[Shorinji]

My main focus in my training is self-defense. Always carry a knife on you. Learn to use it as intimately as you do you fist.

Here are the pointers I can give you all. Regarding my encounters with knives... Too many to be honest.

1. If you engage in a knife fight. Whether you have a knife or not, your going to get cut. You need to know where its ok to be cut and where its not.

2. Distance is key when dealing with an attacker. Practice this as seriously as possible. Side step and block the initial stab, slash, or what have you, and gain distance. Dont just block but push off them as to gain distance.

3. Watch videos on the internet involving gang fights and stabbing. They arnt going to stab at you once. They are going to cut whatever they can get and its going to be like a hurricane from hell.

4. If they cut you dont freak out. Your going to have to be mentally tough. You represent Karate so I expect alot from everyone in this category.

5. (if you have a knife) You cut them once, you get a free one.

6. Get intimate with the different grips with a knife. Reverse grip (Also known as an Ice pick grip, you see this alot in posers and the untrained), Standard grip (Blade pointed forward, you typical knife fighting grip, effective.), and the Hammer Grip (My personal preference and you dont see alot of people use effectively. The knife is held like you would a hammer)

7. (If you have a knife) Dont let them know you have a knife. or if they know keep it low next to you leg, with the other arm raised in defense (Back of the forearm facing the assailant). This to keep them from knowing your range.

8. Learn where to cut people to gain the most. Under the arm pit, inside of the thigh, the throat (Not as easy to get the artery as youve been lead to believe. I know first hand) learn the targets and learn how long it would typically take for them to bleed out.

9. Understand that you face death in this situation and this only if you absolutely have to. My kumites dont last that long because I try to finish them as fast as possible and as brutally as possible. If you have to fight, you dont just beat them. You have to set an example. You cant simply destroy his will to fight. The outcome of this encounter should be enough to destroy the will of the attacker and every attacker in the future.

I sincerely hope this helps anyone who is practicing the way of Budo.

Hunter Grant