Grip modification

[Jens Schuetz]

Don't take too much off the rib in the grip unless it's killing you. Cutting w/khukuri (or any other bolo/parang/golok analog) works best with a loose grip, snapping your hand shut (and the blade into the target) at the last minute. I've heard this called the "Ghurka snap". The rib acts kinda like a trigger/tiny subhilt.

Same kind of thing in stick fighting. If the hand is tight before the strike you can't addd the strength of your fingers into the hit.
A proper hit adds movement of the whole body, arm, wrist, and fingers. The fingers will only tighten right before the impact to prevent the stick from bouncing off thus driving it deeper into the target.
Im sure there are some Eskrima videos online which explain it much better than me.

 

[Derek the Destroyer]

cool video! Dang do Kamis smash their toes often?

 

[roninsgrips]

I found the reference to the video. The URL is contained in this posting by Howard Wallace:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/785433-A-virtual-tour-of-HI-in-Nepal

That was very cool. I am amazed at what they turn out.

Thank you for digging it up!

 

[Bawanna]

That's an excellent video and I so envy Mr. Wallace and Red Flower for actually being there in person and seeing it all first hand. We all should watch that video from time to time.

I can't get over flip flops, and red hot steel and not a glove in sight. Nothing for the eyes, they do it and I'm not gonna question it a bit, my hats off to all of them.

It did remind me how badly I want a small size Kerambit from HI. Guess my want list is not getting any smaller.