Touchy Question...

I do not know whether I am allowed to post
this question.

Anyway - here it is:

Does anybody have experience with knife fighting
(switchblade) ?

If so: I would like to learn. But how?

Ok, ok - experience, I know that.

But other than that?

Anybody?

You will probably think i'm an asshole for saying this but the best advice i can give to a martial arts noob is if ever someone pulls a knife or any other weapon, run.

No responsible MA teacher should be teaching a lower grade knife disarming techniques for a couple of lessons and leave them under the false pretence that they are now invincible to knives. It takes years of training to get that level of fluidity and confidence.

At the moment of truth, you will only have a split second to react. If you choke, you will probably end up dead. It isnt worth the risk.

However if you have to patience and commitment to train, so you can get up to that sort of level i'd probably recommend doing my MA as we train in both armed and unarmed techniques. Also we have most legitimate claim to historical lineage in our particular style.

Thanks comrade! I don't think that you are an ***hole!!

On the contrary!

Having been an amateur boxer since age 16 - I can tell that
you are experienced and skilled and careful giving advice!

May I ask: What MA is your field of expertise? (It probably
says somewehere in this forum - but I am pressed for
time..)

I am not going to give up boxing - but I really wanna get
experience around switchblades.

How do the guys who attack with that weapon get to
their level of skills, in the first place??

Only through experience and by stabbing lots and lots
of people??

Thanks again, comrade for your most usefull reply to an
'indelicate' question!

Shameless plug

Jeez - I am so stupid. Please forgive me! I noticed the link
only now. That answers some questions I posted.

Thanks, I will read the info carefully!

dont use a knife in a fight if you dont know how. your opponent will just take it from you and use it against you.

I've got experience with knives..........if your interested in learning look at silat or eskrima! you'll learn how to use knives and defend yourself effectively.

I think krava maga also involves weapon training but ive never trained in that particular style.

best advice i can give: get two rubber knives and coat them in lipstick. fight with a friend. see how much you would actually be hurt. cry about it.
short version: don't fight with knives.

..........if your interested in learning look at silat or eskrima! you'll learn how to use knives and defend yourself effectively.

I think krava maga also involves weapon training but ive never trained in that particular style.

+1

first rule of knife fighting: don't get into a knife fight.
second rule of knife fighting: everyone loses in a knife fight.
third rule of knife fighting: RUN.

Disarming a knife, IMO, is almost impossible. If someone pulls a knife, run. I have done some successful disarms during practice but have also been brutally killed many more times during practice.

Systema does teach some knife defense:

Vladimir Vasiliev - Knife Concepts - Russian Martial Art Systema
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWK5N6Ld-kg

Vladimir Vasiliev Knife Disarms year 2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-kJ0QUDklU

RMA - SYSTEMA - MENU PREVIEWS
Skip to 2:45 for knife: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM0zRimF3q4

Systema knife defense shot in high speed mode - Martin Wheeler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDm1kJel38c

Knife in Close Combat - DVD #6 Systema SpetsNaz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYmu17zrQsE

Russian Martial Art Systema knife work by Vladimir Vasiliev.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpzDGV8KfD8

Some of that above stuff might look weird, but it works, because I've tried it, in practice. Luckily I've never had to defend against a real knife. I know this can work, but would I use it? I would rather run if I could. What I mean is, in a real life situation, you are very likely to get cut. But it's better to know something than nothing.

JKD also teaches some knife defense and knife fighting usually based on the FMA styles like Eskrima and Kali. I actually didn't much liek the defense techniques as much as I liked the knife fighting techniques. One interesting thing with the Philippine styles is they teach their students weapons first and empty hand later.

As far as knife fighting goes, which I think was your original question, don't carry a switch blade. Are you going to dress like fonzy while you are at it and circle your opponent while tossing the knife from left to right hand?

Switchblades are generally unreliable, they break and are usually pretty low quality unless you pay big big bucks for one, and depending on where you live chances are it is illegal to carry one anyhow. Even butterfly knives are illegal almost everywhere.

My advice is get yourself a good fixed blade and holster the sheaf somewhere on you that you can pull the knife out quickly, and practice your draw a lot like you would with a gun. If you want something you can carry in your pocket or clip on get a folder that is designed to open very quickly.

If you get a fixed blade, the only other thing you need to decide is if you want a double edge or single edge. Double edge or a dagger is better for fighting, but no good for utility. You also need to decide on your length. You should also check your local laws about the legality of carrying a knife. For example, here it is perfectly legal to carry a knife so long as it isn't concealed, unless the blade is smaller than 4 inches, than I can keep it in my pocket. However, if i used it there is still a chance of being charged with concealment, weapons dangerous, assault with weapon, blah blah depending on the situation...

however: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXBckFyiMyU

My advice is to check out Cold Steel's knives and get something from there. They come out of the box sharp enough for a shave: http://www.coldsteel.com/

They also have the best knife fighting (that is knife vs. knife) videos I have ever seen: http://www.demonoid.me/files/details/1180625/6467160/

Here is another knife /gun defense video: http://www.demonoid.me/files/details/1180632/2586864/

Personally I carry the Canadian Belt Knife: http://www.coldsteel.com/cabekn.html

It is a cheap knife and pretty easy to explain as a utility knife if the pigs bother you. Comes razor sharp and pretty easy to keep a decent edge on. I find it useful for day-to-day work.

I also have a small dagger similar to this, only just some low grade one I grabbed on Yonge Street: http://www.coldsteel.com/countertac.html

This is an inexpensive folder I have owned also: http://www.coldsteel.com/kudu.html

Though I prefer the fix blade.

If I was going to buy a folder now, it would be something like this one: http://www.coldsteel.com/ak-47.html

However, the legality comes to play again, as in the pigs my try to say that if you can open it with one hand in a single action it is more or less equivalent to a switch blade, and if you end up in court for it it really could go either way.