El Tejon
Member
Over the weekend of March 27-28, 2004 I had the opportunity to attend a two day Edged Weapons One class put on by Steve Tarani of Contact Defense, LLC. The training was held at the Boone County Sheriff's Department in Lebanon, Indiana, 15 minutes northwest of Indianapolis, hosted by the witty, affable Captain Ken Campbell of SWAT magazine and Guniste Training Centre (where he is an associate professor of Gunology and thus required to have a mustache) fame.
After I awoke to a foggy morning and "entertaining" drive south, I arrived to find Ken hard at work organizing for the class. "Yeah, yeah, that's nice, Kirk, now shut up so I can work." I stepped outside the lecture room for a stretch to prepare for class.
The morning of the first day began in a lecture room in the basement. It was obvious that Tarani had been giving the class for a while. His organization was outstanding from the start and remained focused throughout the class. As the Jesuits say, he told us what he was going to teach, he taught us, and then he explained what he taught.
Since this was a "knife class" we began with the admiration of sharp, pointy things in a fascinating historical overview which covered by the Eastern and Western use of knives from the Roman Empire on. Show and tell with a vast array knives guaranteed to have Tarani on some "watch list" with the TSA and DHS. Very helpful to those not interested or simply unfamiliar with knives.
I admit that I am not much of a "gear queer". Lugging about and keeping track of a pile of stuff, whether guns, holsters, "tac vests", knives or multiple girlfriends is more than I can handle. I enjoy simplicity, not so much as I am a crazed Ch'an monk (which I am), but, as my father says of me, I can break an anvil with a feather and neccesary high maintenance cannot be done inside my steel drum of a life, and to a degree my own philosophy picked up by the tiny bit of training I have done. However, Tarani's worldview of knives fit nicely with my own. He seemed particularly fond of Strider knives, "crowbars with edges" or "perfect for apes." Considering I just learned to walk upright last year and can still run on my thumbs--right up my alley!
We progressed to the showing of gory pictures. Showing what the different types of knife wounds (thrust [straight in], slash [big tear], hack [a skin, muscle divot] and flick [puncture, effective if to genitals or eyes]) did was enlightening to say the least. (The second day, a fellow student, a vascular surgeon, brought in some more picks from his residency at Cook County (Chicago, Illinois) hospital--even more enlightening).
Armed with plastic training knives, the class moved to the "training room" of BCSD, a large "sallyport" or garage that served multiple functions. Here we discussed the ranges of knife fighting--contact and non--and where to be (green zone) and where not to be (red zone, in front).
The class was not geared toward the esoteric, but to the practical (this word is getting to be the "tactical" of the new decade). As Tarani explained, while his background consists of the arts of Japan, PI, Malay, and Indonesia, it was not a "martial arts" class where the student was expected to memorized names of dozens of techniques. Instead the class was geared toward maximum retention and ease of learning, without the history or mysticism.
The goal of the class was to "fight for the higher numbers." If you have a scale and death is represented by a #1 and no injury is represented by a #5 with degrees of injury inbetween, then the incorporation and application of Tarani's training will help you fight toward no injury.
Based on the notion that we must learned to defend against the knife, we first learned how to attack with the knife. We were shown five angles of attack based on two diagonal attacks, two horizontal attacks and one attack to the middle, a five count flow drill for those familiar with FMA. we then practiced the thrust, slash, hack or flick on these positions on partners, "meat puppets" as Tarani referred to the partner.
Both days we worked on our footwork, moving in line, laterally and at the angle. The concept of creating space to get in the green zone with angle steps was stressed as well as getting behind the attacker. I used the monkey step which worked well on the angles and retreating, but not so well in getting in behind. I think you have to "stick" to the attacker to manuever behind.
We then moved back to the lecture room to discuss and practice deployment with our carry knives. The drawstroke was explained with two hands being urged so as to ensure a certain deployment.
The goal was 1.5 seconds or less. I got 1.69 as I draw "from concealment" in the waist. Need more practice! Some of the guys got down to 1.1, 1.2 second on the second day.
