Not to put too fine of a point on it, but thinking that training is the same as doing  is like a virgin telling me he knows everything there is about sex because he's studied porno movies.

The only people who are going to be impressed are other virgins. And all the cocky arrogance the world about his deadly training isn't going to change the fact, that such a person is still a virgin -- therefore NOT a knifer, much less a "knife fighter."

When it comes to knife work, let me state right now:
    I don't give a fuck what you think "self-defense" with a knife is.

    Nor do I give a rat's ass about what your instructor says is
    justified use of  force (as he teaching you all these killer kung fu 
   commando deadly knife moves).

    I also don't give a tinker's damn about all the macho huffing and
    puffing  about "If I ever had to use this I'd..." BS that so many
   wanna-be 'knife fighters' repeat endlessly on the internet (or  the
   ignorant chanting of "I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by
   six" mantra)

I say this because about 99% of what is out there about 'knife fighting' will either get you killed or put you into the prison showers.

Your problem is this: if you use a knife according to a lot of the training that is out there, you're going to be in trouble. No matter what your guru told you, some knife fighting ninja on a forum told you or you convinced yourself
      1) A knife is a lethal force item
      2) As such its legal/moral/ethical application is narrowly allowed
      3) 'self-defense' is a legally defined term.
And it is up to you to meet that standard, not that standard to change because you felt you were 'defending yourself.' It's very easy to allow your emotions to carry you away, pull and use a knife when it is not justified -- either legally or in actuality. Knives are like power tools, mistakes happen a whole lot faster.

Now you may think I don't know what I'm talking about ... except for the fact that my bank account is a whole lot bigger because attorneys call me when they have a case where knives were used. This should interest wanna-be knife fighters for three reasons:
     1) I have personally survived several knife incidents and I've seen a lot
         more first-hand, so I know how knives are commonly used.
     2) I know the dangerous and illegal fantasies that are commonly taught
         in the  'knife fighting' business  -- and most of it is NOT self-defense.
     3) I prefer to work with the prosecutors.

So basically you have a choice, you can listen to me now, or you can listen to me in court.

And if you listen now, hopefully you'll stay out of court. If you end up there, you'd really rather have me on your side explaining why you didn't do what you are being charged with. Add to this that if (despite this warning) you choose to listen some so-called knife fighting expert who promise that you'll-be-a-weedwhacker -of- death-after-you-study-his-deadly- system, don't be surprised to see me testifying against you you use that system.

A Reality Break
The reason I'm so harsh about what is being taught as knife combat is NOT to get you to come and study my "ultimate knife fighting system." I'm trying to save lives ... either yours or someone else's.  This ain't no game and it ain't no fantasy, so let's get some perspective on the subject of so-called "knife fighting."

Amateur vs. 'Professional' Knifers
What are the difference 'ways' you will be attacked with a knife? Clearing up an unfortunate choice of words about how a 'professional' and an 'amateur' will attack you with a knife.

The Psychological Cost of Knife Use
Unlike many "experts" on the subject of knife fighting, I have used knives in the street. This is not a brag, it a statement of fact. The reason it is not bragging is that I have also experienced the psychological, psychic and moral hell that resulted from the experience. This is a letter to a young man who seemed too eager to carry a knife to defend himself in the streets. It addresses the real costs of using a blade.

Dueling vs. Survival
Most so-called "knife fighting" training that is currently taught has very little to do with how knives are commonly used in violent situations. This is because much of what is being taught is predicated on what can only be called "dueling." The mindset, physics, strategies and attacks that occur in dueling situations are radically different than the many other ways that violent people use knives. Dueling is only one aspect of knife work, to survive you need to know the others as well.

"Expect to get cut" and Other Lies Taught About Knife Fighting
There are a lot of "macho myths" about knife fighting, here are some of the reasons they are dangerous misconceptions

Fantasy Self-Defense
There is a lot of fantasy-element in the so-called "knife fighting" world. Much of it having to do with the idea of it being a knife fight at all. But before you can start to winnow out the fantasy from the reality, you have to understand a little about the nature of fantasy and the politics that so often plague groups and organizations. Issues that will seriously affect what you learn regarding knife work -- and if you end up in prison for murder if you do what your "teacher" told you.

My thoughts on other instructors
What about other knife fighting instructors? Are they worth studying with?

This Isn't a Sparring Match
There are a lot of people who have gone to a few seminars, maybe even attended a camp who are going back to their school and hanging up shingles about their knife and stick fighting credentials. Furthermore there are many of these people's students who think they now know something about knife work. This is a very dangerous misconception

Use of Lethal Force
The bottom line is that in the eyes of the law, using a knife on another human being is using "deadly force." There is a very narrow spectrum where the use of lethal force is allowed, and if you don't know it you will end up in prison, losing everything you own to litigation -- or both.

What If Monkeys 
It seems that no matter what seminar you go to there is always someone asking "What if it doesn't work?" Although this page is important for students to read, this page is by and large written for  instructors, giving them advice on how to handle WIMs

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