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This guide was developed to introduce the interested martial artist to the technical and tactical concepts of Knife Fencing. Its methodologies can be used for self-defence or tournament training. Its aim is to promote Knife Fencing as a safe, fun, competitive sport.
There are no "set techniques" in Knife Fencing. The Knife Fencer is not expected to imitate a specific STYLE or FORM of Knife fighting - which is why it is useful for any martial artist. Rather, they should endeavour to use what they find works for them. "What works" is discovered through hours of Knife Fencing practice. The technical and tactical information presented in this guide should act as STIMULANTS only, and not as artificially imposed LIMITS. The only limits that must be accepted by the Knife Fencer are the RULES of the Knife Fencing contest.
This Guide has been designed to be used in conjunction with hands-on training for Knife Fencing competition. Any questions that are raised for you after reading this Guide should be discussed with a qualified Knife Fencing Instructor.
To participate effectively in Knife Fencing training, all the aspiring Knife Fencer will need is a rolled up, and taped up, newspaper ( 30cm long ). All basic training is carried out with the rolled newspaper so that realistic contact can be made without causing injury to your training partner. This is because most drills are non-cooperative in nature, and simulate some form of limited Knife Fencing.
For the "texta" tournament, special mock knives with an inked edge are provided by the Instructor.
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There are two ways to grip the knife in competition, both of which have advantages and disadvantages, which you can explore during fencing sessions. The first method, and the most commonly used by serious Knife Fencers is the sabre grip. Here the knife is gripped as one would grip a sword, with the blade acting as an extension of the arm. The second, less common grip (except for movie makers), is the icepick grip. Here the knife is gripped so that the blade is hidden alongside the forearm. As the icepick grip limits the range of possible techniques, it is recommended that beginning Knife Fencers use the sabre grip exclusively, until a good deal of Knife Fencing experience is gained. Regardless of the grip selected, the Knife Fencer should crouch, keeping the knife close to their own body, facilitating fast, non-telegraphic attack and defence.
There are two ways to generate cutting power with a knife in competitions. The first is to flick the weapon out and back along the same trajectory. This method is fast, but limited generally to single attacks or counters. The second more common method is to whip the weapon through a circular arc, generating both speed and power. The whipping method is applied as the delivery system behind the Slashing patterns that form the Cutting Techniques of Knife Fencing.
Within Knife Fencing, six fundamental slashing and thrusting combinations are identified. These six form the foundation of the Knife Fencer's technical arsenal. Technical terms provided in the brackets are from Filipino Kali.
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| Forehand/Backhand (Banda y Banda) |
The fencer follows a horizontal forehand slash with an immediate backhand slash.
The fencer follows a Forehand slash with an identical Forehand slash - or follows a Backhand slash with an identical Backhand Slash - to the same target.
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| Heaven & Earth (Sinawali) |
The fencer slashes with a high forehand, followed by a low backhand, followed by a high backhand.
The fencer follows a diagonal forehand slash with a diagonal backhand slash, forming an upward or downward "X."
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| Slash & Thrust (Espada y Daga) |
The fencer follows every slash with a thrust.
The fencer follows a high backhand slash with a low forehand slash, completing a half circle.
While single attacks can be used, combination attacks generally have a greater chance of scoring. Thus, the Knife Fencer should practice these six well.
This section has been adapted from Charles A. Selberg (1976) Foil. Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, pp105-108.
It becomes evident to anyone who engages in Knife Fencing, that one may know how and when to execute a specific action, but to actually effect it against a real and uncooperative adversary is a far different matter. When practicing a specific action such as a slash or thrust in a non-competitive training exercise, technique is easy to perform. However, when confronted with an aggressive fencing situation the simplest movements are suddenly transformed into clumsy, awkward gestures that can hardly be identified. The reason for this frustrating experience is simple. Every beginning Knife Fencer hates to be scored against out of a fear of losing or humiliation. In a frantic effort not to lose, emotions take over, causing the individual to overreact and become rigid. In this state of nervous excitement, relaxed, fluid, economic movement is not possible.
The first major reality the student must accept is that winning is not a central issue when practice sparring. It is the distaste for losing which prevents well-executed technique even in low-pressured recreational sparring circumstances. The beginning Knife Fencer must learn to temper ego involvement. The symbolic cuts against oneself must be accepted as part of the learning experience if sparring practice is to be a genuinely constructive experience.
When Knife Fencing, it is of paramount importance that the fencer learn to control his or her mental disposition, preventing overreactions to the aggressive demands of the opponent. Otherwise he or she will enter into a frenzy of panic-stricken slashes which abandon all sensible approaches to a real combat advantage. Or the opposite reaction may result: one may withdraw into a defensive shell, rooted to the floor in a state of near shock, where the most rudimentary techniques become impossible to perform. Regardless of whether a compulsive reaction is offensive or defensive, it will mean certain defeat when sparring against an opponent who maintains true mental balance.
