted, floppy feders or plastic/synthetic weapons from Cold Steel or Purpleheart Armory out of Houston.

[@mikeholmes7184]

Along the way to my math degree. I had a professor say, "I don't collect homework. I'll know by the grade on your test. If you've done any of the work.". I think that is applicable to all things. To just show up and do it, may happen. Yet, not the norm. The hardest thing for me to learn was "how to be violent now!". I shoot a .40 & .45. at one point 3× a month. I just started training with a mock gun and instructor. There's a difference between what I was doing and doing now. Get an instructor, join a gym and have fun. Your inner self will thank you if you're ever put in a situation

[@igneous061]

..got wooden broomstick cut to sword lenght for solo training....and paired up training, just plastic water pipe in its foam insulation...pretty enough for basic protection gear(traning for hema and bohurt)

[@mjsuarez79]

I have corresponding trainers for a Cold Steel Laredo, trench knife, and K-Bar. I also use a Purple Heart mokuju for bayonet training.

[@PM-1]

Only ever used a bo staff in tang soo do when I was younger would love to try kendo or something tho

[@Ricarlindo]

This channel should be named Hard2nothavefunn, really enjoying 👍

[@Kobudokaiju]

I do some kobudo weapon I hit started use a bo makiwara to have something to hit PVC with foam and some padding

[@RobKinneySouthpaw]

Definitely train with plastic knives. Also the foam wrapped ones for more active sparring since they don't risk eye injury. Also foam covered sticks and staff. We used rubber tipped spears for a while. Also trainer firearms to wrestle over. Fully agree that if you can't simulate what's the point.

[@damianrehbein3992]

I trained with Longswords which have very good Trainers going from Wood to polypropanyl i think. Cold Steel does very good ones on that. I also did Kampfringen( Fightwrestling?) With knives that were made from medium strenght Rubber. Worked very well

[@janikauhanen5475]

One of your best videos! 💯🔥

[@yizhuolin3906]

What I use and what my instructor use for training knife(short stuffs under 9 inches) would be a dull live blade, basically a cheap fish knife with the tip and edge ground off. not lethal for sure but students would have a lot more respect on them. we would do regular drilling and slow to fast sparring with it.

[@IronMongoose1]

You can train with those stiffer rubber knives if you wear headgear and groin protection. Maybe neck protection. You also don't have to go full power, that helps.

[@ZenDragonYoutubeChannel]

Knife, tonfa, stick, nunchaku abd a few times swords fans etc, but for the most part I do empty handed sparring... I’d love to have a foam chair for sparring and other stuff like that, though knife and stick are most relevant for self defense

[@ZamerGaming]

I train with nun chucks. However I can no longer use the foam ones any more because they are too light.

[@jomess7879]

I carry a glock 23 so i use a sirt and a blue gun. The sirt isn't exact but it's similar enough and gives me feedback that regular dry fire doesn't give me. The blue has the exact feel of my gun but obviously doesn't have any work trigger, but i can safely practice my draw stroke and fighting. For a knife i carry a hr1 that also came with a trainer that has the exact feel and profile. The weight and balance are different but i don't have to worry about accidentally cutting myself or friend. I also have the accustrike that lights up and beeps obnoxiously when you stab someone. I should get some foam cause my trainers are hard plastic and aluminum so they're a little on the hard side

[@mizukarate]

I see your point. GREAT IDEAS!!!!! One of your better videos.

[@MrYsosad]

awesome content. Keep up with the good work!

[@specialcombatdefensivetact1784]

Another cheap safe way to go is to use an empty lint roller. Provides a good grip, rounded blunt end, and edges with fairly low impact. If you are using a rigid knife, you may opt to have the defender wear safety goggles. We found that out the hard way at one of the police academies. We were using hard rubber knives, and during one of the defenses from an overhead ice pick type attack, one of the recruits took an impact just below their eyeball. I then made sure they all wore safety glasses during most of their knife defense training. Predictable is preventable. Another critical aspect of weapons training is to make sure they are treated as the real thing. I have seen instructors and trainees play with props, throw them, not take them seriously. If not taken seriously and handled accordingly, it can set you up with a false sense of security if the real thing were to occur.

[@Oree_Nabisko]

I do train with a real knife but only to draw. It's a small 3" lock blade, 6.5" over all. I use a similar size screwdriver to practice stabbing an actual object. If I train with another person, we use dish sponges with tap handles dipped in water so it leaves a little mark. ...P.S. - scoring the end of your tactical whip and dipping it in liquid rubber for tool handles makes a huge difference.

[@JBIT99]

I’d be interested in seeing you break down the knife training scene from American assassin.

[@TheSlugslinger]

the once i train with use training blades that are hard and have a chalk edge so we can still see if we got cut or not, since they did have some that insisted on training with live blades(in the early 2000s) for awhile and that lasted about a week before one of them managed to cut himself badly.

[@StevenClark1]

Thanks, Mike!

[@jordanlee5011]

Hey Mike just wanted to let you know that the cold steel training knife is on sale for 6.47 cents right now on amazon

[@Logan2070]

Chunks of reinforced rubber hose works great for knives.

[@Wiinajamizzi]

LMAO. I made Viking shields, swords and axes as an artwork years ago. Vikings were naval warriors so I found it funny to make their weapons from pool noodles. I even recorded performance art with my nephew sparring with the Viking pool noodle weapons. I studied Roland Warzecha and Thregn Thrand on KZbin who made that sort of content. It's so bizarre seeing Icy Mike arrive at the same idea. Pool noodles are awesome.

[@MarkedInBlack]

Mike, can you do a video about the traditional crook walking cane and how you would use it for self defense? I’d love to see your perspective since the cane is legal to carry anywhere. Thanks in advance.