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The Banana Thumb
The banana thumb
A common misconception regarding the placement of the thumb on the knife, amongst the Cape Flats gangs.
It was never directly placed on top of the handle(blade always in reverse grip)
The thumb was always on the side of the handle as depicted.
Reason for this was leverage whilst stabbing. You pushed your thumb forward whilst the ring finger and pinky pulls towards you.
This allowed the blade to inflict more controlled stabs of varying depths and also for more dexterous control of the knife.
Due to the pressure of the thumb always pushing against the handle, it starts to warp into a 'banana' shape.
This was a tell-tale sign of an experienced and regular knifer on the Cape Flats.
Whilst watching the hands is a good practice in terms of spotting a weapon, we always have to look out for his thumbs :-)
Stay sharp!
Nigel E February
Founder of the Piper Knife System
*23*
This where I got the name GreyBlade from. After much use and exposure to the elements, due the quality of metal, the Okapi blade starts to discolour. You can see the Okapis here, some purchased and others confiscated from criminals, going through the various stages of discoloration from nickel to grey. Nigel February Founder of the Piper Knife System *23*
Train with intent...not content! More is less remembered while less is more direct.... We have sophisticated a practice, more commonly associated with criminals, instead of applying the methods they actually use when stabbing someone. I'm not referring to an ambush, but the physical action of using a blade. As Ed Calderon always says, go to Liveleaks.com or WorldStar.com and you'll see plenty of actual stabbings with fatalities and serious injuries. Study those directly and don't depend on historical dogma to get your point across. There are plenty of live examples. I've said this before.....change the knife attacker and knife attack in your dojo or gym and you'll immediately see what won't work, which will also start you on a path of figuring out more realistic knife defence tactics. Knife defences were never set in stone, because the knife attack was poorly represented in training halls and dojos around the world. (Get to)Know your attacker, then figure out how he thinks....it will change your perspective. Once you get to this stage, less will become more direct and less cultish... After all.....they are better at this activity than we are. Stay sharp! Nigel E February Founder of the Piper Knife System *23*
Weaponise your environment Weaponise everything!! Innovation through desperation, or restriction. This is important to keep in mind when governments start banning certain items or specialist tools used for self preservation. You don't want to spend lots of cash on a really sweet piece of steel or assault tech, only for the authorities to restricts its public carry or use within a self defense parameter. Learn from criminals....inmates....and how they create on-the-go weapons and tools to get the job done. Nothing fancy or expensive. Just quick, disposable gear that will get the job done. Anything sharp will penetrate flesh. Where it penetrates, in as little moves as possible, is where it will count in the end....so focus your resources on getting to know anatomy instead. Innovate, be creative, learn from the local criminals in your area, region, etc. At the end of it all, we are their targets ;-) Stay sharp! Nigel E February Founder of the Piper Knife System *23*