I was recently asked why I’m so quick to recommend a knife, not a gun, as a primary personal-protection tool. For the purposes of this article, what I mean by a “knife” is one of the very commonplace folding knives found in almost any sporting goods store, or a small fixed-blade knife. Both of these
The everyday carry (EDC) folding knife has become a staple both in society and the modern personal protection community. Each individual chooses such a tool based on a variety of criteria, including blade type, length, design, and clip orientation. A myriad of excellent tactical and non-tactical folding knives are available, with many carried for daily
As I write this, I am at the Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia. My annual pilgrimage to the world’s largest knife event not only reminds me that I still really like knives, it also makes me remember what real heat and humidity feel like. And our carry strategies during warm weather are quite different than
In my previous article, Making the Cut, I discussed the mechanics of combative cutting with a knife. Based on that understanding, let’s take a look at the other side of the equation: thrusting. First, let’s get the semantics out of the way. Whether you prefer to call it “thrusting,” “stabbing,” “sewing machine,” or anything else
Self-defense is all about stopping power. Regardless of the weapon you use, your ultimate goal is to efficiently and decisively stop your attacker from carrying out his attack. And the less capable the weapon you use, the more skilled you need to be in its application. In previous PDN articles, I’ve discussed the realities of
In a previous PDN article, I explained the logic of my Martial Blade Concepts (MBC) system of defensive knife tactics. A key element of that logic was the focus on achieving reliable, predictable “stopping power” with the type of knife you’ll typically carry on a daily basis. In this article, I’d like to take a
The Other Side of the Close-Quarter Dilemma Since Sean Connery’s unforgettable scene in the movie The Untouchables, the concept of “Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight” has become almost a cliché in the firearms training world. Indeed, most firearms training programs that include close-quarter shooting techniques advocate dealing with a knife-armed attacker by immediately
The Filipino martial arts have a long tradition of edged-weapon training. In fact, when it comes to skill with small knives, the fighting arts of the Philippines are widely regarded as some of the deadliest and most effective systems ever devised. Despite their effectiveness, these arts do not necessarily reflect the culture and legal systems
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