Of the variety of piercing and cutting self-defense tools , kerambit knives are very distinguished by their appearance. They first appeared among the ancient peoples of the Malay Archipelago. Despite the long-standing origin, kerambits successfully adapted in modern Europe and America. Techniques for owning these weapons are being studied at various martial arts schools. The unusual blade, grip method and application features make such a knife very interesting for detailed
consideration.
Appearance
Karambit has a curved blade. Its length is usually 3-9 cm. Either the concave part of the blade or both of its sides is subjected to sharpening. The arms are given a comfortable anatomical shape. As a rule, a hole is provided in it to accommodate the middle, index finger or little finger. It allows you to reliably hold a kerambit knife in your hand. The photo clearly demonstrates how to hold back and forward grip. There are folding knife options. However, they are less durable in structure and require more time to bring into combat condition. By their appearance , the kerambit knives resemble the claws of an animal, which emphasizes their ancient roots. Indeed, since ancient times, man has observed the behavior of various predators and sought to recreate their "natural weapons" for their own purposes.
The origin of karambit
According to one version, the prototype of this knife was a tiger claw. Indeed, kerambit knives are outwardly similar to this “cat weapon”. The main method of application, which consists in striking with an arc movement of the hand, is similar. However, some historians link the origin of kerambit with the popular entertainment in Asia - the fighting of roosters. In their opinion, the curvature of the blade follows the shape of a cock spur. However, most likely, the ancestors of the kerambits came from agriculture. This explains the sickle shape of the knife. The ring on the handle served to more securely fix the sickle in the hand and prevented it from falling into the water. In any case, whatever the origin of the kerambits, people received a unique subject of self-defense.
Application methods
Most often, experts recommend using a reverse grip. Stabbing with kerambit is not as easy as using a straight knife with a straight knife. Therefore, the cutting strike will be most effective when moving the arm along an arc. Karambit knives are intended for causing cut wounds. As a rule, the first target for defeat is the hands and feet of the enemy. In ancient times, blades were smeared with poison, and any scratches could be fatal. At present, the main task of the defender is to cause harm to the body of the opponent, causing pain shock and restricting his movements. Due to the presence of a ring on the handle, hand grip becomes possible. In this case, the knife remains hanging on the finger and can be re-launched.
Variety of options
The ever-growing popularity of kerambits has led to the emergence of numerous firms that began to develop models for their own projects. Latsi Szabo's short blades, UC Honshu kerambit knife and Strider Knives, Inc. products are now known all over the world. A variety of options for knives of this type contributed to the expansion of the scope of their use. Karambits have found their application in everyday life. Hunting lovers began to use them. Any person, having taken a kerambit for the first time, is able to appreciate the unusual properties of this amazing knife. Perhaps it will even turn out to discover some new useful qualities in it.