Why is it everyone says avoid knives in combat??? I don't get it.

It comes down to what you're really after. I have had to use knives in combat and I can attest to it being a very unpleasant experience. I am more of the mindset of avoiding a situation where I have to engage unless that's the mission. If I can keep from dealing with an X-ray in hand to hand, I'll do so.

I'm gonna first say that no, I've never been in a knife fight. I'm also going to generally say that I don't believe any of you have either, otherwise, true to what you all say, you'd have a horribly maimed face. But in my opinion, the knife is like any other form of combat, including the fist, the bow, the axe, the hatchet/hammer, or the gun.

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Ooookay.

The question is "Do you train with the item, and how often do you train?". What did the training entail?

I was training for years with a knife and hammer every morning, right after my gymnatics, weightlifting, calisthenics and shadowboxing, and I would say I'm fairly more comfortable handling a knife and/or a hammer/stick, then most people are. Lets look at the pros of "shadow-knifing", shall we?

1) Speed- Most important. Learning to slash and withdraw before a retaliatory attack occurs. Like a wolf. The first slash might end the conflict.
2) Defense- Learning to cover up and avoid getting the face, neck or any sensitive areas(wrists, guts, etc) sliced up.
3) Technique- Not only do you practice but over time, you also learn the most efficient strikes, offensive and defensive moves. Style will come along. And there are many different types of styles, depending on what the opponent you are fighting is armed with, be it barefisted, a knife, and axe, or a club.
4) Handling- This is an offshoot of technique, but it's worth keeping separate. Handling is very important, how you hold the knife? Offensive and defensive knife fighting are very important. If you aren't comfortable handling the knife, then it could very well be used against you.

These are just off the top of my head. I had a fifth halfway through but I forgot. Anyways saying the knife is bad to use in combat is foolish. Okay you come up against someone else with a club or a knife, so what... you throw away the knife? Always run first... but run WITH THE KNIFE! Don't chuck it!

And if you are thinking or even planning to ever fight with a knife, then, the same thing goes with the knife as everything else. TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN.

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Have you received formal training in the use of modern combatives?

-S.

No man, I've never received formal training in the use of modern compatives. What is that, modern combat, with guns? No. Absolutely not. I've never even fired a gun.

I'm advocating training, speed and aggression, and familiarity with the melee weapon, that is, the knife, the stick, the hammer and the hatchet. You can't really argue with these facts. The more familiar you are with something, the more hours you put in, the more likely when things go bad, you will come out on top.

I would've loved to receive training or to even host my own sparring classes. There were several reasons why I didn't.

One, is money, I'm always on a budget. Two, is police hate that stuff, and so does everyone else in this city. People generally think you're a maniac when they hear you train with a knife, so good luck finding peers to spar with. Three is I believe in repetition, not instruction. From what I know about distance gauging, on the street, on a patio, in a hallway or enclosed room, instruction will just bind you to an inflexible routine in something where there are really no second chances. I'd rather spar then get instructed any day, someone who I have no idea what kind of move they make, what their physical capabilities are.

If speed, defense, technique, and handling are not important and years of training every day or week get thrown out of the window as soon as you get in a knife fight, then enlighten us as to what's up, since you're a veteran and an expert. Don't be shy... Tell us how you survived, why don't you...

Singlecell. Most martial arts and fighting centres offer training in blunt and edged weapons. You start with the basic essentials and then spar. You gotta walk before you run guy. 🙂 You've got some good points but I think you also have made a few incorrect assumptions.

Take some lessons if you feel strongly about it. Its shouldn't be to hard to find a local place that offers this kind of training, though rarely do you just start off with a weapon in your hand. footwork, distancing, etc. are fundamentals that need to be learned. You will also find a new respect for edged weapons. But as a prepper, this should just be one small component in your tool kit. Devoting your resources in other areas may have more efficient results.

Singlecell. Most martial arts and fighting centres offer training in blunt and edged weapons. You start with the basic essentials and then spar. You gotta walk before you run guy. 🙂 You've got some good points but I think you also have made a few incorrect assumptions.

Take some lessons if you feel strongly about it. Its shouldn't be to hard to find a local place that offers this kind of training, though rarely do you just start off with a weapon in your hand. footwork, distancing, etc. are fundamentals that need to be learned. You will also find a new respect for edged weapons. But as a prepper, this should just be one small component in your tool kit. Devoting your resources in other areas may have more efficient results.

Ah you're probably right... just did a quick google search this place looks pretty solid... http://www.fight-club.ca/toronto_location.php I'll actually probably check it out at some point, though it's pretty far from home. Check this out though...

