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Old 10-07-2010, 05:38 PM   #26
Aikibu
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
Mark Murray wrote: View Post

There are a myriad ways to hold a knife. There are a lot of ways to cut/slice/dice/core/flay/peel/stab/etc a person. A really good knife fighter will be able to transition or change the blade in mid movement while retaining control of the knife. There is *no* correct way to hold a knife. There are pros and cons of each and it is best to know them *all* well.

You want to learn them? Find a good arnis/kali/escrima/silat school. Find a good knife fighter. Find a quality school that teaches how to use a knife. But, quit thinking inside the box about "correct" or "proper" ways to hold a knife. That can get you killed.

IMO,
Mark
Well anything you do can get you "killed" Mark and with all due respect... thats a box too.

William Hazen
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Old 10-07-2010, 09:02 PM   #27
phitruong
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

the best way to hold a knife is with your left while your right holding a rapier. in absent of a rapier, you can substitute with a 9mm or a saw-off shotgun. in absent of those things, you can substitute with somebody who espouse peace and harmony or someone you dislike, such as mother-in-law; pet hamster can be use just as well.
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Old 10-07-2010, 10:31 PM   #28
roninroshi
 
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Holding and attacking w/a knife are quite different...and very cultural.The reverse grip is favored in some locals and culture's...the blade forward thrusting style in others...the attack pattern is another concern...combine that w/the mental state of the attacker and the problem is compounded...dojo knife skills can be beneficial if the attacks are varied and un-rehearsed.Many years ago i spent a good deal of time working w/another Aikidoka (yudansha) in knife defense and we were unable to successfully defend against a reverse grip attack...having been a meat cutter i used a blade in various ways to cut thru carcass and changing from forward to reverse grip while cutting became second nature...holding a knife is one matter skillfully defending against one is another and more serious consideration...good training to you.
This clip is not for the faint hearted but is a great example of what can happen in a serious knife attack...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uWTe...layer_embedded

Last edited by roninroshi : 10-07-2010 at 10:36 PM.
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Old 10-07-2010, 10:36 PM   #29
Gorgeous George
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Is the 'kick to the groin' an effective defence against knife attacks?
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Old 10-07-2010, 10:49 PM   #30
roninroshi
 
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Could be if you can get close enough and not get your femoral artery slashed open or have your bladder unzipped!
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Old 10-08-2010, 04:44 AM   #31
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
Rabih Shanshiry wrote: View Post
+1

This video has been posted before on these forums but at 4:40 he starts talking about the "proper" way to hold a knife. It's pretty much what Mark said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk-EVLyIpts

(The whole clip is worth a look. I think it puts aikido tanto training in context).
Mr Vunak makes a lot of sense and Aikidoka practicing tanto-dori would do well to look at the context of knife combat..

Inocencio Maramba, MD, MSc
Dangayan Singkaw Aikido Shinzui
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Old 10-08-2010, 07:55 AM   #32
Erick Mead
 
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

The correct way to hold a knife:

"Knife? What knife...???"

---------------

"This demonstrates the value of not being seen."

HMG PSF, No. 42,
HOW NOT TO BE SEEN

Cordially,

Erick Mead
一隻狗可久里馬房但他也不是馬的.
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Old 10-08-2010, 08:58 AM   #33
lbb
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Pointy end toward the bad guy.
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Old 10-08-2010, 02:10 PM   #34
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Does the size of the knife matter?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01NHcTM5IA4

David
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Old 10-09-2010, 03:33 AM   #35
WilliB
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
David Skaggs wrote: View Post
Does the size of the knife matter?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01NHcTM5IA4

David
I was waiting for this, I was waiting for this, I was waiting for this
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Old 10-09-2010, 08:16 PM   #36
RED
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
Mary Malmros wrote: View Post
Pointy end toward the bad guy.
...or in.
Styles vary.

MM
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Old 10-10-2010, 10:01 AM   #37
Alfonso
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

I was taught to hold it unseen, and to practice attacking like that. As I was taught, someone waving the knife at you is not the worse case; that one is probably not out to kill. Walk up to nage and shank, real casual.

Alfonso Adriasola
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Old 10-10-2010, 12:24 PM   #38
David Board
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

I jokingly asked her, "How exactly do you hold a knife when you kill people?"
.
Without flinching or hesitating, she turned the knife over (icepick grip) and said, "I sneak up behind, grab face like this and jerk back. Then I stab in neck two or three times!" (pumping her hand up and down.)
http://www.mokurendojo.com/2010/08/h...=Google+Reader
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Old 10-10-2010, 12:48 PM   #39
L. Camejo
 
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
David Board wrote: View Post
I jokingly asked her, "How exactly do you hold a knife when you kill people?"
.
Without flinching or hesitating, she turned the knife over (icepick grip) and said, "I sneak up behind, grab face like this and jerk back. Then I stab in neck two or three times!" (pumping her hand up and down.)
http://www.mokurendojo.com/2010/08/h...=Google+Reader
Beautiful story.

Important for folks to realize that generalizations may often turn out false when applied to people who may have actually done what you are teaching, and not in the dojo.

