Hi all, so this is what we just started using as fake daggers. Kinda funky looking, but they worked great in class. Sorry the image is so big. I can't figure out how to make it smaller. I think this image is as big or bigger than the actual product! Here is the description from their website. http://www.centurymartialarts.com/self-defense/century-actionflex-shoto-knife-red . Has anyone used these before? What did you think of them? What other sorts of things do people use for training weapons and how well or poorly did they work for you?
We use the rubber SF Leatherneck from Cold Steel in Krav: We use blue rubber guns for fast-paced retention drills: ...and metal/plastic airsoft guns for shooting drills:
Rubber or padded weapons are excellent, as long as the person using them eventually does so with intent. Slowly does it to start with, then when you have sufficient skill the aggressor has to make it look like they mean it. I'm a big fan. I use padded sticks and Nok knives. http://noktrainingknives.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=6794716
Cold Steel stuff. http://www.coldsteel.com/Category/10_1/Trainers.aspx These that seem to be everywhere. http://www.kalieskrima.com/aluminum-training-knife400.jpg And then just whatever we get from the local hardware store, outdoors/camping shop, kitchen draws.
I have a pair of wooden knives, would anyone say they are good for light sparring? I have only used them for drills.
Just be careful with eye jabs. wooden knives are generally rather pointy and unforgiving. You'll see Ned at 0.13 and 3.30 in this video wearing safety goggles, which is a cheap, but decent bit of PPE. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM4C5nnbadY"]Eskrima Seminar Part II - YouTube[/ame] Edit. Also watch from 0.25 because it's funny.
Wooden, metal, plastic...we wear goggles all the same. And often with drills if the knife is going anywhere remotely near the face. They're cheap enough and even if you have to shell out some cash for them....Eyes. Just not worth losing one.
Rattan for most work, padded sticks for heavy sparring and aluminium for knife work. I have a few wood and polypropolene trainers, but metal is the preferred because of weight and feel. I am not a huge fan of the padded training knife because it feels "wrong" Eye protection is mandatory in sparring and drilling to mitigate the extra risk
My Escrima instructor makes us wear goggles, I am going to buy one so that I can practice at home or have a spare for the class.
Sharkee knives for a basic in class training knife, this is what we spar with as well. We use a variety of aluminum trainers as well, but I don't have any fixed supplier for those. These Emerson/Kershaw trainers came out in the last year and make a great affordable training knife if you carry a waved knife. And then for longer blades I make my own out of HDPE. training blades sample by Lamont, on Flickr training ginuntings shr by Lamont, on Flickr
For those that use rubber knives, do you have sparring matches where you go at each other with full power? I am curious. We are going all out and that is why I think Sifu wanted the padded item. I think he thought they were safer than other options. Especially for head shots. We are wearing cage face masks, but a rubber item could get through the grid. It may also be that we are just beginning to really train using a "knife" like this. Yes, hannibal, it did feel wrong at first. But I just visualized it being shaped the right way and picture a blade on it. And then the shape issue just faded away for me. I knew when I was hit and thought" that's it- I got stabbed in the gut." I liked that they were completely safe to go all out on your opponent with full power at any target and not worry it could still hurt them. it seems like a rubber dagger could still cause some damage. Can it? I haven't used them like this. I may very well be wrong. Do you have to take any extra precautions using rubber knives? I am not knocking rubber. I really am just curious. I have very little experience with this style of sparring, so I wanted to ask those with more experience. I LOVE that my school is expanding into this sort of thing! So do all the other students in Saturday sparring class! .
It again comes down to "all training is compromise; how much is the only thing that changes" PFS used those paddes knives to spar with and probably still do. I dont because I want to feel a hit as it really brings the reality home - same with shock knives. The trade off is increased risk of injury of course
We use hard plastic Sharkee knives not rubber for our sparring. We use fencing masks so there is no danger of going through the mask and it has integral protection down the throat. We get bruises but not really so many to worry about.
I use EVA hard foam knives http://www.blitzsport.com/EVA-Training-Knife for high intensity work. However they lack strength across the blade, so if people grab the blade and wrench it the core tends to break. Therefore for disarm work and lower intensity free play we use aluminium. I like Sharkee knives, but they're not easy to obtain here. For sabre/broadsword work I use LARP swords. http://www.eldritch.com/weapons/all-purpose-swords/single-edged-swords/sw1-04-36.html
If you don't mind me linking out to another forum, I did an instructional on how to make these: http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=117776 But the short answer is yes, I used a bandsaw, the plastic is 1/2 inch HDPE and I used a 1/8 radius routing bit to round the edges.