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Okay, I admit I'm a little surprised by some of the answers so far.
I think the question is a little bit like asking, "what does a trained boxer use, a left hook or a right cross?" Depends on the fighter and his training, right? For De La Hoya, it's a left hook to the head. For Chavez, a left hook to the body. For Jones, a straight right. Whittaker mastered 'em all. Only someone who doesn't understand the game would say one punch is definitively better than another.
I feel the grip question is exactly the same. You can find skilled trained fighters from all different styles -- hell, even within a single style -- who work better with one particular grip or another. For me personally, I'm best in a pakal grip (reverse grip, edge in). I've been sparring a guy in class who I beat pretty easily. Then he switched to forward grip, and all of a sudden I had trouble with him. Forward works for him, pakal works for me. In fact, in the list of what works for me: pakal works best overall and works well in any situation, reverse grip edge-out is useless, classic forward grip (edge down) works pretty good in largo, forward grip edge up works best in grappling range (not for sparring, for scenario-based defensive work and cutting my way out of a situation).
One thing i can say definitively is that the classic forward grip works best for someone who isn't trained -- it's very intuitive and natural. Any other grip, and you'll tend to just thrash around or really show your attacks. Once you're trained in their proper use, the other grips can have advantages, depending on you as a fighter and what system you train in. I think the classic forward grip is extremely important to train in, because in a defensive situation you might only have a moment to draw your knife, and forward grip is probably what you'll draw into (particularly if you're carrying a folder), so you better be able to rock'n'roll with that grip, unless you're under the fantasy that under the stress of mortal combat you'll have the fine motor control to twirl your knife into a different grip. Any other grip you learn is gravy.
Joe
I think the question is a little bit like asking, "what does a trained boxer use, a left hook or a right cross?" Depends on the fighter and his training, right? For De La Hoya, it's a left hook to the head. For Chavez, a left hook to the body. For Jones, a straight right. Whittaker mastered 'em all. Only someone who doesn't understand the game would say one punch is definitively better than another.
I feel the grip question is exactly the same. You can find skilled trained fighters from all different styles -- hell, even within a single style -- who work better with one particular grip or another. For me personally, I'm best in a pakal grip (reverse grip, edge in). I've been sparring a guy in class who I beat pretty easily. Then he switched to forward grip, and all of a sudden I had trouble with him. Forward works for him, pakal works for me. In fact, in the list of what works for me: pakal works best overall and works well in any situation, reverse grip edge-out is useless, classic forward grip (edge down) works pretty good in largo, forward grip edge up works best in grappling range (not for sparring, for scenario-based defensive work and cutting my way out of a situation).
One thing i can say definitively is that the classic forward grip works best for someone who isn't trained -- it's very intuitive and natural. Any other grip, and you'll tend to just thrash around or really show your attacks. Once you're trained in their proper use, the other grips can have advantages, depending on you as a fighter and what system you train in. I think the classic forward grip is extremely important to train in, because in a defensive situation you might only have a moment to draw your knife, and forward grip is probably what you'll draw into (particularly if you're carrying a folder), so you better be able to rock'n'roll with that grip, unless you're under the fantasy that under the stress of mortal combat you'll have the fine motor control to twirl your knife into a different grip. Any other grip you learn is gravy.
Joe
From my training so far I like the ice pick grip (down and out). I find it easier to throw punches with the knife wielding hand and I prefer to slash rather than to stab although I still have that option its just that I have a shorter reach than with a regular grip. I can work the slashes in with my punches which is cool because its like if I miss with a cross I could catch him with the edge or my elbow.
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