Customer Reviews

Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat (Special Forces/Ranger-Udt/Seal Hand-To-Hand Combat/Special W)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book {manual) was originally published in the mid to late '70s by O'hara. At that time I was stationed at Ft.Bragg, NC and had the honor of witnessing several demonstrations, as well as participating in several training courses. These were presented by Mike Echanis and Mike Sanders. The skills presented in this manual are the most effective that I believe have ever been presented to US military Specops community, before or since. The techniques are taken directly from Korean Hwa Rang Do; very close in nature to the Japanese ninjitsu. I can personally attest to the fact, that with sufficient training, the techniques in knife fighting, knife throwing, shuriken throwing and improvised projectiles, e.g. stones, is OVERWHELMING in it's effectiveness. This, by nature, is the most deadly fighting system from a military / CQB standpoint ever utilized. For my 21 years of military service, I constantly taught, utilized and perfected as many of the techniques as possible. This training that our group received was commissioned by the DoD for the the JFKSWC at Ft. Bragg and at other sites. This manual, as well as the other two (2) volumes written , in addition to our training course's dealt heavily with the mental aspects of self hypnosis and mind control; these are the corner stones of this system. For military Specops personnel, ALL 3 volumes should be studied and practised on a team/unit level on the training schedule. NOTE: Echanis and Sanders were KIA in 1979 while in Nicaragua as advisors, when their aircraft lost all structural integrity (a tango [terrorist] had planted an altimeter activated bomb on the plane). Echanis had been in the USSF in Viet Nam, being wounded in the calf. He was then seperated from the military, to return as a contract Instructor in CQB to all branches of service. He was, and still is, the only non-Korean to achieve the rank of Master in Kwa Ra Do, given by Joo Bang Lee, Grand Master. Mike Echanis was a true warrior. May he rest peacefully.

'Temper' - To impart strength or toughness to steel. I met Mike Echanis in 1976 at Fort Bragg. I came to hear of him from Mike Sanders (5th SFG) the medic who was covering my SF commo field training class in Pisgah National Forest, NC. To say the least, I was intrigued by the "stories" and decided to see for myself as to their validity. After completing all 3 'phases' of Special Forces training at that time, I decided to attend one of Mike's demonstrations.
After witnessing first hand and at very close proximity what this man could do, I was left "open-mouthed and slack-jawed." The highly stylized and improbable movie fiction genre of that time gave way to the very real notion that some of this "stuff" really exists. I watched as a jeep was driven over him; he lay on a bed of nails while a trainee broke a cinder block on his stomach with a sledge hammer; he put steel spokes through the skin of his neck and forearms and lifted buckets of sand - then removed them with no bleeding and very little physical evidence of trauma; he had a tug-of-war with a dozen men who could not budge him a single inch; he demonstrated the 1-inch punch; he demonstrated proficiency with the knife, stick, star, crossbow, blowgun, and other weapons; he even hypnotized a couple of the people in attendance.
I was hooked! I signed up and completed the Hwarang Do hand to hand combat instructor's class. My fondest recollection was of day 1. This class was open to everyone and not only Special Forces soldiers. There were many in attendance. Mike gave us a synopsis of what the class would entail and proceeded to 'personally' demonstrate to each and every participant that the techniques were very real. Green Berets, as well as the others, were tossed around like rag dolls. The pain he could inflict was surreal. He could hurt someone badly with a finger. On the second day there were only SF soldiers there to continue the class. He seemed to revell in this by stating that only the "real" soldiers had returned.
In his knife fighting technique book one receives excellent instructions on the tri-fold capability of this weapon (stab, slash, blunt strike), concealment, proximity and positioning VS an opponent, and utilization in a defensive posture. The first thing Mike taught me in fighting with a knife was to realize that I "was" in a knife fight. Expect to be cut. But through positioning and technique that knife will never leave your hand and the wounds you receive will not be fatal. For the soldier, the ability to fight on allows for the greatest chance of survival (individually and as a group/unit). I highly recommend all his books.
It isn't the same as being taught by Mike, but its all we have left from him. Realize that he was just a small part of a greater legacy. A legacy of tremendous warriors as well as healers. He was not a man of great stature, but a man of great heart and attitude. The spirit of Swamdosa lives on. It was so very long ago it seems, yet I can still see him in black fatigues and jungle cap driving his jeep (crossed knives under his seat). Mike you're not forgotten. The knife you gave me lies next to my beret. You tempered my soul for life. God bless Mike Echanis!

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Michael D. Echanis', "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat." This book is directly influenced by the Korean martial art of Hwarang Do and its current Grandmaster Joo Bang Lee, who Echanis had studied under before his untimely demise in Nicaragua.

