If you’re old enough to remember the mail-order catalog days of the late eighties and early nineties, you may remember the first books on “knife fighting” you ever purchased from catalogs like Paladin Press and Delta Press. Books involving knife fighting weren’t readily available in book stores back then; you had to go to the “fringe” and “niche” and “specialty” mail order houses to get that kind of information. One of the things that I’ve learned over years of training with weapons’ is that anybody calling themselves a “knife fighter” usually isn’t. One thing that many of these would-be “knife fighters” have in common is that they’re very fond of buying knives and books about knives… but they almost never have something as simple as a trainer on hand.
What Is A Trainer?
A trainer is any item that stands in for a “live” blade. You probably don’t need to be told this, but not everyone has heard the terminology. A “live” blade is sharp and capable of causing damage. A trainer, or “drone,” is blunt and rounded. The whole purpose of the trainer is to simulate the look and feel of the live blade so that the student can train safely. Some trainers very closely resemble and perform like their live counterparts. Others are only passingly similar, while still others (such as markers or chalk used to show “hits” on the opponent) don’t look like knives at all.
Depending on what you intend to do during your training, different styles and materials for trainers are more applicable than others. Some types of trainers can be used for sparring with another person. Others would be incredibly dangerous if used on a person and can only be used for solo practice (such as learning moves and forms by yourself, because you can’t cut open your own body with the blunt trainer).
Most people don’t invest in trainers, however, because they don’t see the need to spend extra money on a knife-shaped, non-knife object. Trainers simply aren’t as “sexy” as the live blade, and most people would rather spend the additional money on more knives or other knife accessories. The fact remains, though, that a good trainer — one that closely simulates the knife you’ll be using “for real” — is a HUGE help in learning to use that blade well. The trick is to get the right type of trainer for the application.
Types Of Trainers
While there are other categories, the basic types of trainers can be broken down into the following, based mostly on the materials from which they are made. These are…
- Metal trainers
- Wood trainers
- Plastic trainers
- Foam trainers
- Rubber trainers
- Articulated Trainers
Metal trainers are often just as expensive as the live blades they copy. There are also less expensive aluminum trainers that mimic the overall shape of the knife, but don’t exactly match it. These often have cord handles because all it takes is a couple of holes through the aluminum to secure the cord.
Metal trainers are GREAT for learning things like drawing and deploying the knife, and for solo mechanics, especially if they exactly match the knife you’ll be carrying (like the Bram Frank knife and trainer for it below). They are not safe, at least generally, for work with a partner, though, because a strong jab from even a blunt metal “blade” can still do considerable damage, even with proper eye protection.
Wood trainers are popular because they’re easy to make. Anyone with some wood, some wood finish, and a lot of sanding paper (not to mention the means to cut the shape) can make wooden trainers. Often these could do double duty as letter openers — and that’s the problem. Most wooden trainers simply aren’t safe to use because you could “stake” someone with them. There are exceptions, though. For example, there are a lot of wooden Kung Fu weapons, like Tai Chi swords and the like, that can be purchased cheaply and used for safe solo practice.
Plastic trainers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some more flexible than others. The same warnings apply as apply to metal trainers. You wouldn’t want to get jabbed in the face with the laser-cut acrylic version of the IKEA Skalad paring knife shown below. The knife is a great way to practice drawing and deploying that knife by yourself, though, without cutting up your clothes or your body in the process.
Foam trainers bridge the gap when it comes to safe sparring. These are usually cut in the general shape of the knife or knives they mimic, but of course are much bulkier so you can’t hurt someone with them. The soft foam makes these forgiving sparring tools, and the general shape is at least evocative of the blade being trained. The TAK Knife foam trainer below is the closed version of the Bram Frank knife shown, which is notable because it can be used to make chopping strikes with the “tomahawk” shape of the blade ramp. An “open” version of the trainer is also available, ideal for sparring with a partner.
Rubber trainers are much the same as foam trainers. There are lots of “rubber knives” on the market, many sold through martial arts supply houses, intended for use in knife-disarm demos and other limited interactions. Rubber knives are either hard enough to be treated like plastic or metal trainers, or floppy enough that they’re not much use to anybody (except that some are painted to at least look real).
Articulated trainers are those trainers that are designed to fold and open the way the live folding knife does. There are lots of trainers available for Spyderco knives, for example (the company seems to value trainers, or knows that its customers do). These are just metal trainers that allow you to drill deployment and opening safely. You can accomplish the same thing by grinding down the blade of a “live” knife, but those ground-down blades are never quite as safe as purpose-built folders.
Why Trainers Matter
Simply put, trainers matter if you’re serious about learning blade mechanics safely and thoroughly. There are no substitutes for proper trainers. The next time you purchase a knife, consider whether you can get a trainer for it. When trainers are available, especially from the same manufacturer, it’s always a wise idea to invest in them. You will thank yourself later for doing so.