1. Who here trains with weapons? If you do, what kind of weapons?
2. Who carries a weapon on them?
As for me...
1. Yes, stick and knife fighting, the two most common weapons you will find, carry, or be attacked by on the street. I also self-teach myself improvised weapons (I learned a bit of official improvised weapon training in Russian Systema). Basically I look at something, then find merit in using it as a weapon. Keys, plastic cards, a book, a sweater, a pen, loose change, a cell phone. All of these can be used for either defensive and offensive purposes, or both.
2. Yes, a small switch-blade, ONLY used if my opponent pulls a weapon on me. I got it not too long ago and the need to use it hasn't come yet... thankfully. I used to have an extendo, which I used a few times for cracking heads with. But gave it to a close friend and training partner a few months ago.
I have to say it is effective and i would not like to be on the end of one of them.
I never carry any weapons at all. Here in the UK there not really tolerated.
First defence there is to a knife is to run if you can. There is no shame in saving your life with an escape.
I have learned that if there is no way out of a knife fight, you will likely get cut, so accept it.
But take it like this, if the bloke you are facing is a good knife man, you probably wont see the knife.
Knife fighting has little to do with specific skill. There is some technique behind it, but it's mainly all about attributes. Particularily reflex's, speed and accuracy. Anyone who has very good attributes in those three catagories can be a VERY dangerous knife fighter.
Stick fighting has more emphasis on the knowledge of skill and technique. But it's still heavily based on those three attributes.
This is not an an attack at your post, in fact I agree completely. I'm just stating my opinion. Does this mean that knife fighting practice is useless? Of course not! It developes those attributes.
This message has been edited by Masamune_77 on Apr 4, 2004 9:10 PM
I practice with nunchakus as it is actually quite relaxing. The short sticks and staff. I used to carry my nunchakus with me. I am now confident enough in myself to trust my unarmed skills. Besides if I beat someone up (even if it were self defence)with a weopon I would be in the ****.
Where I live it is very safe. So weopons training for me is purely for fun.
Well, i have yet to really experience any actual training of hand to hand martial arts, although i plan to in the near future.
However, i do practice some Japanese sword forms quite often. I have practiced alot with a japanese wooden sword, and although my proficiency with it will probably not help me directly in a real situation, i feel that just the practice with it, and the disciplining myself have lent to me a new way to see some situations, and allowed for me to understand an engagement in a new light.
I have also practiced some with nunchuku, however that's spelled :P, and although i'm no where near proficient as actual martial arts masters, i do know the basics of them.
As far as knives go...I live in america, so i almost always carry a small pocket knife on me, but only in case of dire need. the previous post was correct when he said that a good knifemen will not show it until it's used, because seeing the knife will alert an opponent and allow him to at least try some counteraction, and a 3 inch knife isn't as affective if someone sees it coming...However, if one has a knife, he may not even have to use it. Drawing it might perhaps intimidate a potential opponent enough to avoid a fight.
I avoid carrying weapons. Face it, you want to avoid a fight. Carrying a weapon will only get you killed in my neigbhorhood. How effective is a slash from a knife, how effective is a strike from a stick, because Ju Dun Kno if your assaliant has a gun n JU DUN KNO if his friends have one.
Its true you do not know if the other guy is carrying something harder. But you could then say why do you learn martial arts the other guy might have a gun. I think the point is you have them because something is better than nothing if you have no other choice.
Although I do not carry any weapons with me I do like practicing how to use every day objects as weopons. I.e. a pan, pint glass, pens, chair even my coat. The thing about training traditional weopons is it gives you a feel for fighting with a weopon. Anything can be made in to a weopon if you practice understanding how.
Actually the wok is meant to be a traditional non traditional weopon if you know what I mean, like wise the chair. The Ton Fa actually was developed from broken chair legs, pretty engenious if you ask me.
Anyway I do like the "ordinary objects as weapons" train of thought. What about a climbing carabiner as "brass knuckles"?
Many people today use these as keychains so it's easy to carry one anywhere without raising suspicion.
Escrima stick training makes a lot of sense because it translates to so many different things. But with a little imagination you can get more out of certain objects. The hook on a walking can for instance. Or using the metal tip of certain umbrellas for "jabbing". (Umbrellas aren't great escrima weapons because of the "padding" they give. Still you could strike with the handle provided it's hard enough. And you could still use it to parry). A leather belt could be usefull for some things, but it would take too long to take off. Lots of ideas out there to play with.
Dan Inosanto once told a story about the old escrima men in Stockton who would tight roll several newspapers together. We tried it and were able to cleanly break through three pine boards.