Everyone who Knife Fences has experienced this initial reaction to the unique competitive pressure that Knife Fencing creates. It is by overcoming the tendency to overreact that the Knife Fencer discovers a path to skilled execution of techniques which produce satisfactory scoring results. The Knife Fencer is ultimately training to achieve a mental balance under pressure, where a free use of offensive and defensive strategies becomes possible. Mental Balance provides the only means by which the Knife Fencer can effectively respond to the lightning-fast offensive and defensive demands of a skilled opponent. It is from mental balance that the Knife Fencer gains the capability to release at a split-second notice a totally aggressive or totally defensive answer to an opponent's intentions. This balanced view is not victimised by its own aggressive or defensive energy but rather uses these energy polarities freely, according to the dictates of a given situation. In other words, the Knife Fencer learns to control his or her energy, releasing it only when it appears to be an effective means to a scoring advantage. Failing to do so wastes energy, leaving the Knife Fencer exhausted, frustrated, and defeated after only a few minutes of fencing.
Sparring sessions offer the conscientious Knife Fencer the best opportunity to practice mental balance, control of energy, and perfection of technique while actually engaging in fighting practice. If one's mental state is too defensive, one will overreact to the adversary's slightest offensive movements, while attacks will be difficult to perform and at best ill-timed. If one's mental state is overly aggressive, one's blocks will be heavy-handed and insensitive, while the attacks will waste energy, and lack point control, failing to score on the desired target. Each Knife Fencer must use the sparring session as a means to fencing self-discovery. It is here that negative habits and technique are exposed and corrected for tactical advantage.
The changing nature of sparring interaction demands that the mental disposition of each Knife Fencer be flexible and ready to formulate new tactics at a moment's notice. With each scoring hit the strategy of the bout changes, for it is unlikely that one may score against an aware opponent twice in succession with the same action. For this reason, fixed ideas and pre-formulated strategies are of little value. Technique which may be effective one moment is virtually guaranteed not to work the next. In many instances, particularly when the fear of losing is in the back of one's mind, there is the danger that one may read strengths into the adversary's game that may in fact be nonexistent. The Knife Fencer may well find himself or herself fencing against a projection of personal imagination instead of the opponent, who is really there and who will happily take advantage of any misunderstanding. Conversely, having scored a hit or two, the Knife Fencer may read weaknesses into the opponent's game, assuming that victory is a foregone conclusion. Armed with this preconceived "victory" the Knife Fencer may underestimate the adversary's strength and ability to change. This syndrome is well known and is frequently the reason for a combatant's starting off strongly and finishing in defeat.
| Sparring sessions that are used for the purpose of refining one's capabilities can lead to a gradual and healthy psychological awakening, which is the means by which Knife Fencing strength is gained. One's sparring partner is used as an educational tool, serving as a reality check to one's technical and tactical development. A good sparring partner is always alert and ready to let one know where one's weaknesses lie. It is strongly recommended that one spar a wide variety of fighters each Knife Fencing session. The broader the variety of sparring experience one can gain, the faster one's capabilities will mature. |
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All areas of a Knife Fencer's body are considered valid targets in a Knife Fencing bout, accept the eyes and groin. Thrusts and slashes are given equal weight in a "texta" tournament, since every mark records a SCORING technique. Points are deducted according to the area of the body that is scored against.
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| Computer = (-10 points/cut mark) |
The entire head as a target, minus the eyes. No marks are deducted for cut marks against the eyes, as this is an illegal target. Two cut marks to the eyes sees the disqualification of the fencer responsible.
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| Life Support = (-20 points/cut mark) |
The entire torso (front & back) as a target, minus the groin, plus the throat and neck. No marks are deducted for cut marks against the groin, as this is an illegal target. Two or more cut marks to the groin sees the disqualification of the fencer responsible.
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| Mobility = (-5 points/cut mark) |
The limbs as targets (both legs & arms, hands & feet).
Knife Fencers start their bouts with a score of 200 points. Points are deducted according to the scheme above. The fencer with the highest score after all deductions have been made is the winner of the bout.
Rule #1
A Knife Fencer should salute their opponent before and after a bout.
(A salute should consist of bringing the knife hand over the heart, then a symbolic "blood let" down to the side.)
Rule #2
A bout should last 2 x 1.5 minute rounds.
Rule #3
An old T-Shirt should be worn by women, and by men if they do not wish to strip to the waist. Goggles should also be worn to protect the eyes.
Rule #4
Knife Fencers may not slash or thrust at the eyes or groin. All other targets are legal.
Rule #5
Knife Fencers may only strike with their designated weapon,
and not punch, kick, bite, head butt or spit.