This book along with its two companion volumes, "Basic Stick Fighting for Combat" and "Knife Self-Defense for Combat," were not initially released to the general public, but instead were only available to certified and recognized self-defense instructors. These books were originally intended to be military training manuals for the various elite units in the United States military. These were units such as the Special Forces, Army Rangers, Navy Seals, etc.

This volume, like the other two in this series, starts out with a brief section on the history of Hwarang Do and its relationship to hand-to-hand combat. This is followed by another brief section that looks at the theory and internal dynamics which make up this very impressive art.

Introduction:

This section begins with a lot of practical advice on the use of a knife against an attacker during combat.

3 Phases of Knife Training:

a. Straight Line Attack
b. Counterattack
c. Visualization

2 Knife Fighting Distances:

a. Outside Attacks
b. Inside Attacks

Basic Principles of Knife Fighting:

This section goes over the basic principles that should be utilized when practicing with and/or utilizing a knife in an actual self-defense encounter. I found this section to be very practical and relevant to the topic, although I thought it was a bit brief and worthy of many additional pages.

Six Basic Rules to Observe During Training and Actual Combat:

1. Conceal the weapon...
2. Observation...
3. Focus on deep breathing...
4. Slash, don't stab...
5. Observe the enemy...
6. Breath control and mental focus of power...

Knife Training:

One would be hard pressed to argue that this section includes some of the best information that you can use in order to train effectively with a knife, and for the effective use of said knife in an actual combat situation. This includes such things as not only how and when to train, but also the psychological factors involved in knife training and how to improve your own mental abilities.

Strategy:

Once again this is a section that is so well done that it can be applied to all forms of combat, not just those using a knife. The authors grasp of strategy and the way he explains it is very easy to understand and is very realistic, although it may be a bit advanced for the beginning student. Also included in this section are the three phases of strategy.

Combat Applications:

Through the detailed use of photographs and fairly detailed sections of text, the author and his assistants take you through numerous different examples (17 to be exact) of how to use a knife and/or knives during an armed and also unarmed self-defense encounter.

Basic Principles of Knife Throwing:

As a general rule, "Never throw your knife at your opponent." This results in a lost weapon and the very real possibility that your attacker could pick it up and use it against you. However, just like every rule, there are exceptions.

Basic Knife Throwing Techniques:

In this section, 14 different throws are demonstrated and explained to you through the use of photographs and text.

This book ends with a basic but well done chart on the vital areas to target with a knife during a self-defense encounter.

This book, like the other two in the series, does an exceptional job of explaining the techniques described within through detailed written descriptions and the use of clear and concise photographs and illustrations. The only thing that I would like to have seen a lot more of in this particular manner would have been some close-up shots during various phases of certain techniques.

"Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat" by Michael D. Echanis was originally published in the late 1970s and developed a `cult following' among martial artists and knife aficionados.

Echanis was a special operations soldier and a practitioner of the martial art of Hwa Rang Do. "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat" begins with a short history of Hwa Rang Do and a tribute to the founders of the art.

The book next delves into combat mindset for the knife fighter. This includes `Six Basic Rules to Observe During Training and Actual Combat', mental focus, and breath control, and the `Three Phases of Strategy'.

The heart of "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat" is various photo series demonstrating knife techniques. The techniques demonstrated are very much Hwa Rang Do style techniques as on might expect from Mr. Echanis' background, combined with a military combative focus intended for this book.

While not a beginner's book, "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat" teaches `advanced beginner / intermediate' knife techniques that are easily learned by anyone with a good beginner's knowledge of knife fighting. This book also provides a good introduction to reverse grip and double-knife fighting. (Anyone who has seen Master James Keating's ~ Comtech / "Reverse-Grip Knife Fighting" will find the techniques in "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat" familiar.)

The final section of "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat" is an excellent discussion of knife throwing, or more appropriately throwing of many different items for combat. While many modern "knife fighters" argue against throwing a knife in combat, Echanis offers an insightful discussion of the applicability of knife throwing combat applications.

Overall, "Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat" is an excellent training manual for anyone who has mastered the basics of knife fighting and is now looking for a little bit more advanced-beginner / intermediate techniques to add to one's knife fighting arsenal.

Highly Recommended!

This is a very interesting look at the science of knife combat as adapted for the military by a former special operations soldier and Hwarang Do expert. Very clear and concise. Most of the techniques deal with using the knife from the "reverse" or "icepick" grip.
Fortunately it's now back in print so people don't have to pay stupid prices for a copy anymore. It's only about $16.00 from Ohara publications as advertised in the latest issue of "Blackbelt" magazine.

The late Michael Echanis was a comic genius! I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself, reading this brilliant Malljitsu text regarding the blade arts -- which I have studied for 30 years.