Best
LC

--Mushin Mugamae - No Mind No Posture. He who is possessed by nothing possesses everything.--
http://www.tntaikido.org
http://www.mushinkan.ca
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Old 10-11-2010, 04:20 AM   #40
amoeba
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Well, normally we hold the knife with the sharp side down, like a sword, but I've also seen the sharp side up for chudan tsuki, so you can do an upward swipe afterwards...
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Old 10-11-2010, 08:50 AM   #41
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Proper way to hold a knife?

How big or small..folder, fixed blade or barong...M-9, K-Bar or Bowie...butcher, cleaver or paring...WHO CARES!

All are able to be employed as a defensive or offensive tool.

It all depends on what you are attempting to accomplish with the tool.

Your training should encompass all aspects of the employment of that tool.

Last edited by mickeygelum : 10-11-2010 at 08:52 AM. Reason: No reason, just could not laugh any harder :)
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Old 10-15-2010, 08:15 AM   #42
DonMagee
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Not sure if a sharpened toothbrush is a knife, but I hold mine as hidden as possible, waiting for my home boys to distract you long enough to walk up behind you and put a few holes in your kidneys.

- Don
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein
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Old 11-22-2010, 07:24 PM   #43
ravenest
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

I was taught to hold with the blade in the same direction as the cut, or the stab and rip eg, a yokoman attack, although starting with a stab in ... to get the thing IN ... is followed by the diagonal cut down and across the body. A thrust in, at a lower target and you cut up, visa versa.

I think the idea is that when someone knows how to use a knife they arent just going to cut you or poke you ... they are REALLY going to do some serious damage, hence the grip, blade orientation and follow through.

I know some systems slice on the surface, but they usually do something like this for example - slice, down on the attacking wrist, blocking or deflecting the attack, slice up further up the arm, slice down further up the arm, slice up the undershoulder muscle, slice down the throat ...... all in about .5 of a second.

But Aikido mostly seems to attack with the knife in the traditional Japanese way ???
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Old 11-23-2010, 07:29 AM   #44
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
But Aikido mostly seems to attack with the knife in the traditional Japanese way ???
Because if the methodologies evolved to fit contemporary knife, it would compromise the "skills" of some sensei and shihan mostly those who did not possess or attain those skills in the first place.

There are quite a few here, look around.

The flags are there.....no skilled or experienced martial artists accepted to their training, no proper taisabaki/kuzushi, no unrehearsed attacks, target audience is the gullible non-confrontational newbie, or the "fantasy fighter"....open your eyes they are there.
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Old 11-23-2010, 08:08 AM   #45
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
Michael Gelum wrote: View Post
target audience is the gullible non-confrontational newbie,
http://airabongco.com/wp-content/upl.../06/newbie.jpg

Quote:
Michael Gelum wrote: View Post
or the "fantasy fighter"....open your eyes they are there.
http://www.reaper8181.com/images/wal...65-615025.jpeg

dps

Last edited by dps : 11-23-2010 at 08:21 AM.
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Old 11-23-2010, 08:21 AM   #46
Cliff Judge
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

I try to place the tip against the cutting board and raise and lower the middle and rear portion of the blade as I am feeding the scallions through. If you kind of stick your knuckles forward, but never raise the knife above the level of your knuckles, you can keep your fingertips safe. What I still have a lot of trouble with is keeping the blade on one plane while I am doing the chopping. I think I am holding some tension somewhere in my arm.
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Old 11-23-2010, 08:25 AM   #47
Cliff Judge
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
Michael Wilson wrote: View Post
But Aikido mostly seems to attack with the knife in the traditional Japanese way ???
Not really. What we do in Aikido is, we tend to make overly clear, telegraphed attacks, to give nage a chance to learn how to apply a technique. Humble pie is served later.
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Old 11-23-2010, 10:17 AM   #48
sakumeikan
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
Mark Mueller wrote: View Post
The correct way is to hold it by the handle ;-)
Hi Mark,
Well said, [may I also suggest the following?Point the cutting tip of the knife[pointy bit]in the direction of the opponent. If you do indeed get this bit wrong you are in effect a potential candidate for seppuku.
Have a nice day, Joe.
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Old 11-23-2010, 12:19 PM   #49
Demetrio Cereijo
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
Michael Wilson wrote: View Post
But Aikido mostly seems to attack with the knife in the traditional Japanese way ???
Is there a "traditional japanese way" of attacking with a knife?
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Old 11-23-2010, 01:33 PM   #50
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Re: The Correct Way to Hold a Knife

Quote:
Demetrio Cereijo wrote: View Post
Is there a "traditional japanese way" of attacking with a knife?
You'd have to ask an exponent of something like Takenouchi Ryu, Shindo Yoshin Ryu, or Araki Ryu. If only there were such people around here.

I am sure Aikido knifework looks nothing at all like the way those systems teach how to handle a knife. Though you could say that the way we attack is like a desperate, last-ditch kamikaze attempt to punch through armor on a battlefield, its definitely not the savvy, sneaky knifework of a predator.
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