After a man against man draw off in which the winner won a training kerambit (used to show that under pressure times will slow), we were then shown unarmed responses to the knife attack at contact range (up close and personal) with our hands in various positions with the response being dependent upon the hand position--below belt, above belt, or away from the body. We then went over a couple of disarms from the various hand positions, which were familiar to me from mantis boxing, but somehow I still need more practice. Go figure!
Whether standing upright or on the ground, the goal was to use the hands or feet to check the attacker until escape or gunfire could come to your aid. On the morning of the second day, we practiced evasions and then going to guns (with Ring's or ASPs, of course).
The second day found us reveiwing the first with the inclusion of knife vs. knife, grounded evasions in which escape was and was not possible (e.g. phone booth, aircraft, bathroom, etc.), and "stalement" situations in which both you and the attacker are in a stand-off grappling with each other.
The stalements were very interesting to me. In all my prior training, including the weaponry we study in boxing, such a situation is not presented! As wise man in Tejas says, do not play the "what if" game, play the "I am losing game."
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the class was watching Tarani demonstrate the techniques. It is truly a joy to behold such a highly skilled person in action. A tape can only give you so much and cannot answer your befuddled questions.
Steve Tarani is an excellent teacher, it shows in his presentation of the material to his enthusiasm for teaching. In fact, Tarani lived in Indonesia and the PI studying his arts.
He is witty, patient and very devoted to his craft. And, perhaps best of all, despite his vast knowlege, he possesses has absolutely no pretense of some in the gun/knife fu training industry. After class he urged questions and gave out his e-mail address and encourage us to write if you had additional questions.
The class is moderately strenous. Everyone pulled through, even a couple of guys with pre-existing "food blisters." Running is a big plus for those thinking of attending.
I suffered no lasting injuries, other than my splitting 2 day earache, which was not caused by the class. I brought clear shooting glasses as did a U.S. Marshal. However, even with arm conditioning I do in boxing, I picked up a dime size mark on my forearm from clashing arms. Looks like I hit someone's shirt buttom. Got to work out on the mook jong more.
This is an excellent class. Well worth the price of the class, $250; indeed, well worth double that. If you have the opportunity, do not pass it up.
Indeed, after seeing the kerambit demonstrated in person, I have become very enthused about its training and application. Never stop learning--"Flowing waters never turn putrid."
After I awoke to a foggy morning and "entertaining" drive south, I arrived to find Ken hard at work organizing for the class. "Yeah, yeah, that's nice, Kirk, now shut up so I can work." I stepped outside the lecture room for a stretch to prepare for class.
The morning of the first day began in a lecture room in the basement. It was obvious that Tarani had been giving the class for a while. His organization was outstanding from the start and remained focused throughout the class. As the Jesuits say, he told us what he was going to teach, he taught us, and then he explained what he taught.
Since this was a "knife class" we began with the admiration of sharp, pointy things in a fascinating historical overview which covered by the Eastern and Western use of knives from the Roman Empire on. Show and tell with a vast array knives guaranteed to have Tarani on some "watch list" with the TSA and DHS. Very helpful to those not interested or simply unfamiliar with knives.
I admit that I am not much of a "gear queer". Lugging about and keeping track of a pile of stuff, whether guns, holsters, "tac vests", knives or multiple girlfriends is more than I can handle. I enjoy simplicity, not so much as I am a crazed Ch'an monk (which I am), but, as my father says of me, I can break an anvil with a feather and neccesary high maintenance cannot be done inside my steel drum of a life, and to a degree my own philosophy picked up by the tiny bit of training I have done. However, Tarani's worldview of knives fit nicely with my own. He seemed particularly fond of Strider knives, "crowbars with edges" or "perfect for apes." Considering I just learned to walk upright last year and can still run on my thumbs--right up my alley!
We progressed to the showing of gory pictures. Showing what the different types of knife wounds (thrust [straight in], slash [big tear], hack [a skin, muscle divot] and flick [puncture, effective if to genitals or eyes]) did was enlightening to say the least. (The second day, a fellow student, a vascular surgeon, brought in some more picks from his residency at Cook County (Chicago, Illinois) hospital--even more enlightening).
