Kerambit Grips

Karambit Grips

By Guro Jeff Chung

2007

The shape and design of the Karambit allows for a variety of Grip positions and potential Grip changes. Most teachers of the Karambit promote the concept of 2 or 3 different grip positions. The 3 major grips most often seen are, the 'classical' grip, in which the forefinger goes through the ring, and the grip holds the handle with the blade emerging from the bottom of the fist, with the blade pointing forward. The other grip would be the 'reverse' grip, in which the pinky goes through the ring, the closed hand is wrapped around the handle, and the blade protrudes from the thumb side of the closed hand with the blade pointing forward. And then, a 3rd grip position is one in which the forefinger is through the ring, and the spine of the Karambit is resting upon the 3rd finger of the hand, with the hand closed, what can be described as the 'classical' extended grip.

Neo Tribe Kali teaches a very thorough system of Karambit work. Neo Tribe Kali teaches the practitioner, all of the 3 grips previously mentioned, as part of the 10 Standard Basic grips found within our curriculum. These grips are dependent upon, how we access the Karambit from our sheathed positions, how we retrieve a Karambit from any other position, types of injuries sustained, how many weapons we are carrying in one hand, and what are we attempting to do while the Karambit is being held in a given hand. A thorough teaching of Karambit use will reflect the understanding that while the blade is in hand, we may be using more than one weapon in a hand, and also reflects the understanding that there will be moments in actual use, that a Karambit may be gripped in opportunity other than immediate engagement with just one sole opponent, and that the unique shape of the Karambit allow it to be used in ways and methods other than those found in a cut and thrust type of curriculum.

Different Karambit grips will affect profoundly which particular spectrum of striking, cutting and thrusting methods are effective or limited in scope. The 3 major grips typically taught are generally considered to be the most versatile; however, as we understand the potential of the Karambit as a combat tool we understand how important it is to practice the other variations of grip, along with their related optimum lines of cutting and attack. Neo Tribe Kali teaches dexterity drills to allow the practitioner to transition from one grip to another, in order that the students learn all the particular grips available to them, but also so that the practitioner can feel comfortable using their Karambit in a less than optimal situation.

In Neo Tribe Kali, we have practice cutting/striking drills for each potential grip that is taught to the student. In our public DVD series, we show only a limited number of our Grip curriculum, and we do show how to develop the optimum cutting/thrusting/striking lines available to use of the Karambit in a specific grip.