I grew up in New York City and I am currently in the midst of having my first experience living in a place where machetes are extremely commonplace and carried openly due to dense jungle terrain making them very important multipurpose tools.

Unfortunately, sometimes when people get drunk and belligerent certain individuals go a step further than throwing punches and sometimes assault with rocks or said machetes.

I realized that machetes look a lot like cutlasses in terms of the blade shape and size. Probably the only difference between a cutlass and a machete is the quality of the metal used to make the blade and the presence of a crossguard.

I also realized that for the future if I ever spend time in machete-prevalent places it would probably make sense to study some form of fencing that uses cuts. That's not to say that I'd want to go and machete fence with an enraged individual, but instead it's more having to do with the fact that if you want to have a chance at avoiding something it's really helpful to know how that works. For example, if somebody wants to know how to not be punched injuriously by another person it's really helpful if he's practiced boxing extensively in the past. Moreso than if he just flails around and runs away with the guy chasing him.

I figure that there are probably people here who know about this kind of fencing. I understand that saber fencing is the type that uses the most cutting? I wanted to ask here what my options would be if I ever wanted to take up fencing with lots of cuts as a hobby in the United States. What types of organizations are there? Where are they located? How realistic versus academic do they tend to be?

If anyone has some thoughts to throw my way I'd be grateful.

I'm almost ready to suggest metal forearm guards, but that still is probably a bad idea.

There is a Martial Art Form from the ?Philippines? that involes fighting with 2 sticks or blades. It is quick and deadly. Honestly, your best bet would be to avoid getting into such fights. Sane advice from a highly skilled knife fighter I used to know. "Don't fight unless you absolutely have to. Any fool can get lucky, and they only have to get lucky once to ruin your life." He also believed in practicing long and hard, just incase he did have to fight.

If you do study under someone be extremely careful on you you pick.

If you want to get into fencing, I would recommend a United States Fencing Association affiliated school. Obviously, schools and instructors vary in ability, but the USFA is the premier Olympic Fencing organization in the US.

Olympic fencing does suffer from that fact that it is a sport and its rules are sometimes unrealistic, but it is one of the best ways to learn practical swordsmanship because of the often fierce competition. The point-earning nature of the competition doesn't detract from the experience nearly as much as with unarmed point competitions because if someone landed a point on you with a live blade you'd probably die.

For cutting, you'll want to use the sabre. Competitions with epee and and foil only recognize thrusts.

One of the bigger issues is the right-of-way rules, which encourage both tight defense and suicide offense. Some people believe that their encouragement of defense outweighs the encouragement of suicide offense, others do not. Though, epee competition allows both participants to score double-hits.

"Historical fencing" schools and competitions do exist. These are supposedly more accurate than Olympic fencing. They use more realistic weapons, allow strikes below the waist, and allow the use of the unarmed hand. But, I have no experience with it so I can't say for sure.

There is also "Classical Fencing" which is similar to Olympic fencing with a few minor differences.

Guazabara, a martial art derived from Taino and Jibaro military tactics, is based around the use of machetes, but I can't begin to tell you how legitimate it is because I have no experience with it.


In my opinion, the best way to train to defend against a machete is free sparing with practice blade.

Don't take fencing and think it will help you survive a swordfight.

fencing= a civilized game with a lightweight, blunt metal rod. it has rules, like no kicking, punching, biting, or pulling out your sidearm and shooting your opponent.

fighting with a sword= kick-him-in-the-fork-and-cut-his-head-off. it has no such restrictions.

just as shooting skeet you learn to handle a shotgun. it certainly won't prepare you to go room-clearing with a SWAT team.

EDIT: and where, if you don't mind me asking, are you? Africa? SE Asia? Detroit?

Arnis, Escrima, Kali same names different area of the country.

There are slight differences to the style when using different weapons: Larga Mano is based on the Kampilan sword; Espada y Daga literally means “sword and dagger; just to pick two.

Trouble is the Vietnam Tunnel Rat I studied under for a short bit was never big on names of styles. Escrima is mainly with sticks. He used something else when referring to using blades the same length as the sticks. Come to think of it he probably adapted the 'Art' a bit.

I agree if it has been over commercialized you are better off going with something else. Saber Fencing might be worthwhile. If you can find someone with military combat experience that you know and is willing to teach you that would prolly be best. Either way you will need to talk to the instructor and let him know why you want to learn.

Just out of curiosity, can you carry a gun and what are the laws concerning using it in self-defense.

As learning/fighting half-way will be as safe as walking down the middle of a busy road.

Wounded, where are you currently out of curiosity.

Given their general purpose for hacking/chopping brush and wood, machetes tend to be blade-heavy, unlike swords and knives designed for fighting which are more balanced. Training with a balanced weapon may not help you that much if and when you have to swing a machete.

Both long-distance running and sprinting are good survival training techniques for defending against all kinds of edged weapons.

I would suggest checking out swordforum for machetes, dussaks, messers, and cutlasses. Dussaks are sort of the standard training sword for just about any short, single edge sword/large knife. Classical rapier fencing would be hard to find a place that teaches any practical skills whereas most other WMA schools focus on the practical non olympicized skills.

Khukuri and falcattas are similar in size but the forward curve is much more suited to chopping than cutting. Still the machete's balance might make it closer to a khukuri than a cutlass.

They do exist. About half an hour north of me in Oregon City there is a gourp that trains single hand sword and two hand sword. I think scottish, english, and german styles. You haven't said where you are (that I've seen) so I don't know if there are any local groups. Start with swordforum and ARMA.

There might be a Tai Chi place near you that teaches Jian fighting which might translate into machete well enough. Though finding one that teaches a martial art and not just an exercise might be difficult. I know of one that is almost local to me but too far to drive regularly, so I know they are out there.

You're probably better off studying conflict management and simply trying to avoid fights in the first place than take up fencing. Most self-defence courses suggests running away before getting involved in a fight, especially with lethal weapons!

In I think it's england you are required by law to try to escape an attacker before using deadly force. If you opt to use deadly force first then you are a aggressor and face legal troubles of your own. I don't think this lets them off the hook, but it does "victimize" them to an extent. I think in Tennessee if an intruder is in your home after dark it is assumed they mean you harm and you can respond with dangerous or deadly (can't remember which but they are different) force.

Found a source for the Tennessee thing

And a source for the england thing.

I don't trust most journalism these days but these do support a few legal discussions I've had where people searched more than one page of google results.

I'm curious. Where are you that people are carrying around machetes in a jungle environment.

I believe that I've PMed you. Did you get a PM from me?

One would assume that if the guy is close enough to chop you with a machete then you can't just turn and run without inviting an attack of opportunity. Nothing is quite as annoying as getting your spine severed at the neck because you decided to run from a machete fight without using a proper tactical retreat.

I'd recommend buying the local cops a few drinks and asking them. After all, they must deal with betel-nut chewing machete wielding drunks on a regular basis, no?