| Author |
Message |
|
| ap Oweyn |
 Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:55 pm |
 |
|
|
Senior Student
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Location: Alexandria, VA
|
Anyone here do work with the kerambit? If so, does it differ radically from what you might do with empty hand? Or with the knife? It seems, to me, like an intermediary between the two.
Stuart |
|
|
| Back to top |
 
|
| jonbroster |
| Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:17 pm |
|
|
MODERATOR
Joined: 27 Jun 2006
Posts: 149
Location: Nottingham England
|
Hi
I love Kerambits - I have a little collection of them  one my silat teacher gave me from Malaysia, a folder I bought on ebay, a neck-knife ....
I see two different styles:
1. index finger hole, where the hole is at the end and the blade tends to curve down and forward from there.
2. little finger (pinky) hole, where the hole is in the middle of the weapon.
I tend to prefer the first type, because the others don't allow for some of the techniques I like (see 3 below)
I have seen them used in several different ways:
1. not really used, just augmenting empty hand techniques (imagine blocking/parrying a punch and then realising that the punch had a blade attached to it  )
2. baiting traps- by which I mean leaving an opening to invite an attack, and then using the Kerambit to attack a tendonor muscle (so, let the guy do a roundhouse kick on your thigh, then cut his hamstring  ). This is one reason a lot of silat-players slap their legs (drawing the blade) and others (cutting) in practice.
3. Jak, my silat teacher, is very adept at moving it from one finger to another! He moves it from the normal index finger, blade down hold to the less common middle finger, blade up grip; but because he twists it as he does so the hook is always facing forward!
This works really nicely if you do a right handed upward forehand slash (RA 9), then turn it and do a backhand downward slash (RA 4).
Although I like them, I always see the kerambit as a little back-up emergency weapon, not a first-choice carry in a warzone! It is just too small (that said, look at the Cold Steel version, with its 5" blade  )
Jon |
_________________
There's nothing more dangerous than a blunt knife!
http://www.pecahan.net |
|
| Back to top |
|
| edges |
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:25 pm |
|
|
Junior Instructor
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 109
Location: Dublin, Ireland
|
After seeing some kerambit demonstrations I started to play. Although I have no formal training with the weapon, I found all my empty hands training (primarily Kenpo) crossed over to the kerambit.
As an intermediary I think it's unrivalled. |
_________________
every cause but our own
www.wildgeesema.com
www.myspace.com/wildgeesemartialarts |
|
| Back to top |
 
|
| Janno |
| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:13 pm |
|
|
|
Student
Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Posts: 27
Location: London
|
I've only played about with the kerambit the last 18 months or so (the forward curving foldable kind), and i must say, it is rather flash and sexy 
Whilst i found it was a weapon capable of doing some nasty things however, i also found its application extremely limited. Certainly, it can tear and slash arteries and tendons, and the loop allows the user to maintain control of the weapon even whilst using his weapon-hand to grapple. But when all's said and done, i believe that the lack of a stab-function is a fundamentally crippling thing to a blade that seems to me to be primarily invented for fighting. Especially if you're fighting an opponent that is aware of your intentions, is armed themselves, and possibly trained.
Also, other blade designs have more applications than just fighting. Some can be used for chopping, skinning/gutting, etc... I can see relatively little opportunity to use the kerambit other than a context in which it is necessary to maim an opponent (in which case, the opponent has the opportunity to come back and finish you off at a later date). Whilst i certainly wouldn't want to go up against someone using one (i'd probably never be able to play the piano again), i myself would feel a lot happier using a fixed fat-bladed (preferably double-edged) knife in the field.
Please note, however, that my opinion is that of a young aspiring martial artist who has played around with various toys and techniques over the years, and not someone who has a wealth of experience in the way of practising/teaching blade-based martial arts. Virtually any object can be made into an effective weapon with training and practice, whether it's a credit card or (in this case) a kerambit. Thus, naturally, my lack of training and familiarity with the kerambit leads me to lean towards the more conventional blade designs. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| mike-a |
| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:51 pm |
|
|
Junior Instructor
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 172
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
|
We a playing with karambits a lot right now. You and use them to enhance your standard FMA emptyhand ie sectoring, guntings etc. Depending on the grip you can use them like most other short blades, taking the curve into account.
To address Janno's post, stabbing is possible, just a bit different. With a reverse grip you basically just punch, and it works like an offset push-dagger. And a hook punch with one (or an uppercut) would make a hell of a mess.
