I have owned a Gunting for a few months now, and have watched some training tapes ( a training tape) on it, and feel that I am fully...errrr...well...unqualified to give an intelligent answer to your question, but what the heck...I'll try anyways.
I agree, that it's applications are a little on the controversial side, but the more you consider the knife, and learn about it the more thought you realize is behind the design. Basically, I do like the idea of a list of options that exceed the potential of bare fists, without automatically resorting to a lethal blade.
As far as the books and videos, coming from a neophyte kinda person myself they aint for the faint of heart or simple of mind. The video I've seen on it was Bram's Tactical Folders which he barely introduced the design (it was actually the REKAT escelator at the time) and it didn't take very long before I was scratchin' my head and goin' "huh?" Call me simpleminded if ya' must, but I had a hell of a time assimilating things. I do keep trying and have pretty well worn the rewind button off my VCR. Could be that some of the drills and such are simpler in other videos, but from what I've heard I wouldn't hold my breath on that...
I've learned the most basic concepts of strikes, openings as well as a joint lock or two, but to REALLY learn your way around this knife I feel you have GOT TO turn off the TV, git outta the chair, and find a partner that's willing to work with you and absorb some of the nasty strikes, locks, openings, etc. no matter how gentle you and a partner are, I do fully believe you are going to increase your knowledge in the application and absorbing of many, many forms of noxious stimuli. ie: you will get boo-boo's.
the use of ANY knife is better explored in a pragmatic fashion as opposed to a philisophical one, but it seems to me training with this knife is much, much...stronger in the necessity of hands on training with a partner.
The books and videos can get ya' into the basic concepts. but if you truly desire to "use this knife to it's potential" I think you'd be best off attending one of Bram's seminars. that's what I'm gonna do when I happen to have time off work AND some money to spend.
As far as websites that come to my widdle mind, I think this one and the MBC forum over at Spyderco are as good as you're gonna get in relation to this knife, it's pretty darn cool to get input straight from the knifes designer and manufacturer ya' know...
Some things that I like about this knife off hand are actually it's handle to blade ratio. I got really big forepaws, and it's nice to have a politically correct three inch blade in that size of a handle. I also like how high it carries in the pocket, and the way it was designed to easily go into a reverse grip. incidentally it makes one heckuva of an EDC, knock around utility kinda knife as well. Which happens to be a good thing since I happen to spend 100% of my knife time opening mail, cutting fruit, cord, and a million other mundane tasks. One of the more interesting places I carry my Gunting is when I'm on shift for EMS. It's a nice bit of protection sometimes for us folks what don't have badges and guns but nonetheless get in the occassional stressful situation, and I also figured out the horn on top of the blade could easily be used as a glass breaker in a pinch, if not the butt of the handle itself.
Anyhoo, it's about 0215 here, and I really need to quit runnin' off at the mouth and get some rest. Hope this holds ya' over until BRAM and some of the more knowledgeable folks can poke there heads in an' give ya' a better scoop.
