The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

Lenny Magill's Advanced Folding Knife Techniques

A Video Review by Phil Elmore

Lenny Magill is, from what I can tell, an incredibly prolific firearms enthusiast who also appreciates a good knife. His Advanced Folding Knife Techniques video is, despite its title, really geared towards the person who knows relatively little about using a folding knife for self-defense. Assuming nothing, Lenny himself walks the viewer through the basics and on to more advanced topics, covering selection, carry, opening, and use of the tactical folder. The video also includes numerous cutting demonstrations.

The tape opens with a text warning stating that Magill has practiced the moves on the tape thousands of times. Lenny then introduces himself and the topic of the folding knife for self-defense.

Production values are very slick. Lenny does a lot of video work, and it shows. Sound quality and picture are both great, with everything visible despite intentionally dark and colored lighting. There are a lot of special effects and lots of "public domain" music, which I think can be overdone, but I can forgive this given the professional quality of the production.

Lenny himself is very comfortable on camera, which is a pleasure to see. He has the sort of delivery I associate with the hosts of TNN's American Shooter or Trucks -- a rich "radio voice," a polished tone, and a very commercially accessible cadence. You could easily insert commercials into this video and have a prepackaged television spot.

The instructional material begins with what Lenny considers the "premise of a knife fight." He explains that a knife is a deadly weapon, for which you could be held liable if you introduce it in a previously less-than-lethal situation. He goes on to make the following points:

Knife fights are over in three to five seconds, like gunfights.
In an "urban knife fight," you typically don't see the knife coming.
If you see the knife, get away. Create distance, use obstacles, etc.
You will get cut.

Lenny repeatedly emphasizes the need to create distance when facing a knife. Those familiar with knives will recognize that Lenny is also taking sides on issues that are sometimes hotly debated, such as the "expect to get cut" concept. Magill goes on to make the points most often made by those who believe knives can be even more effective than firearms at close range.

Comparing different types of knives, Lenny mentions the Cold Steel Recon Tanto as an example of a great fixed blade, as compared to the folding knives that are the focus of the video. His favorite knife is the Advanced Folding Combat Knife from Benchmade, which has the liner lock system he prefers.

Lenny goes so far as to say that liner locks are preferable to lockbacks (rocker-bar locking folders) because "chances are they will never be defeated" (thanks to the way the liner blocks the blade). This, of course, has been a matter of debate in knife discussion circles for as long as the liner lock has existed. "White-knuckling" a lockback could cause it to disengage, yes, but the same is true for some liner locks. I think it would be fair to say a well-made liner lock is a strong and capable system, though I would be reluctant to advocate them as strongly as does Lenny. I certainly agree with his opinion of the AFCK.

Other knives Lenny shows include the Spyderco Endura, Benchmade CQC7, Spyderco "Michael Walker," Benchmade 875S, and Woodard "White Wolf" automatic. Lenny tells the viewer that automatic knives are no faster (and actually may be slower) than tactical folders and should not be used for fighting unless they incorporate liner lock mechanisms (such as the White Wolf he displays).

Giving the viewer an idea of what to look for in a folding fighting knife, Lenny discusses the features of his AFCK. He also speaks about two of the products he sells through his company -- an inside-the-pocket sheath he uses with his folders (because he does not like to use the pocket clips) and a "horizontal concealment sheath," which is a belt sheath that has a quick-removal velcro strap for easy placement anywhere on your belt line. I liked the look of these sheaths and immediately ordered one of each for myself.

The next segment covers folder opening techniques using holes, posts, and disks. Lenny demonstrates the simple thumb opening, wrist snaps, and snapping the blade down and away from the handle.

In a segment on knife grips, martial arts instructor Vince Soberano demonstrates the following:

Underhand grip (what most would call the "sabre grip")
Diagonal underhand grip (a modified sabre grip)
Hollywood or Icepick grip (a reversed grip)
Concealed/Reverse grip (the reverse grip with the edge out)
Manilla grip (the old "tossing the knife from hand to hand" technique)
Throwing grips ("forefinger underhand" and "reversed forefinger underhand")
Hatchet strike/thrust (a straight over- or under-hand attack)

With a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker (a set of vertical sharpening sticks), Lenny demonstrates honing both knife blades, including those with serrations. He follows this up with a very lengthy segment in which he cuts different fruit, flowers, and rolled mats to demonstrate the cutting power of a sharp blade.

A look at "combat anatomy" using Lenny's associate Donny Wallace as a reference gives us a little insight into major targets on the human body. Lenny examines both the circulatory and the respiratory system, discussing targeting and physical vulnerabilities. When he identifies major arteries, a color graphic overlay shows the path of each. There is one sequence performed with Vince Soberano in which Lenny attacks only to have Vince counter and strike low, to the femoral artery.

Those vaguely familiar with Lenny's knife tape will remember the "Meat Man" segment. Dressing a wooden frame in pig ribs and clothing, adding a melon "head," Magill spends considerable time slashing and stabbing the "meat man" with different blades. The point is clear: through normal clothing, a folding knife is capable of doing significant damage. Variations on this meat cutting theme have been played out in numerous other instructional knife fighting tapes from other personalities in the industry.

With his partner dressed in a padded Red Man suit, Lenny uses a training knife coated with a white marking substance "to simulate what happens in a knife fight."

Finally getting to what many viewers probably anticipate in a tape like this, Lenny covers offensive techniques. He speaks of action beating reaction -- the lesson taught in the Red Man suit sequence -- and, in what may come as a surprise to the viewer, admits that he doesn't consider the knife a great offensive weapon. If you must use the knife offensively, however, Lenny believes you must be aggressive and brutal.

Holding the knife in his right hand, Lenny adopts a stance in which his left arm is held vertically in front of his body. Crouching slightly, he holds the knife back against his body and then executes a flurry of vicious punching thrusts. This is followed by a series of cardboard cutting drills in which he lifts the knife above his head and slashes down with it. Stabbing drills follow that, as well as drills in which Magill practices drawing, opening, and then striking with his folder. He points out that cardboard makes a good practice medium because you can track your strikes.

Having worked up quite a sweat with all these drills, Lenny discusses physical encounters. He touches on the verbal aspects of a confrontation and once gain stresses the need to create distance from a knife. "Stay away from the blade," he cautions.

The tape concludes with Lenny's exhortation to "Be safe," followed by footage of him knifing his target as the credits roll.