1. The Nok is a tool that has instant secure access (This solves the problem or which is faster fixed blade or folder, thumb stud, hole, power assist or wave.) The Nok carries in the palm of the hand by an elastic cord around the middle finger without having to be held by the fingers. It allows you full use of your hand for everyday tasks and is accessed simply by closing the hand. There are lots of everyday uses for the Nok as a bag carrier, open a tab on a can of soda, flush a toilet in a public restroom or just an extra sharp finger and claw for tasks that having a sharp claw would make easier like opening a plastic bag of chips or even your mail envelopes. Its everyday uses are as wide as your imagination.
2. The Nok is a tool that can securely and naturally switch grips on the fly under a pressured attack. (This solves the which grip is better debate) There is a huge debate about which grip is better in a blade encounter forward or reverse. The truth is that each has their strengths and weakness. The problem is that with a traditional blade if you start the encounter in one grip you are forced to stay in that grip and deal with that grips limitation in use as switching grips in the middle of the exchange is much to risky. The Nok switches grips instantly, without thought, at maximum speed, and during maximum pressure from your attacker letting you always have the option of the most efficient strike from where ever your hand is positioned. The switch happens on the move to your next chamber or position, so it doesn’t take anymore time to do then if you were striking with a traditional blade.
3. The Nok is a tool that can go from empty hand, to SD tool, and back to empty hand again instantly, (This solves the problem that a knife just ties up your hand and furthermore you aren't going to know that your opponent in a surprise attack has a weapon until after he attacks you).
With the Nok you are free to react empty hand to his first attack and when you recognize he has a weapon, yours is in your hand already when you close your fingers. If you need to make a Slash, stab, block, grab, pin or trap with your Nok you are free to do so without having to worry about dropping your weapon. The Nok can switch to 9 different positions ( I found 10 different positions :) ) very rapidly.
4. The Nok is sheeple friendly. (Which solves the problem, I can't carry a knife because people will look at me funny or think me crazy), The Nok is made from Thailand’s hardest wood that has had the tips soaked in resin for strength (they can even be thrusted through a magazine without any difficulty, let alone the human body. The Noks are easy to keep needle sharp and because they are made of wood people pay them little or know attention and best of all they don't see them as a weapon at first glance.
5. The Nok is easy to maintain. If you hit a hard object and the tip of your Nok becomes blunt you can bring the point back to sharpness with the aid of a nail file emery board or some very fine sandpaper.
The Nok was first designed as a tool to carry in your check hand to give an edge in keeping your attacker off and away from you while giving you time to accessing your live blade or firearm….. But as you work with the Nok you will discover what a powerful self-defense hand tool it really is. It will give you four times the options at any given moment in an exchange then a traditional blade. This is because you can instantly switch between empty hand, point impact and grip changes. It teaches you to blend your empty hand, forward and reverse grip knife skills and fist hold impact tool techniques into one congruent fighting style.
The Nok at the top of the photo is the Talon Trainer, with it's blunt tip it allows you to practice real time without the risk of puncturing your partner.
The second is the Talon with it's point (both are cushioned on the side for a comfortable grip) Called a live model as it can be pocket carried for personal self-defense, and especially for a time when a live blade or firearm might not be permitted. The Talon is 6" long...the pic is very misleading as to size and it fits comfortably in any size hand.
The Third is a special model called the Spur, you are posed to wear this model on your ring finger in your grip of choice, though it was not meant for spinning IMHO when on the middle finger it spins quite well. It has a unique feature that the elastic cord to the front of the model allows you to carry your Spur on your waist by clipping it under your belt loop of your pants, so it carries horizontally, a simple tug on the butt end and the elastic snaps free of the model and the Spur is right into your hand fast.
The last model is called the Falcon, seen first in it's folded position, also worn on the waist but when you pull it out..it snaps open into the bottom pic, so that you have both Forward and Pikal grip without having to spin or switch positions of grip....Now how cool is that!...I'll let you all know how the workshop goes. Nok also makes some real good training knives that can be used real time during your training without the risk of injury associated with metal trainers...Also seen on her site......
How are we going to train using the Nok at my workshop...well here is a small glimpse of the first training concept (just a tease) from my notes....enjoy!....Doc :)
The first principle you must understand is that even if you have a knife and cut your opponent, he may continue to fight. How many people here have ever cut themselves and not even realized that they cut themselves, and were surprised to find out you were indeed bleeding. Now the fighting principle I want to instill in you during this workshop is that people retract from things that prick them. It is natures response to protect the body from punctures. So even if you stick yourself with a pin, step on a tack or prick yourself with a thorn from a rose bush your first reaction to retract your hand, body, foot etc. from whatever comes in contact with something that is going to puncture the skin. When working with the Nok we want to ensure that our opponent retreats as quickly as possible, the sharp point on the Nok will ensure that your opponent does so. Remember a Bear’s Claw is not sharp…it’s just very pointy. Think of all the things that a bear can shred to pieces using his pointy claws. We are going to employ that natural reaction of retraction from getting punctured to most of our techniques that are taught today. When we can make our opponent retract we can then open him up, and clear a path to gain the inside advantage for counter attack, and turn the tables quickly on them, or we can make our opponent retract to create space and an avenue for escape and run away to safety. There is a story about a Mafia Hit man who lived in NYC and operated in the mid 30’s. He never carried a gun, he never carried a knife to assassinate his intended victim. What he did carry was a sharp pointed metal nail file. He would just nonchalantly walk up to his mark and quickly stab them on the back of their hand, when his victim would pull his hand away and look down at the source of his pain, he would then deliver a devastating upwards rising palm strike to the person’s chin, causing instant death as the cervical dens (the bones which hold the head to the spinal column ) where severed, basically causing what we all know as whiplash to occur. He was a most successful assassin.......Doc :)
:cool: :D