Originally posted by brownie0486
The kerambit creates a zipper of a wound immediatley upon contact and has great penetrating abilities.
I've used the folding Tarani models for a few months now, having reviewed both for the website earlier this year.
I have bought the tapes from Steve Tarani as well. Understand how it is used in it's original configuration [ straight blade ], and understand how it should be used in folder guise.
Past experience with knives and practical experience from using the folding kerambits has shown me that I can use the knife as Steve Tarani explains in the video sets; train specifically to that blades historically correct set of movements as he demonstrates and trains others; or what I have come to understand for me, that I can use the knife like any other conventional folding knife [ or straight blade ] with few exceptions. The one most obvious is that the tip is not aligned in this blade configuration to be of much use in a conventional #5, 6, 7, stab position using a conventioal saber grip.
That leaves the rest of the 12 lines I know to attack/defend with the kerambit for me in sabre grip. The 1-4 lines all use a slashing motion, as well, the 8-12. Thats quite a few lines to be able to move on with such a knife. The point here is only that the knife will work well with 75% of the 12 lines I have available to me to defend/attack on.
Here is where I found it got interesting while handling these in drills and ipsc targets hung in the garage, a few with old sweatshirts over them. In the 1-4 lines, a conventional knife will be slicing through whatever it touches. The edge does all the work, the tip useless at this point.
With the Tarani kerambit, these same lines of attack will show the tip penetrates/stabs into the target first, as it is naturally aligned to do. Upon entry, [ keep in mind this move is the same as a conventional folder on saber grip on the 1-4 lines ] the inside sharpened edge slices through the target as an ordinary folder would be.
The advantage that the kerambit enjoys at this point is the tip is continuously penetrating, being pushed by the line of attack ever point forward while the edge is slicing. This will continue until the tip runs out of, say a forearm, or wrist or you retract the attacking arm which then allows the blade to slice out of the target.
These lines of attack with the kerambit produce zippers. The only question that remains when the blade makes contact is how deep you can intially sink the tip into the target before it continues on the line. The zipper can be minor and only skin deep or up to 2 1/8 " of penetration on the Tarani models, all on the 1-4 normal lines of attack/defend.
Big heavy clothes on bangers and the effectiveness or lack thereof of the kerambit design--my thoughts
My normal knives in 1-4 lines may get 2-4 inches into a torso, or perhaps the range was such I got skin layers only. If the folder is 4" in blade length, I'm likely to get the first couple inches on average if I make contact.
The wound will be a clean slash, having sliced everything in it's path, seperating muscle, tissue,tendons and creating a good amount of damage.
The kerambits wound will be different for the same range/distance if the depth of penetration remained the same. It will be different as it will have ripped through with the point leading the edge all the way, tearing and then the edge following to slice.
I think they can be more effective in saber grip than a conventional knife given the same circumstances during slashing lines. It gives up the normal stabbing lines but I have also found that you can adapt your lines to stab to the midsection.
I'm not going to consider that in my training regimen with the kerambit however. I'm going to concentrate on it's strengths. With 75% of the available lines I have, I believe it is at least as effective on heavy clothing. The tip will sink in as far as you can get it on the slashing lines. That may be more than the conventional knives get in as they are "riding" the material as they are slicing. It may even be found that the harder the material is to penetrate, the better the kerambit will outperform the conventional folder.
The bowie knife is most effective and at it's most devastating when the backcut technique is used. The tip then leads the inside edge [ the swedge ] through the target, ripping out material and causing better disabling wounds.
Now look at the kerambit and the swedged tip of a bowie knife, see the similiarities? Same principles are being applied with the same exceptional results.
I am not going to get into the reverse retracted grip of the kerambit here now.
One more mention, then I'll let you folks go. Through all of the above mentioned, remember that the kerambit is being held in a clenched fist whose pinky finger through the ring. It will be harder to have the knife knocked from your hand in a struggle.
I've seen enough knives fly across the floor to know that retention is always an issue. The kerambit excels over conventional folders where retention is concerned.
So you don't need specific training to use the kerambit, I prefer the above which is based on years of blade training conventionally and will become proficient with them through training with Steve in their intended historical usage when he gets up my way.
Hope that at least answers part of the original question anyway.
Brownie
I feel smarter already.
