Customer Reviews

Fighting Folders - The Definitive Guide to Personal Defense with Tactical Folding Knives DVD

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you own or carry a tactical folding knife, this video will teach you skills to effectively use it. Michael Janich is no stranger to the blade, having shared his knowledge in books, articles, videos and seminars for many years now. In this presentation, Janich shares his expertise in a clear and practical manner.

Janich organized this video in a logical order, starting with the criteria for a tactical folder, moving to one handed opening techniques, carry and draw methods, grips, and then his system of knife fighting based on Filipino knife fighting principles.

The section on opening tactical folders is a must for those who carry and use these blades. Janich covers opening a variety of styles with different opening devices. He includes thumb openings, blade grip handle swing openings, ring finger opening for reverse grip or ice pick grip handling and inertia openings that don't rely on the opening devices such as the thumb peg or Spiderco hole. I also liked that Janich pointed out that a tactical folder can also be carried open in a sheath during the carry and draw portion of the video.

The latter half of the program focuses on Janich's system of knife fighting, and is applicable to any blades, not just the tactical folder. It's broken down into the fundamentals of his system, the five angles, pass, follow and meet. He covers de-fanging the snake as well as using your live hand. He ends with the explanation and demonstration of several flow drills and their benefits. His instruction is clear and concise, and the viewer should have no trouble learning and practicing these drills with a training partner by following along with the video. The viewer should also take note of the purpose of the drills, something I'm glad Janich points out.

By studying this video and practicing what Janich teaches, a person will have a very good foundation on the fundamentals of tactical folder use, and in basic Filipino knife tactics in general. From here, I hope to see Janich continue this instruction by teaching and demonstrating more on how to deploy the tactical folder under various circumstances as you see him do in a couple of the "action" sequences.

Janich has added to this basic program with additional instruction on tactical folders with his Advanced Fighting Folders and Mastering Fighting Folders videos, but this is the program to start with.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of the DVD set Streetfighting Essentials.

I'd give this 5 stars, but I have seen other works by this author that I consider better presented. Think what you will, being prepared, in any amount, is a whole lot better than the alternative. This entire DVD contains useful, carefully explained, and needed information for this day and age. Again, an ounce of self preservation is a whole lot better than the alternative.

This is a super poor production but Mr. Janich clearly knows his stuff. I did learn several new opening techniques so I'd say it was worth it.