To BRAM and everyone else: training for using the Gunting...

[Flood]

After reading all these positive comments about the Gunting and following its final release, I certainly am getting interested in owning this knife. However, I lack any sort of self-defense skills when it comes to martial-arts or dependable street combat.

So, my question is, what is required for an effective use of the Gunting? Are the videos enough, or is additional combat knowledge required? I don't want this knife to serve merely as a collector's piece, gathering dust in some box. I am contemplating in the future learning about dedicated knife-combat and self-defense tactics, but I am still curious to know if getting the Gunting, trainer and videos is enough for now to learn how to use this great tool.

Thank you,

-Flood

P.S. Bram, congrats for your article in BF about bio-mechanical cutting. It was very well-written and taught me a great deal. Thanks for your contribution!

 

[BRAM]

Flood: no problemo..this is NOT rocket science...its based on GROSS motor skills..
Tomahawking/ hammering is a gross motor skill..easy to do under duress...
KINETIC OPENING? well if you can reach out and touch someone it "Opens"...
its designed that ANYONE can do it....
motions are based on gross motor skills...open and close...
yes..I feel you can get the hang of it from tapes..thats why I made the series..
I'm only on Florida..maybe you should come to a two day seminar here...we are setting up one a month...

I used to do seminars in PR...Percussive and Edged...if you want to bring ME to YOU..let me, George or Blade Forums know...


Ok..GUNTAHOLICS..what's your opinion???

[This message has been edited by BRAM (edited 11-15-2000).]

 

[steve22595]

Flood,

For self defence the closed Gunting is by far the easiest impact tool to learn in a short period of time and still be extremely effective. The design makes maximum use of mechanical advantage for joint locks/pressure points and is very simple to use for striking/tomahawking/pinching/trapping. These basics you could probably pick up in a matter of minutes (seriously). K.I.S.S. is a principle that all good trainers live by.

Bio-mech cutting is also a straight forward concept. It will take some training to become fluid and make it look nice during training, but if you need it to save your life, looking good doesn't really matter. Understand the structure and function of the attackers delivery system and break it down. Simple as that.

Training with Bram is a pleasure. You should try to hook up with him at some time. He teaches what most would consider advanced skills in a way that makes the movements simple to understand even for those who have never trained before.

George and Bram did a great job with the videotapes. They will definitely allow you to pick up the basics. With a little bit of imagination you will discover dozens of applications on your own. I'm still coming up with new ideas.

That's the real beauty of the Gunting. It will fit into whatever you are already familiar with. Nothing to change, just add the Gunting into your set of skills and use your imagination a little.

Many people say that the Emerson Commander is the fastest opening folder. I'm not going to dispute that. The "wave" is a cool feature and is very fast. The Gunting, however, I believe is the fastest to deploy onto target which, IMO, is more important. The draw stroke for the Gunting also is better in terms of utilizing gross motorskills. It's basically "grab and go". If you have the Skunkworks holster the action is even faster.
Add to this the fact that you can have a closed Gunting in your hand without escalating the situation, and you have some of my other reasons why it is my favorite tactical tool.

Beware, it can be addictive. Guntaholoics can be identified by the "track marks" on their hands and arms caused by tomahawking and raking of the ramp by their training partners.
I think the Surgeon General should require Spyderco to place warnings on their Gunting boxes.

[This message has been edited by steve22595 (edited 11-16-2000).]