Formal Edged Weapons Training

[Jay Cunningham]

How many members here have particiapted in formal training with edged weapons? I had once signed up for a class with Steve Tarani, but it was cancelled at the last minute.

I carry a knife every day yet I have never attended formal training. I hope to remedy this situation in the future.

Please relate your experiences and let's see if we can't get a list of credible edged weapons trainers going.

[NCPatrolAR]

How many members here have particiapted in formal training with edged weapons? I had once signed up for a class with Steve Tarani, but it was cancelled at the last minute.

I carry a knife every day yet I have never attended formal training. I hope to remedy this situation in the future.

Please relate your experiences and let's see if we can't get a list of credible edged weapons trainers going.

Trained with a few; the bulk of which were Arnis guys. For knife specific stuff I've done quite a bit of work with Hock Hochheim. A lot of people like to mock him, but I've found his material to be pretty useful. It has a heavy Filipino influence on it.

[RD62]

I attended several yearly departmental knife training classes using the PPCT Spotaneous Knife Defense cirriculum. I found it useful information, and it was a precurser to, get this, a departmental issue Buck/Strider folder.

Did it make me a knife fighter? NO! Did it make me scared Sh%^less of people trained in knife fighting? Hell yes!

I got a new found respect for knife wielding suspects and the reactionary gap after learning whaty someone skilled with a knife can do, and seeing the effects and how quickly you can sucomb to a knife attack.

I did feel more capable of defending myself against an unskilled attacker, and learned some proficient means of employing my own knife.

I don't believe this training is available to the general public (though I may be wrong) and there may be more effective training available, as I have nothing else to compare it to.

-RD62

[signal4l]

One of the best classes I attended was the Defense Folding Knife class taught by Henk Iverson. Check here www.striketactical.com

I also carry a knife every day. I had given some thought as its effectiveness as weapon. I had no formal training prior to Henks class. I learned a ton and recommend all ccw holders, cops etc attend something similar. Save the certificate and registration paperwork. Also watch the old "Surviving Edged Weapons" video.

The lethality of knives, especially short bladed ones, is too often underestimated. It might be useful to have some documented training in the event you are asked by an ill informed prosecutor, cop etc "Why did you shoot him? He only had a knife."

[Frank Castle]

I took the 2-day Tarani course at Southern Exposure last summer. It was fantastic and I retained a fair amount of information.

[signal4l]

This is a very good video from Mike Janich regarding the lethality of short bladed knives:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PWmRWjDhYw

[p7fl]

I have taken 2 two day knife classes in the past 2 years. (a lot of 2's)
My take was that neither was worth the time or $.
I've been in the martial arts for a lot of years and two days was simply not enough time to get the reaction timing down.
The other negative is that the guys both taught knife against knife skills, while the skill set worth learning is empty hand against a knife.
When I travel to non gun areas, DC, NY etc I take a cane. My younger son and I went to Tarani's Cane class at Southern Exposure and the skill set taught was simple and effective. My son and I spent the two days banging away on each other Cane v knife and the cane won each time.

[matthewdanger]

I believe Mercop, who is a member here, offers edged weapon training.

[MX5]

I took a knife class with John Benner of TDI. Going hands-on with practice knives will give you a real appreciation for some knives & disdain for others. Weak hand opening needs a lot more practice. It's amazing how many folding knives' locks can/will fail when put to the test. I still carry a folder daily, but have come to really appreciate the TDI style knife, or any fixed blade knife more than ever after trying to open a folder with someone trying to choke you out - strong or weak hand.

[Dave Williams]

I've taken a class with Tom Sotis from AMOK!

Great class.

Jay he may be back in Cleveland in April, you can crash at my place if you wanna come and take it, it was only $200 for the weekend this past year.

Dave