A favourite technique at the moment, is to slip to the outside of a punch, and slightly lower you height, check/parry in with your live hand and basically punch the armpit with the blade. With a trainer it's damn uncomfortable, and with a blade, well the brachial artery is right there...
With a decent trainer you can use it as a quite versatile pain compliance tool like a pocket-stick/dulo-dulo/pasak/whatever... lotsa fun, and significantly less than lethal. |
_________________
I like to hit folks with blunt objects, and occasionally sharp ones...
http://www.muchsod.blogspot.com
http://mikestraining.blogspot.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
| ap Oweyn |
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:22 pm |
|
|
|
Senior Student
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Location: Alexandria, VA
|
I've been thinking of the kerambit as a good backup, after reading this thread. Certainly, I'd prefer the stick, sword, or knife. But I agree with the comments here about augmenting empty hand. And without getting in the way of empty hand, for that matter. Seems to me that I could still throw a perfectly serviceable jab with the kerambit in my hand like a fist load.
Need to start practicing some abecedario and sumbrada drills with the kerambit on the secondary hand. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Damien Alexander |
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:40 pm |
|
|
|
Guro
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 328
Location: London
|
I would LOVE to be able to carry a small kerambit here!
legally,that is
Back home, I used to carry a Schrade Skinner (small one)and it was wonderful!
The schrade was a different design,but could be used just as effectively as a kerambit since both could be used for the same purpose.
The schrade worked a treat in the pakal grip!
just as the kerambit does.
As far as folders go....
I am a kerambit man all the way.............
back home 
Damien |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| ap Oweyn |
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:14 am |
|
|
|
Senior Student
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Location: Alexandria, VA
|
Damien Alexander wrote: back home
Damien
And where's "back home"?
You're American and living in the UK, yes? I'm the reverse.
Off topic. But what the heck.
Stuart |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Pat OMalley |
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:13 pm |
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 1025
Location: Everywhere
|
ap Oweyn wrote: Damien Alexander wrote: back home
Damien
And where's "back home"?
You're American and living in the UK, yes? I'm the reverse.
Off topic. But what the heck.
Stuart  |
_________________
I am a diplomate for peace, but there comes a time when you have to use full contact sign language for the hard of hearing |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Damien Alexander |
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:59 pm |
|
|
|
Guro
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 328
Location: London
|
ap Oweyn wrote: Damien Alexander wrote: back home
Damien
And where's "back home"?
You're American and living in the UK, yes? I'm the reverse.
Off topic. But what the heck.
Stuart
Hey stuart.
"Back home" is actually a lot of places.
But for the record,born and raised in north carolina and partially educated in ohio.
A country boy at heart but with a love of metal music
And where are you from,if I may ask?
And yes Pat......
you ARE stuck with me for a while 
Damien |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| ap Oweyn |
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:43 pm |
|
|
|
Senior Student
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Location: Alexandria, VA
|
Damien Alexander wrote: ap Oweyn wrote: Damien Alexander wrote: back home
Damien
And where's "back home"?
You're American and living in the UK, yes? I'm the reverse.
Off topic. But what the heck.
Stuart
Hey stuart.
"Back home" is actually a lot of places.
But for the record,born and raised in north carolina and partially educated in ohio.
A country boy at heart but with a love of metal music
And where are you from,if I may ask?
Damien
Born in Brackley, Northamptonshire, UK. Moved to the States in 1981, when I was 10 years old. Raised midway between Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland. I live in Northern Virginia now, about 10 minutes outside of Washington, DC. I consider myself British first, Marylander second, and the guy trying to bring Virginia down from the inside third.
 |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| xrs444 |
| Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 1:57 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Janno wrote:
Also, other blade designs have more applications than just fighting. Some can be used for chopping, skinning/gutting, etc... I can see relatively little opportunity to use the kerambit other than a context in which it is necessary to maim an opponent (in which case, the opponent has the opportunity to come back and finish you off at a later date).
Have to disagree with you on this point, I have a small S&W folding kerambit in my drawer at work because they're so damned handy for opening boxes while keeping the tip away from the contents, getting zip ties off cables in awkward spaces and so on.
I'm also told the Emergency Medical Services in the States are fans for cutting things like seatbelts for the same reason, you can hook around what you want to cut and keep the blade away from the things you don't!
Not useful in every situation I'll grant you, but a lot more useful than you'd think! :) |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