Rule #6
All Fencers start with 200 points, and have points deducted for every cut mark scored on them. The winner is the person with the highest score after deductions.
Rule #7
Knife Fencers must obey all instructions given by the Referee, including the command to start ("Begin"), stop ("Stop" or "Time"),
separate ("break") and pause ("freeze").
Rule #8
The Fencing area should be a marked circle with a radius of approximately 4 meters.
Competitors may not leave the circle on penalty of -10 points.
Rule #9
A Knife Fencer may not score upon an opponent who has
both knees, both hands, back or stomach in contact with the floor.
Rule #10
A Knife Fencer may withdraw from a match by conceding defeat
at any time during the bout.
| Round Robin / League Tournaments |
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Round Robin tournaments involve each entry playing all other entries. With large numbers of entries, this can take a very long time to complete. If you wish to use this tournament strategy with a large number of entries, the best strategy is to divide the entries into NOVICE, INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED pools. Any entry who is runner-up or victor in a NOVICE tournament is promoted to INTERMEDIATE status. Any entry who is runner-up or victor in an INTERMEDIATE or OPEN tournament is promoted to ADVANCED status. Unless a tournament is declared OPEN, Knife Fencers may only compete at their assigned level.
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The round robin tournament may be played as a 1 day tournament, or over an entire season. |
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If being played as a seasonal "league," then players must compete in each weekly round as per the seasonal schedule provided (p28). |
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The player with the most number of wins at the end of the league is determined the winner. |
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If two or more players are on the same number of points, then a grand final bout, or series of finals should be arranged, to determine the champion competitor. |
| Crown Challenge Tournaments |
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In a Crown Challenge Tournament, entrants are assigned a place on a ladder, usually with the best players occupying the lowest rungs, and the weakest players the upper rungs. The goal is to move up the ladder by defeating players occupying higher rungs. The winner of the Crown Challenge is the player who occupies the Crown position at the end of the tournament. Crown Challenges may be run as NOVICE, INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED or OPEN Tournaments (same assignments as the League format).
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Players on lower rungs may challenge players one or two positions higher than themselves. |
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Players may not challenge the same opponent twice in succession. |
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All players, except the person occupying the Crown position, must challenge at least one player per week. |
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Players must accept all challenges, meeting them within 7 days of the declaration. |
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If the challenger wins, the challenger exchanges places with their defeated opponent, taking their place up the ladder. |
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The duration of the tournament should allow the player on the bottom of the ladder to move up the ladder at the minimum rate of one rung per week (thus, a tournament with ten entries would take ten weeks).However, a Crown Challenge may also be set up to run over an entire year. The number of entrants to be accepted, and the length of the tournament, should be specified in advance of competition. |
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| Level-Rotation Tournament |
This tournament is usually conducted in class, in a single lesson, for practice benefits. It is carried out with rolled up newspapers as mock knives.
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The first clean strike wins. |
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Variations can be played by making the winning blow the first clean strike to a Life Support or Computer Target - ignoring mobility strikes. |
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Clashes - defined as both combatants scoring simultaneously - don't count. |
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In this tournament, players form two parallel lines, facing each other. |
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Once a winning blow is achieved, players wait till everyone else is finished. |
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When everyone is ready, winners move one playing area to the right, while losers move one playing area to the left. |
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The result is more even matches as time progresses. |
Useful References
Readers are directed to any text featuring KALI or ESCRIMA for good fundamental TECHNICAL information.
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A BOOK OF FIVE RINGS ( Musashi ) The masterpiece on fencing strategy by Japan's greatest swordsman. Read in conjunction with THE WAY AND THE POWER to decode its cryptic prose. |
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BLADE MASTER ( Sanchez ) One of the best Knife Fighting manuals on the market. Read in conjunction with Sanchez's SLASH & THRUST. Technical and Training Methodology. |
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CORSICAN STEEL ( Ferrara ) The inspiration for the BLADE MASTER approach to Knife Combat Training. Hard to find, but worth a read for its practical training tips. |
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FOIL ( Selberg ) A Fencing book with technical and tactical information that can be applied readily to Knife Fighting. |
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NINJA KNIFE FIGHTING ( Hill ) A Basic text on the ELEMENTAL STRATEGY of Ninja Knife Fighting. |
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SLASH & THRUST ( Sanchez ) Another excellent Knife Fighting manual by Sanchez. Read in conjunction with his BLADE MASTER. Technical and Training Methodology. |
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TANTO: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A FORBIDDEN ART ( Maynard ) A study of Japanese Knives and Knife Fighting. A stimulating section comparing Knife Techniques of various systems near the end of the book. |
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THE WAY AND THE POWER: SECRETS OF JAPANESE STRATEGY ( Lovret ) The most comprehensive and readable presentation of traditional Japanese combat strategies in print. |
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