ESLife

Martial Arts Stunt Sampler Video featuring Boon-Hau

ESKnives.com is proud to offer another video from our community. This is a martial arts sampler featuring Boon-Hau. Footage includes a couple of tricks, some weapons displays, as well as raw footage of his performance in Star Wars fight scenes with Team Ryouko at the Toronto International Circus Festival 2005. Enjoy. If you have any footage of your and/or your friends doing tricks, stunts, skits or anything interesting, let us know.

We would love to add you to the ESKnives.com family and feature your video too. We'll make you famous...just send us an email.

Defendu Fighting System-Sykes-Fairbairn Commando knife

Defendu Fighting System-Sykes-Fairbairn Commando knife

Not all fighting/defense systems are equal. I want to discuss Defendu, it’s history, the Sykes-Fairbairn knife and how they are used.

Lt. Colonel William E. Fairbairn worked with the Shanghai Military Police for thirty years. During this time he made an in depth study of every known form of close combat. He tested his findings and methods against criminals many who were armed.

Working with Eric Anthony Sykes, these two men developed Defendu a modern martial arts system. It is a system based in hand to close-quarter, hand-to-hand combat. Defendu has roots in jutjitsu and judo. Fairbain trained at the famed Kodokan School in Tokyo. Combining his training with his police work experience and with the help of Eric Anthony Sykes, developed a simple to learn style that provided effective results.

The Defendu system was geared primarily self defense. There was a lethal version of this system that was highly effective taught at European Commando Schools, US marines, US Rangers, CIA and FBI. Most military combat training had its start in Defendu practices. Many police agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada have adopted Defendu including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

In the early 1940's these two men designed the standard commando knife. By 1941 this knife was standard issue for British Commonwealth forces and many US forces. It was simply known as "The Commando Knife" This commando knife style was directly designed from the Defendu system. The design has influenced the design of knives throughout the many decades since its introduction.

The Sykes-Fairbairn Commando knife often is compared to a stiletto, a weapon optimized for thrusting, although the Sykes-Fairbairn knife is capable of being used for both thrusting and slashing (cutting). The Sykes-Fairbairn Fighting Knifes design is exclusively for surprise attack and fighting. The slender double edged blade blade can easily penetrate the ribcage and is integral to its design. The vase handle style gives a precise grip to give the wielder control during the attack. Here is what Fairbanks had to say about his knife:

"In close-quarters fighting there is no more deadly weapon than the knife. In choosing a knife there are two important factors to bear in mind: balance and keenness. The hilt should fit easily in your hand, and the blade should not be so heavy that it tends to drag the hilt from your fingers in a loose grip. It is essential that the blade have a sharp stabbing point and good cutting edges, because an artery torn through (as against a clean cut) tends to contract and stop the bleeding. If a main artery is cleanly severed, the wounded man will quickly lose consciousness and die.

This was the practical and effective Defendu "kill or get killed" approach.

There is something about a weapon that is both functional and pleasing to the eye at the same time. Where the weapon possesses admirable qualities of both form and function, then it's appeal is all the greater overall. This is the Sykes-fairbairn Commando Knife.

Our Sykes-Fairbairn Commando Knife World War II replica is a authentic detailed, well put together commando knife.

Our knife is 15-1/4" long with a Sharp double edged 440 stainless blade. The blade is 7-1/2" long and top beveled as were the originals. The hand fitting ferruled blackened metal grip handles is solid steel grooved for the perfect grip. Comes on a nylon woven belt sheath.

I give the Sykes-Fairbairn knife my stump of approval

Manriki chain: Little Known Weapon for Self Defense

Shurikens: How To Throw a Star like a Ninja

By the end of this short article, we'll get you ready to start throwing a shuriken and give you some tips that it takes the pros years to pick up. Learn how to throw a shuriken horizontally, how to throw ninja star vertically and what do you throw your star into - plus a few pro tips.

Stickin with the Cold Steel Sure Strike Shuriken

People love throwing stuff.  We at ESKNIVES love to throw knives and throwing stars. There is nothing more satisfying than hearing that "thunk" sound as a blade sticks in the wooden target.

