Waylander

Woohoo! I'm going to enjoy this... I think this is where the challenge lies. My arguement was based on the idea of some 'thug', if that is the right word. Basically, someone who has no proper training in using a knife. If that is the case, whereby you are facing someone who has no good idea as to how to use the knife efficiently, then I believe that person to be at a disadvantage. However, when we come back to your strong arguement, you do have a distinct point. When you are facing someone who is trained to use a knife, then I feel that there is no distinct advantage or disadvantage to either of the opponents. I personally see this as a balance. The trained knife attacker has had to sacrifice some movements and techniques so that he can hold and use a knife. That means that he can't grab properly with that hand anymore, no can he punch with that hand anymore. Instead, he gains other advantages, like being able to cut, slash, stab, he automatically gains a little distance, he also gains some psychological advantage too. That's how I see it, a balancing act. I agree, as mentioned before, my arguement was based on facing a knife opponent who has no training. Of course not, not unless I've taken his knife from him or he's twitching unconsciously on the floor... Good! If you started to agree with me, I'd feel like I was doing something wrong... Absolutely. My standpoint was based on somone with no previous experience in using a knife, but facing a trained knife opponent is altogether a different kettle of fish. I have experience of this. I was once training in Tang Soo Do and Master Green, 4th Dan, was teaching knife defence and knife attack. His insights were amazing and some of the things he was doing to people with a wooden knife made my stomach positively churn! Let's face it, what are the chances of engaging in a situation with an opponent who is trained in using a knife effectively? Which brings me onto my next question: who here has had experience with facing someone, for real, who has threatened you with a knife? How did it come about and what did you do? I'm just curious...

On one occassion I remember thinking during a particularly gruelling partner stretching session: "I hope I don't fart..."

I believe this is where me and you will differ on this... My personal opinion, developed through personal experience, has taught me one basic understanding: Anyone with a weapon is at a complete disadvantage. Of course, I'm excluding guns from the equation, but most with say knifes, sticks etc., is at a disadvantage. What do I mean? Well, if you're in a situation with a guy who's got a knife, then what's the knife man thinking about using? The knife of course! And then you stand there and you laugh. Why? Because you've got more weapons than him! You've got hands, elbows, feet, knees, heads (or maybe just one head!), fingers, everything! His thinking is also extremely limited because he has a knife. Because essentially he's limited himself to one weapon, then automatically as a consequence he's limited the amount of movements he can make. He can slash, stab, thrust and so forth, whereas you have SO much more possibilities. Of course you're defeated once you've started thinking, "Oh no! He's got a knife! He can cut me!" Of course he can! But once you've trained your mind to realise that you have a major difference over him, you can see ways to ignore the knife altogether. You may be, for example, extremely frightened to go near a knife man because of his sharp thing! That's the worst thing you can do! The key, in my experience, is to get in close. Once you've done that, you'll confuse him (because he's not expecting you to get in his face), you can disarm him and then handle him quickly and efficiently. It's mainly fear that will get you stabbed, not the knife itself. If you start thinking "I'm gunna get stabbed!", then guess what? You're gunna stabbed. You're not putting yourself in a resourceful state to handle the situation effectively, and you won't take the actions needed to handle it. If you're thinking is "I have an advantage here", or even "There is no knife" (Matrix anyone?), you will put yourself in a much more resourceful state and you will be more likely to take the necessary actions to handle the situation efficiently and effectively. These are, of course, my personal opinions and experiences and I intend no disrespect on anyone. *bows respectfully, contemplates the Zen garden*

Thank you all for your welcoming welcomes! I've heard of Sensei Timothy since I've moved up here, but no I train with Sensei Andy MacDonald. I believe he's affiliated with the Hara Shotokan Academy as well as EKGB I believe, though I'm not 100% certain. My background eh? Well... I started Martial Arts when I was 4 years old. I watched a lot of Bruce Lee movies and I found him then, and has continued to be, a total inspiration. When my mother heard that there was a Tang Soo Do demonstration in the village I was living in, she took me down to watch. I joined up soon after. I took the to art instantly, and started training 6, sometimes 7, times a week. By the time I was 8, I had reached by 1st Dan Black Belt proper and was the youngest in British Tang Soo Do to do so. I continued to develop rapidly. By the time I was 12 years old, I had attained by 2nd Dan Black Belt fully and was again the youngest to do so. It was around then, I believe, that I was starting to enter a lot of tournaments. I've never been a competitive person, but I did see it as an opportunity to take my understanding and technical expertise of Martial Arts to a new level. At one point, I was fortunate enough to become the Regional, National, and European Champion. When I entered the World Championships in Florida, USA, I came away 3rd. I was slightly disappointed but what an awesome experience! I started hitting a lot of challenges in my life then, as you do when you're a teenager. My school studies became important, and as had to sacrifice my training time to study, my Karate was starting to degenerate. Soon after my exams were finished, I made a push and got back into serious training. When I was 17, I had achieved my 3rd Dan Black Belt fully and was the youngest in Europe to do so. Soon after that, I was becoming invited to a lot of Masters Seminars where I trained with the top in the World Tang Soo Do Association, including Grandmaster Shin himself. However, the more I attended the more I became disillusioned with what I saw. The higher ranks were all balding, beer-bellied men who had very little physical fitness and did very little but work in their offices doing paperwork and very little martial arts. The way I've always seen it is that the higher up you go, the more of an example you should set, and these guys were not doing that, in my opinion. Upon moving to Leicester for University, I left Tang Soo Do with no regrets. I floated here and there for a while, and when I met my girlfriend Ali, she was training for a couple of years in Shotokan under Sensei Dave Wilkins of ESKA. I was instantly impressed by Sensei Dave and trained with him for a month or two. Then I took a career opportunity and became a full-time student with GKR (Go-Kan-Ryu) Karate. I trained full-time and also sold the Karate as well for a career. I did for a year, attained my 3rd Kyu, became the Midlands Kata Champion, and then ran into some problems in Leicester. I left GKR Karate, and moved up here to Preston where I found Sensei Andy teaching Shotokan. Again I was impressed and started training with him. Now, after almost 20 years of Martial Arts experience, I'm considering starting and teaching my own experience of Martial Arts. Phew.... that went on for longer than anticipated! If you're still with me here, well done! You're patience has clearly been tested!

Waylander here... I've been meaning to get onto a Martial Arts forum for quite some time, and finally I've found one that seems to look pretty cool. I won't bore you with details of my Martial Arts background, but if you do wanna know, by all means ask away. Until next time...