doubleouch

I wonder how you guys deal with the psychological issues related to learning the knife? I really had a hard time learning to gut, slice and stab someone with a knife in class. It was taught so matter of factly like we were learning a new cardio routine or something. I certainly would have no problem putting a knife in someone if my family was threatened, but to spend much of my free time learning to be an assasin drained me psychologically. It didn't feel positive. Also the attitude at many kali schools seems a bit paranoid. These guys carry knives all over their bodies and seem to think a knife fight is about to go down at any second. There is almost a sense of relishing the idea of a knife fight. This is not a dis on kali or any other art. I just have been doing some soul searching lately and have trouble justifying the training.

Peace.

Burton

I agree with you. Many people do knife training without thinking about what they are actually simulating. We do very little knife to knife training in JKDU, spending most knife work on defending empty handed against a knife. The knife to knife work is mainly sparring, not going in, doing a disarm, then pretending to slice and dice and unarmed opponent. The sparring makes it easier, because the other person is trying to get you. It is pretty gruesome, but as you said, if you are in that kind of danger, you have to use whatever force is necessary and justified to get home safely.
p.s. I don't carry a knife, but I did when I lived in a warzone.

__________________
"If you want to learn how to fight, you must practice fighting against someone who is fighting back!" Burton Richardson

doubleouch

Thanks Burton,
You have a way of getting right to the meat of the matter in simple terms that everyone can understand. I once went into a kali school and everyone had mirror glasses on and had knives tucked away everywhere on their bodies. I was a little freaked and left in a hurry. Now I look back on it and laugh about it, but the level of paranoia there was really tragic.

Bri Thai

http://www.selfdefenseforums.com/forums/index.php?s=

Go here for all your paranoia needs. They supply it in great proportions.......

doubleouch

Wow Bri!
That is the biggest bunch of armchair warriors I have ever seen.

Burton

"If you can't stand the heat, you can't make a doughnut." That is priceless! Aloha!

__________________
"If you want to learn how to fight, you must practice fighting against someone who is fighting back!" Burton Richardson

Bri Thai

Thanks Burton. My kids call me Homer Simpson. I like to think I'm a lot fitter, but I can't deny the physical resemblance......... Doh!

Szczepankiewicz

Let it go Bri....let it go....

Bri Thai

Not till I've eaten it.

BB Wolf

I have trained with the knife and while I didn't practice with it any differently than any other part of my training, but I am quite aware of what I am training for. How to deal with it psychologically, I can't really tell you. Everyone is different. You might want to think about it as more of a "self defense" thing and less of a "learning to be an assassin" thing. Don't get me wrong, while I have done knife training, and carry a knife with me that I could use as a weapon if I had to, I certainly don't want to be in a knife fight or consider myself paranoid. I guess I just accept the training for what it is and hope I never have to use it. Yes, you are learing to injure and kill another human being, but isn't almost all MA training based around this premise, when it comes down to it? Perhaps it is the stuff that I study. I currently train in Krav Maga and in the past have trained in FMA's, Kajukenbo Combatives, etc. I also own and train with firearms for self defense. Its all about protecting yourself and your loved ones. Its not paranoid to admit that it can be a dangerous world out there and sometimes, despite all your best efforts, you may find yourself in some really bad situations and knowing how to use a knife may be the only way you get out of them. Personally, I could live my whole life without having to hit, stab, or shoot anyone and be perfectly happy, but sometimes situations are forced upon us and we must become violent, at times to an extreme level, if we want to live through it. I have been very lucky that I have never had to take another human being's life, but I have come VERY close. When faced with those situations, I realized that I would do what I had to to protect "me and mine". The training is about that: doing what you have to do to stay alive. Yes, you are training to to horrible things to another person, but sometimes that is what needs to be done. Don't relish it, don't go looking for it, but accept it. Hope this helps.

Jim McRae

Aloha:

I usually recommend that my students spend some time watching "Trauma: Life in the ER" on the Learning Channel (along with other surgery-related programs). This does two things:

(1) Since a lot of emergency-room injuries are knife-related, you get to see exactly what kind of damage a knife can do. This reinforces what Burton always teaches about knife fights: "If you see a knife, RUN!"

(2) You desensitize yourself to blood and gore so that if you are placed in a situation in which it is legally and morally permissible to use lethal force, you won't freeze up at the thought of using a knife (or puke your guts out at the first sight of blood).

I personally carry a knife everywhere I am legally allowed to do so. I hope to never be in a knife fight, but I can certainly conceive of a situation in which such an equalizer might be necessary. As an ethicist, I teach my students not only how to use a knife, but also when it is morally appropriate to do so. This way, they can feel confident about their training without feeling as if they've been turned into psycho-killers.

__________________
We cannot live better than in seeking to become better.
-Socrates

BB Wolf

That's nothing. That site, though a bit militant, at least has has some useful information. Check out the subjects of www.mallninja.com
Its hilarious!!!

Angel-of-Death

Hakuna Matata! It means no worries for the rest of your days; it's a problem free philosophy...

See guys and gals, there's no need for knife fights and other sorts of and violence. Let’s all live in a magical dream world where no one gets hurt.

BB Wolf

Good advice. I first saw someone stabbed when I was about 8 or 9. That left an impression on me to say the least. Among other things, I used to have a job where I had access to crime scene and autopsy photos from the Harris Co. DA's office. That was an interesting experience... I have personally never been in a real knife fight, nor do I I wish to. The only damage I have personally inflicted on a human being with a knife is myself, and never intentionally. I'll use one if I have to, but would just rather avoid the whole thing.

BB Wolf

Ah, I assume you refer to the Disney Universe. The best advice there is to stay on level ground. You're safe there. However, if you step onto a precipice, cliff edge, castle tower, mountain top, volcano, etc. you are a dead man. From the Disney movies I have seen, its the leading cause of death in the Magic Kingdom .