Shurikens are a lot of fun.  I thought I would write in this article about Cold Steel Shurikens. Cold steel Sure Strike Throwing stars are a great way to get started in the throwing game. 

Sure Strikes aren't like the cheap, shoddy throwing stars you see at flea markets, guns shows, and in martial arts magazines. That's because they are laser cut from high carbon steel that's been heat treated to a hard spring temper before sharpening and then given a black, baked-on epoxy finish to protect them from the elements.  Professionally weighted, balanced and  fully sharpened ends.   Remember that these are serious weapons and not toys.  They will hurt people if not handled responsibly.

Cold Steel Sure Strikes

The Cold Steel Sure Strikes are modeled after the Shuriken that has been used for centuries in China and Japan.  Sure Strike throwing stars come in three sizes, light, medium and heavy.  Points are sharp and no need for sharp edges.  You can throw them for a long time without dulling the point.   They fly effortlessly. You can throw the sure strike  overhand like a baseball, side arm, underarm or back hand like a flying saucer.  When thrown straight,  it hits on at least one point every time.   That's why they are called Sure Strikes.

All three share the same sized diameter of 5.75".  Where they very is in thickness which varies the weight.  The light is 2mm thick at 2.8 oz, The medium is 4mm thick at 4.2 oz and the heavy comes in at 6mm and 6.4 oz. 

 

Sure Strikes-Light, Heavy and Medium

These sure strikes really help to get your ninja on.  I have thrown all three sizes.  I prefer the heavy sure strike.  The heavy sure strike is a heavy thick piece of steel.  They seem to stick better than the light.  The one problem I have encountered is when they stick, sometimes I have to  pull them out of the target with pliers.  After throwing them for awhile, I preferred the overhand method as opposed to the underhand (frisbe like) throw.

I have found that they live up to their name sure strike,

You throw them they stick. Even the light version did well. It still has some weight behind it and easily sinks into what ever you throw it at.

Great for new people. These stars stick each time and help boost your confidence. You don't have to be that good to make one stick. Take it from me, I used to be right handed before I lost my arm and even I can make them stick with a left hand throw. After continued use the paint on the outside will rub off some to reveal the silver metal.

These are the stars that stick every time, the Sure Strikes from Cold Steel. Have fun with them and be safe!

Nunchakus Come to Hollywood; Nunchucks and Bruce Lee

There are a lot of people out there that believe the Nunchaku was first introduced by Bruce Lee in "Enter the Dragon" This could not be farther from the truth. While Bruce made the Nunchaku popular, especially here in the west, the Nunchaku originated sometime in the 17th century.

The first mention of the Nunchaku can be found in ancient Chinese history, where two pieces of wood tied together by horse hair by mountain soldiers. 

This strange twirling weapon is said to have originated in the Song Dynasty derived from farming implements primarily used for threshing rice and soy. Later the Nunchaku made its way to Okinawa where many believe was the original source. Since the nunchaku was used for farming it could not be confiscated by the authorities after King Sho Hashi declared a prohibition to carry weapons.

Another belief about the nunchaku's history is that the nunchaku was developed from the Okinawan horse bit or muge. The handles of the bit were curved and later they were changed to the straight handled Nunchaku that we know today.

                

Okinawan Horse Muge Nunchaku                                       Nunchucks at ESKNIVES

The nunchaku wasn't a very popular weapon. There is some evidence for this since there are no traditional nunchaku katas. This weapon is nevertheless effective in self-defense, if the time is taken to become proficient with it. Let the practitioner Beware because this weapon has the tendency to cause many bruises. But due to Bruce Lee and the popularmartial arts movie culture the Nunchaku is one of the most popular martial arts weapon ever devised.

Another tail of the nunchaku's history is that it was once a night-watchman's rattle. And some say that the nunchaku was a Chinese weapon brought to Okinawa by Chinese immigrants. This last version makes sense since The term nunchaku derives from the southern Chinese term no-chiat kun. 

 

Nunchaku - 1. Himo, 2. Konto, 3. Jokon Bu, 4. Chukon Bu, 5. Kikon Bu, 6. Kontei