The steel commandments 2001:
I had the privilege (hard calling it a joy
) to attend a three day seminar with master at arms Bram Frank that was held in Tel Aviv, Israel on the last weekend.
This is the second time I attend a seminar with Bram, and while last year seminar was devoted to general knife work this seminar was equally divided between general blade work and the non-lethal applications of the new Gunting.
Let me start by saying right away I have already been exposed to the Gunting Prototype last year, got the Gunting and the trainer and played with them a little, and also watched the three tapes of the Gunting series.
However nothing, and I do mean NOTHING, prepared me to the level of efficiency I felt at this seminar.
To summarize it in short - The Grunting is without a doubt the best non-lethal weapon I have ever had the pleasure (?) of seeing and feeling in action.
But first to the seminar
The seminar was organized by Guy Refaeli (AKA Scorpio) Spyderco importer to Israel. It was held in a park in Tel Aviv and lasted three days. The attendants included police and army personal (on a private basis) some Martial art students, and one Arnis teacher who was a great believer in sticks and looks like he has been Converted (at least partially)
On the last day we were invited to be guests in the Dojo of Mr. Dennis Hanover - the creator of Dennis Hisardut. Thanks Dennis.
Most of the training was done using Raisin mock ups of Randall no 1 and no 14 and the Gunting work was done using rubber covered aluminum drones both of the closed and the open position. They are well rounded and protected by the rubber but they still hurt like hell. Any time the rubber-coated model didnt give the full effect Bram would reach into his skunk works kydex holster get the trainer and I would start seeing starts really - you see -I volunteered to have the demonstration done on me...
Being a retired first Sargent in the Israeli army and a student of Chinese martial arts for the last few years I have seen and used quite a few weapons. But nothing in my experience is as effective and gets the immediate response and co-operation the Gunting does. No Kubotan, Stick, knife or any other tool creates such a dramatic and devastating effect without causing any damage whatsoever to the receiving end.
In one of the breaks we were talking about doubts people express about the Guntings efficiency.
Well as Bram said people have to FEEL it to appreciate it. The design is so unique and different from anything else that it has to be tried and felt to be fully appreciated.
Over Dinner in my house on Friday night we were talking about the amount of pain people should be receiving in a seminar like that.
Bram said that he thinks people pay and have the right to receive a mild amount of pain in return for their money...
I, with bruises and blue marks on my arms, legs and neck, asked Bram to define mild he answered immediately well - you did not faint, you did not pee in your pants thats mild.
Apparently people have already done both under the influence of the Gunting mainly the live version where both the horns and Ramp have sharper edges.
One last word the seminar was a blast everybody enjoyed it a tremendously and said theyd be back for next year.
If you have never been to a seminar of Master Bram Frank do yourselves a favor and attend one you will never look at a knife the same after it.
[This message has been edited by Blilious (edited 05-28-2001).]
I had the privilege (hard calling it a joy
This is the second time I attend a seminar with Bram, and while last year seminar was devoted to general knife work this seminar was equally divided between general blade work and the non-lethal applications of the new Gunting.
Let me start by saying right away I have already been exposed to the Gunting Prototype last year, got the Gunting and the trainer and played with them a little, and also watched the three tapes of the Gunting series.
However nothing, and I do mean NOTHING, prepared me to the level of efficiency I felt at this seminar.
To summarize it in short - The Grunting is without a doubt the best non-lethal weapon I have ever had the pleasure (?) of seeing and feeling in action.
But first to the seminar
The seminar was organized by Guy Refaeli (AKA Scorpio) Spyderco importer to Israel. It was held in a park in Tel Aviv and lasted three days. The attendants included police and army personal (on a private basis) some Martial art students, and one Arnis teacher who was a great believer in sticks and looks like he has been Converted (at least partially)
On the last day we were invited to be guests in the Dojo of Mr. Dennis Hanover - the creator of Dennis Hisardut. Thanks Dennis.
Most of the training was done using Raisin mock ups of Randall no 1 and no 14 and the Gunting work was done using rubber covered aluminum drones both of the closed and the open position. They are well rounded and protected by the rubber but they still hurt like hell. Any time the rubber-coated model didnt give the full effect Bram would reach into his skunk works kydex holster get the trainer and I would start seeing starts really - you see -I volunteered to have the demonstration done on me...
Being a retired first Sargent in the Israeli army and a student of Chinese martial arts for the last few years I have seen and used quite a few weapons. But nothing in my experience is as effective and gets the immediate response and co-operation the Gunting does. No Kubotan, Stick, knife or any other tool creates such a dramatic and devastating effect without causing any damage whatsoever to the receiving end.
In one of the breaks we were talking about doubts people express about the Guntings efficiency.
Well as Bram said people have to FEEL it to appreciate it. The design is so unique and different from anything else that it has to be tried and felt to be fully appreciated.
Over Dinner in my house on Friday night we were talking about the amount of pain people should be receiving in a seminar like that.
Bram said that he thinks people pay and have the right to receive a mild amount of pain in return for their money...
I, with bruises and blue marks on my arms, legs and neck, asked Bram to define mild he answered immediately well - you did not faint, you did not pee in your pants thats mild.
Apparently people have already done both under the influence of the Gunting mainly the live version where both the horns and Ramp have sharper edges.
One last word the seminar was a blast everybody enjoyed it a tremendously and said theyd be back for next year.
If you have never been to a seminar of Master Bram Frank do yourselves a favor and attend one you will never look at a knife the same after it.
[This message has been edited by Blilious (edited 05-28-2001).]
