A few years back now I wrote the missive tome, “The Knife Combatives” book. No brag, just a fact, that it was and is still called the best knife book ever. It is geared for citizens/police (the law) and the military (rules of engagement). Over 1,700+ how-to photos in 317 pages, from avoidance through standing to the ground, from grip-to-grip, situations to scenarios, the most comprehensive knife book on combatives you will find anywhere, at any time! Training! Exercises! Tactics! How to train! Plus many true military knife combat stories Yes, it does have some 15 military knife combat, true stories within it.
Thankfully, there are not many knife versus knife fights in the real world and fewer in the military because of the weapon continuum – that is a longer list of weaponry, to the surprise of some. Rare or not, somebody has to do the history. Part of the research quest was I scanned books in two military museums I knew had libraries, in particular bios and auto-bios. This took a couple of days. I skipped the “I was born on a farm” beginnings and the much of the training stories unless they included the knife – they usually didn’t – and got into the meat of their war-combat time. I also searched the web, and followed the news. Another fantastic source was the late Lt. Colonel Dwight Mclemore. (In my time in the Army, the knife training was a short, few hour, segment back in the Vietnam era training). Military knife versus knife training and fighting was quite rare.
Two civilians in a diner getting pissed off and knife fighting with steak knives was more common that a mixed weapon, war scenario. Still, I looked. What I found was the training was usually disappointing and incomplete.
Granted, the knife is a great equalizer. But, spare me the:
“just stick the pointy end in him,” moronic simplicity. Like saying-
“just stick the pointy end of a bullet in.” Or –
“just stick the pointy end of a missile into the ground.”
Think about this….
“just spend half or the rest of your life in jail.”
You think you’re smart when you say crap like that, but you’re not. A knife encounter, like a gun-fight encounter, or even a missile-war, is an environmental, situational unique event, with a before, during and after. Crime and war.
Anyway, digging into the military aspect as I had, I found that people-groups were interested in this version, asked for that training theme. I’ve taught units-groups that include the U.S. Marines, Army, Australian Army, European counter-terrorism seminars in Berlin, Italian special operations, well, the list is too long to scramble together here from decades. Civilians too, of course.
Trying not to sound like a bloodthirsty violent thug or a thoughtless knucklehead, as many knife courses do, I created a stable sub-course name – “The Military Knife Research Course.” It emphasized military knife HISTORY and RESEARCH terms-methods. I even used the skull in a logo, ala military, but only in this historical context-category. I dislike seeing “knife through skulls” logos in general because I know the non-military, skull-teacher and the non-military skull-student will be confronted with their crazed imagery-tattoos, verbiage, etc. in court after they actually use a knife. (Oh by the grace of God do they go.)
A quiet professional tries to remain as low key grey-quiet as possible. Before. During. After. But, as teachers we walk an advertising tightrope of professional standards versus marketing-selling. It’s a balancing act I regret. The knife is a tough sell. And trouble to use. There is a terrible stigma against the knife.
Since my overall Survival Centric: Knife course covers both civilian and military training and history, for a while years back, I once had a free military certificate to accompany the knife course certification. I decided that this year I would bring that back. Anyone getting rank in the Survival Centric: Knife course would also get an accompanying, free Military Knife Research Course document too. And if you are already holding a knife rank with us, when I see you this year, I will give you the free military certificate to catch up.
Meanwhile, get the hardcover, color collector’s item book. (Warning! International postage might be insane outside of the USA and U.K.) Click here.
Get the paperback, B & W book. (Warning! International postage might be insane outside of the USA and U.K) Click here.
Get the ebook. (NO postage!) click here. Only $10.
