One of the more popular, though misguided, sayings in combatives training refers to a new technique as “just another tool for your toolbox.” It’s one of those comforting industry truisms that makes a good soundbite without actually explaining anything. As teaching goes, it’s really no different than “because I say so.” The problem with the […]
Archive | Edged Weapons
The Universal Fight Stance

The Universal Fight Stance Many stances in martial arts are derived from sports. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because competition hones the stance to perfection. The best stance wins, but the only the stance best suited for the rules of that particular contest. In fact, the wide array of stances in martial arts is […]
The 4 Things to Look for in a Folding Knife

The 4 Things to Look for in a Folding Knife The folding knife is one of the most ubiquitous tools in America. Go into any hardware store, sporting goods shop, or outfitter in the nation and you’ll find several to choose from. And, at least where I grew up, the folding knife was an integral part of American boyhood. […]
The 4 Knife Grips You Need to Know

There are a lot of ways to hold a knife, and each way has its own pros and cons, but what are the most basic grips that everyone needs to know… and why those grips? In the text and video below I suggest the 4 grips that everyone should know. Each of these grips has variants and […]