The preface from Ohara (Black Belt) Publications warns that this is only a "basic introduction" to the blade secrets of Korean ninjutsu ("Sul-Sa"). Wow. My 30 years of training seems to have been in vain, as I cannot perform these "basic" techniques. I think that even James Keating and Kelly Worden would have difficulty with them. From this I conclude that either Echanis was a true demi-god (as many seem to believe), or he was living in a deluded fantasy world.

Blade techniques are intended to be simple and direct -- seldom more than "3 steps", due to the speed and unpredictability of combat. Most of Echanis's secret moves are well over 10 steps . . . some are over 20! This is not practical knife-fighting -- this is kata.

Echanis breaks all the rules here -- jumping, spinning, leaping, skipping, flailing, and performing forward rolls throughout. Two techniques actually involve phsically lifting the opponent over your head! The expressions on his face are priceless (anger, outrage, orgasmic, and constipated). He also grips the knives (yes, plural) in an unusual grip that I've never before seen -- actually, SEVERAL grips I've never before seen. For some reason, these grips are never discussed, nor are close-up shots provided (must be "too secret"). Footwork, carry, and drawing are not discussed either, nor is the use of training targets. Unusual for one who claims to constantly train and instruct others. This space is instead devoted to pictures of him prancing about as he flings knives at "multiple opponents." To his credit, in an opening paragraph he says that you should generally avoid throwing your knife, and that it is intended primarilly as a distraction to create an opening to charge in for a fatal blow.

On the positive side, aside from the unintended humor (of which there is plenty), Echanis made an excellent argument for the merits of the icepick/reverse grip at a time when others were denouncing it as "amateurish." He also advocates fighting with two knives at once. Nearly every finishing move is delivered via a powerful overhead blow from a unique angle -- after an opponent is sufficiently worn down, it might actually be a viable technique.

Mall ninjas be warned! You will NOT learn how to be a better fighter from this book!

This book is by far the best in the three part series. The pictorials clearly illustrate how to approach each combat situation. There is a caveat--my understanding of the progression of movements is based upon my study of the art upon which it is based.

as a professional martial artist i would rate this book very highly for all serious practitioners of knife/close quarter/combatives.Mr Echanis is the very best at his craft all thanks to the combative art of HWA RANG DO.

Mike Echanis was one of the biggest propponents of knife training
for the U.S. Military because it gives soldiers an "edge"in
close quarter battle.The techniques in this book are ones you
can bet your life on in a life or death situation.
Mitch Jenkins

RATING: I give this trilogy of books 1.5 stars overall.

1 star for validity, 4 stars for marketing and 5 stars for Echanis service in the U.S. Army as Green Beret, may you RIP.

Now back to the review. I am reviewing all three titles in Echanis's series of books.

Fist Echanis system of fighting was established and based on Korean Hwarang-Do, which he developed into a somewhat hybrid military hand-to-hand combative. All his methods and techniques are based on this system in all three books.

I will start with "Knife Self-Defense for Combat". This book offers compendium of 35 plus knife defense techniques that entail multiple variations that supposedly provide unlimited possibilities for the combatant. The only possibilities I see are ways to get you killed. I have been studying bladecraft for sometime now and can say that I seriously question the validity of most all these techniques in this book. The majority of the methods are way too complicated to perform under duress and stress. The moves are too long with too many steps to remember and choreographed like it is Kata. Defensive knife moves need to be simple, short and sweet, but deadly effective. Unfortunately these moves are not. Maybe if you have 5-6 hours a day to practice and learn a handful of his moves they may work for you. But for me I would rather use my time more wisely.

The second book is "Knife Fighting/Knife Throwing for Combat". Like the first volume that same echoes here. There are some points of interest to be found in this title, but can be found in better and more up to date works that are available. I have to make it know that a vast majority of the methods in this book are ridiculous. One major and contradiction to knife fighting is the topic of knife throwing, I just do not see the validity in this. If you are using a knife most likely you lost your firearm (malfunction/disarmed), so are you literally going to throw your last line of defense away? This method has no place in combat, maybe Hollywood.

The final title is "Basic Stick Fighting for Combat" which was published after Echanis passed away. It is said he never completed all the text to support this book and if so I do not think it would have made a difference. Like the other titles the moves are just to complex and very limited in there employment. I do think if you are an avid stick fighter you may get some use from this title but for the true combatant they are just too choreographed for any fluid and effective use in combat.

Overall this entire series is very poor and would not recommend using most of the moves for defense or combat. With that I do recommend the books for what not to do. They are also useful in the study of the historical evolution of modern combatives. A lot has changed in the art and science of combatives since the late seventies. Ultimately there is always something to be learned whether it is good or bad and knowing the difference may help to keep you alive to fight another day.