Though neither the article or "Mr. Animal's" website are new to me, it is an interesting read even the 3rd or 4th time around - and I agree
it should be required reading for anyone buying a tactical knife.
I think some people will read it and get the wrong idea though - some may even get offended
. Still in all, I wouldn't take the article as a condemnation of martial arts blade training or FMA in particular, though both are referenced in the article.
Conversely, I
would take it as a valid critique of many training methods & mindsets; so, if you can see the logic in what was said, don't stop knife training, rather, modify some aspects of one's knife training & look at some of the legal ramifications that go along with actually using a knife for self defense - stick to the basics, including defense against the 'prison rush' maybe, instead of how to "disarm" the knifer with your bare hands... Teach what 'self defense' means & how its different from fighting - and how fighting is different from combat.
"Animal" is a 'martial arts teacher' himself - whether he likes the cannotations that go along with that label or not - he didn't write that stuff to get people to
stop training... What he did do was try to open some eyes about reality versus what is currently being taught as 'knife defense / knife fighting' in the martial arts world. Bravo to him for having the cajones to say it!
As for grappling with a knife - the article contains some good advice;
DON'T!!!
Even in martial arts
training, dealing with a larger, untrained practice knife wielding opponent that isn't limited to 'only attacking
this way' is very challenging. Introduce the training knife to a grappling session & you have a real pickle of a problem - especially if the other dude has the knife and you are on the bottom... That sucks. But its good practice. There are some 'rules of thumb' you will find if you take care to notice them and your chances of surviving such an encounter are definately better
with training than without.
That article was definately good food for good thought IMHO