GRIPS--Saber/Reverse/ Advantages and Disadvantages

I like reverse grip because I tend to rush the attacker, coming in close and finishing there. It is also possible to hook with the blade, redirect attacks and so on. Also, it is very useful as a quick-draw grip from inside waistband carry.
Saber grip of course is more useful in long-distance. My definition of saber grip is a grip where the "focus" of the grip lies in thumb and index finger, like in a foil grip. It is very flexible, but I don´t like it very much because I feel that my saber grip is quite insecure. I prefer a hammer grip with more or less loose thumb and index finger, but tightly gripping pinky, ring- and middle finger. The blade is more "anchored" in the palm of the hand; very useful for full-impact stabbing, while having adjustable flexibility: From very flexible (loose thumb and index) to very strong (tightly clenched fist).
Just my few thoughts on the topic.

------------------
"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron
 
judge covered most of the reasons I like reverse and saber grip. However, I'm trying to go either with Natural grip (like hammer but fingers loose) or Bob Kasper's method (hammer for everything, saber for snap cuts).

I wasn't much into lanyards until I took Fred Perrin's advice and tried it. I also now try to tie down the knife sheath to my belt. I did a quick draw once with the knife and sheath coming out as one piece. I use the lanyard loosely with reverse grip as both a reference point and grip.
 
Did you ever use the lanyard as described by Rex Applegate? He advocated hooking the thumb into the lanyard, having the lanyard running over the back of the hand. If I remember right, he thought this would add on grip strenght for heavy weapons (Smatchet etc). I think it´s interesting, but very awkward if you want a quick draw.

------------------
"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron

[This message has been edited by judge (edited 07-05-2000).]
 
That is interesting judge.I have a couple that were set up by a frog knifer.A double lanyard.One loop around the wrist.The other part of the grip.It would be hard to dislodge it.
 
judge, my lanyard is usually just enough to hook my thumb in and that's all. I have tried to facilitate a length that could allow a grip change though. However, the lanyard isn't hooked if I draw with the opposite hand. BTW, I carry ice pick edge forward for small knives.
 
The saber or hammer seem to be more natural to me, but I see the use for a reverse grip too.
Sometimes I laugh when I hear things like "If you see a guy hold a knife like this... he really knows what he's doing"
I think the choice of grip is conditional on the situation.
 
I´d like to pick up on the disadvantages of reverse grip. I am hardly able to make a no. 2 cut (diagonally from upper left to lower right, knife in right hand, single edge oriented away from own arm) with reverse grip. You need to jerk the hand in a very unnatural way. The only thing that works for me is a rippin cut with the tip, or a cut with a double edged knife.

------------------
"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron
 
Judge, don't think of it as a disadvantage -- it's easy to do a thrust along #2 angle with reverse grip. Try it with the forward grip -- you have to move your hand in a very unnatural way ;-).
 
Thanks for that wise bit of advice, I sometimes seem to forget...
biggrin.gif


------------------
"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron
 
Judge and Smoke, I am curious as to the reason you sometimes favor having a partially 'loose' grip. I always try to hold my knives very firm in a combat situation.
 
Beethoven, my grip isn't really loose. I just like to be able to do a long thrust or poke in each grip. Also there's the option of grip change. I have a habit of going into either sabre or icepick actually. Another thing I'm picky about is the pommel. I actually want to have one that isn't spiked and does extend past my hand.

The Natural grip I got from SB who can explain it better than I can.
 
Beethoven,
kinda hard to explain for me. It has something to do with the right feeling of the knife grip. The loose index and thumb give you a more "alive" feeling of the blade, for me it´s easier to maneuver, more flexible as I said, while still being quite strong. I prefer the tightly clenched hammer grip for heavier weapons, there you need all grip strength you can get.
Just try it out, maybe you like it.

------------------
"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron

[This message has been edited by judge (edited 07-06-2000).]
 
I have a habit of a loose thumb & index finger with knife, but I can't say it's from a well-thought-out position or anything. Basically, it's from watching & following a lot of vids by Inosanto & his progeny - Richardson, Vunak, et al.

The thing is, for me it changes to a full on hammer grip when working the bag or a cutting dummy, so I'm trying to keep it that way all the time. Habits die hard (I don't wanna call it a "bad habit" because there may be something I'm just missing from the mentioned vids...
 
I find that if I keep my thumb and index finger a little loose, it increases the range that I can flex my wrist, thereby making angular attacks easier.

I've also seen advanced knife people use the thumb to grab the opponent and lever the blade directly into the hand or arm or whatever they've grabbed.


[This message has been edited by Joel Stave (edited 07-06-2000).]
 
I like the saber grip. The difference between it and the hammer grip to me seem to be that with the saber you have a point emphasis and end up cutting more with the 1/3 of the blade at the tip. It takes full advantage of the length of the blade. With the hammer grip you have more of an edge emphasis. You tend to cut with the middle 1/3 of the blade and not take full advantage of its length. Of course I find it very easy to smoothly transition between the two. All you have to do is move your thumb! :-)

Keith

------------------
"Walk softly and carry a big stick!"
Teddy Roosevelt
 
Study all grips and blade manipulations and how they are to be used within given ranges and situations. Simple as that.
 
Rex Applegate advocated hooking the thumb in the lanyard so that you could quickly release it. The lanyard should only be long enough to loop around the thumb, across the back of the hand, into the lanyard hole. In this way it is more simple to escape by just twisting your hand out of the way.

If your lanyard is around your wrist, you stand much more of a chance of having your wrist broken from a forceful disarm. Such as an outside snake disarm.

I have a videotape of a man trying to capture an alligator using a noose on a stick. The stick had a lanyard which he wore around his wrist. When he closed the noose, the alligator went berserk, twisting the stick and his arm along with it. The man suffered a broken wrist, elbow, and dislocated shoulder. It looked like the alligator was twisting a rubber arm. Kind of illustrates the point.

Different grips have different uses.

I have found it especially useful to master several types of manipulations between various grips that are useful to cut your way out of an opponants grip to your knifehand wrist.
 
Don is correct, of course. But there are some inherent advantages to the earth grip. It is harder to disarm, and is more secure in general.

Hammer grip does offer a little more reach which is very useful in cut/block techniques. That is why I prefer it, it works more naturally with the style I am being taught.

I don't practice saber at all. Sure, it is technically a useful grip, but based on training experience, it is too easy to lose the knife if you don't have the thumb wrapped around the handle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top