The late Bob Kasper had an almost mythical reputation as an instructor in the close quarters combatives world. He was an expert on World War II hand-to-hand combat techniques and blade work. This style of fighting is known for it’s simplicity and brutality. More and more “modern” instructors are studying the WWII fighting systems to re-learn these timeless fighting techniques.
Bob founded the Gung Ho Chuan martial arts system and taught WWII combatives in his own dojo. He taught and worked for the legendary Kelly McCann. He was also the editor of Tactical Knives magazine for five years until his untimely death.
All of this experience is condensed into his book Sting of the Scorpion. The book covers choosing a knife, drawing it, movement, cutting angles, and the reality of the battlefield.
On my first reading, I thought the book seemed somewhat elementary. The techniques and information were simple and direct. There wasn’t anything flashy or revolutionary. Other knife books had fancier techniques.
It was only on my second reading that I realized the true genius of this book. It contains EXACTLY what the average person needs to know to use a knife in combat. The book distills years of knowledge and training into a very slim volume with no fluff. It tells you just what you need to know and doesn’t waste your time with anything you won’t use.
The true practitioner will appreciate the book’s style and will continue to study the author’s concepts for a lifetime. I believe this is one of the best currently available knife fighting books.
If you are interested in knife combat, check it out. You can buy it HERE.