"DID YOU KNOW...
You don't know how many exits are in your house!
One of the best ways to keep yourself safe is to not be around danger or to know how to get away from it quickly. This may seem simple, but it really isn't. Have you truly considered all of the ways that you can exit your home in case of an emergency? The routes of escape at your place of business? At your hotel? The mall? Your life doesn't need to involve an endless calculation of escape routes, but you should at least get into the habit of keeping such things in mind. You never know when it'll be needed."

I'm a big fan of this paranoia stuff...

That said, you gotta remember were not talking about being professional knife fighters here. Were talking about familiarity, which sets you far above the average person, who has never even pondered a knife fight, let alone that they were gonna fight to the death with one.

In survivalism it is said, the more edges you have, no matter how small or how great, is an edge over everyone else. Like training for a total of 15-25 minutes every week with a knife doesn't sound like much, but it is when you compare that to how often most people train with a knife, and you only get more experienced with time. A minimal investment is always better then no investment. Ya get me?

Why is it everyone says avoid knives in combat??? I don't get it.

I'm gonna first say that no, I've never been in a knife fight. I'm also going to generally say that I don't believe any of you have either, otherwise, true to what you all say, you'd have a horribly maimed face. But in my opinion, the knife is like any other form of combat, including the fist, the bow, the axe, the hatchet/hammer, or the gun.

The question is "Do you train with the item, and how often do you train?". What did the training entail?

I was training for years with a knife and hammer every morning, right after my gymnatics, weightlifting, calisthenics and shadowboxing, and I would say I'm fairly more comfortable handling a knife and/or a hammer/stick, then most people are. Lets look at the pros of "shadow-knifing", shall we?

1) Speed- Most important. Learning to slash and withdraw before a retaliatory attack occurs. Like a wolf. The first slash might end the conflict.
2) Defense- Learning to cover up and avoid getting the face, neck or any sensitive areas(wrists, guts, etc) sliced up.
3) Technique- Not only do you practice but over time, you also learn the most efficient strikes, offensive and defensive moves. Style will come along. And there are many different types of styles, depending on what the opponent you are fighting is armed with, be it barefisted, a knife, and axe, or a club.
4) Handling- This is an offshoot of technique, but it's worth keeping separate. Handling is very important, how you hold the knife? Offensive and defensive knife fighting are very important. If you aren't comfortable handling the knife, then it could very well be used against you.

These are just off the top of my head. I had a fifth halfway through but I forgot. Anyways saying the knife is bad to use in combat is foolish. Okay you come up against someone else with a club or a knife, so what... you throw away the knife? Always run first... but run WITH THE KNIFE! Don't chuck it!

And if you are thinking or even planning to ever fight with a knife, then, the same thing goes with the knife as everything else. TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN.

You know what I want to apologize about this post. It smacks of ignorance. Lets just say I've had a little lesson in the last few days, and that I've found out nothing is as simple as I made it sound. I've gotten hurt, punched in the face and bruised up in a ring or a controlled environment, but it's nothing, absolutely nothing compared to the street.

I realize now that with an adrenaline dump in a life or death situation i would barely even be able to feel that I was holding the knife let alone remember whatever measly training I've practiced. I thought it would help but I don't think so. I'm not sure what could besides experience.

So whoever was insulted and thought i was a dick for posting this, I'm sorry. It was a bad call, rooted from vast inexperience with a street fight.

The best teacher in life is life itself.
There is no better way to train than with actual experience, which in this case means getting into fights...something that should be avoided if at all possible.
And yes, adrenalin can increase speed, awareness and strength, but it can also block a lot of senses...tunnel vision is one example.

The best teacher in life is life itself.
There is no better way to train than with actual experience, which in this case means getting into fights...something that should be avoided if at all possible.
And yes, adrenalin can increase speed, awareness and strength, but it can also block a lot of senses...tunnel vision is one example.

Denob, I must respectfully disagree.

Relying on life experience to get you through a knife fight has led to more than a few corpses on the wayside. The times I've had to use a knife, my training kicked in and I carried the day, quite very often, against what I'm pretty sure were untrained individuals. The goal of training is to develop muscle muscle memory and this leads to your body doing what it needs to do while you plan your end game... as terribly detached a that sounds.

You are correct about tunnel vision, we used to call it fixation. We used to coin the term, "you fixate, you die".

-S.

Knives are tools and as with all tools, use the right knife for the job.

If you are attacked by someone with a knife, they will either show you the knife in order to get you to comply with their orders without having to use force, or they will keep the knife hidden in order to harm you with it before you can plan a defense.