Armed with plastic training knives, the class moved to the "training room" of BCSD, a large "sallyport" or garage that served multiple functions. Here we discussed the ranges of knife fighting--contact and non--and where to be (green zone) and where not to be (red zone, in front).
The class was not geared toward the esoteric, but to the practical (this word is getting to be the "tactical" of the new decade). As Tarani explained, while his background consists of the arts of Japan, PI, Malay, and Indonesia, it was not a "martial arts" class where the student was expected to memorized names of dozens of techniques. Instead the class was geared toward maximum retention and ease of learning, without the history or mysticism.
The goal of the class was to "fight for the higher numbers." If you have a scale and death is represented by a #1 and no injury is represented by a #5 with degrees of injury inbetween, then the incorporation and application of Tarani's training will help you fight toward no injury.
Based on the notion that we must learned to defend against the knife, we first learned how to attack with the knife. We were shown five angles of attack based on two diagonal attacks, two horizontal attacks and one attack to the middle, a five count flow drill for those familiar with FMA. we then practiced the thrust, slash, hack or flick on these positions on partners, "meat puppets" as Tarani referred to the partner.
Both days we worked on our footwork, moving in line, laterally and at the angle. The concept of creating space to get in the green zone with angle steps was stressed as well as getting behind the attacker. I used the monkey step which worked well on the angles and retreating, but not so well in getting in behind. I think you have to "stick" to the attacker to manuever behind.
We then moved back to the lecture room to discuss and practice deployment with our carry knives. The drawstroke was explained with two hands being urged so as to ensure a certain deployment.
The goal was 1.5 seconds or less. I got 1.69 as I draw "from concealment" in the waist. Need more practice! Some of the guys got down to 1.1, 1.2 second on the second day.
After a man against man draw off in which the winner won a training kerambit (used to show that under pressure times will slow), we were then shown unarmed responses to the knife attack at contact range (up close and personal) with our hands in various positions with the response being dependent upon the hand position--below belt, above belt, or away from the body. We then went over a couple of disarms from the various hand positions, which were familiar to me from mantis boxing, but somehow I still need more practice. Go figure!
Whether standing upright or on the ground, the goal was to use the hands or feet to check the attacker until escape or gunfire could come to your aid. On the morning of the second day, we practiced evasions and then going to guns (with Ring's or ASPs, of course).
The second day found us reveiwing the first with the inclusion of knife vs. knife, grounded evasions in which escape was and was not possible (e.g. phone booth, aircraft, bathroom, etc.), and "stalement" situations in which both you and the attacker are in a stand-off grappling with each other.
The stalements were very interesting to me. In all my prior training, including the weaponry we study in boxing, such a situation is not presented! As wise man in Tejas says, do not play the "what if" game, play the "I am losing game."
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the class was watching Tarani demonstrate the techniques. It is truly a joy to behold such a highly skilled person in action. A tape can only give you so much and cannot answer your befuddled questions.
Steve Tarani is an excellent teacher, it shows in his presentation of the material to his enthusiasm for teaching. In fact, Tarani lived in Indonesia and the PI studying his arts.
He is witty, patient and very devoted to his craft. And, perhaps best of all, despite his vast knowlege, he possesses has absolutely no pretense of some in the gun/knife fu training industry. After class he urged questions and gave out his e-mail address and encourage us to write if you had additional questions.
The class is moderately strenous. Everyone pulled through, even a couple of guys with pre-existing "food blisters." Running is a big plus for those thinking of attending.
I suffered no lasting injuries, other than my splitting 2 day earache, which was not caused by the class. I brought clear shooting glasses as did a U.S. Marshal. However, even with arm conditioning I do in boxing, I picked up a dime size mark on my forearm from clashing arms. Looks like I hit someone's shirt buttom. Got to work out on the mook jong more.
This is an excellent class. Well worth the price of the class, $250; indeed, well worth double that. If you have the opportunity, do not pass it up.
Indeed, after seeing the kerambit demonstrated in person, I have become very enthused about its training and application. Never stop learning--"Flowing waters never turn putrid."
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