FAQ's about AMOK!

Our mission is educating and training persons of good character to protect themselves and their loved ones with ethical, legal, and tactically responsible solutions to violent assaults. Our methodology aims to develop one’s entire sphere of readiness across the entire force continuum; imparting functional skill in the shortest interval with realistic and safe training. Our technology serves the dual purposes of defending against violent attacks with empty hands or with weapons; and uses only one set of blade-based actions to apply your empty hands, an edged weapon, or any improvised instrument.

Why Train?
Everyone is subject to the lottery of violence and AMOK! empowers you to live confidently, all the days of your life, with a free and happier spirit.

Do I need any kind of experience?
No, all you need is the desire learn and we will guide you every step of the way.

Is AMOK! ethical?
AMOK! was founded to promote ethical responsibility in the transmission of edged weapons training. In 1992, dismayed by the lethal videos made available to criminals on the open market, Tom Sotis penned the Knifers Code of Ethics and set upon his mission to bring the benefits of edged weapons for self-protection to persons of good character. Sotis first established a solid following among Law Enforcement personnel to make clear his intention, and demand for, social responsibility. A number of those pioneering agents and officers are still among us today. Believing “education fosters acceptance”, Sotis has vigorously championed the responsible use of edged weapons for self-protection in the face of overwhelming disinformation, fear, and prejudice. Often quoting Albert Einstein “The mind, once stretched by a new idea can never return to its original dimension”, Sotis has made over 70 trips to 27 countries spreading his ”Undeniable Logic of Edged Weapons” through articles, demonstrations, talk-radio, TV and magazine interviews, and 500+ hands-on seminars.

Is AMOK! legal?
If learning to protect yourself is legal where you live, then AMOK! is a legal activity. If you live in a country where learning edged weapons is unlawful even for academic purposes, you can opt for the Empty Hands of AMOK!  which imparts our EW technology without the use of EW.

How can practice be both realistic and still safe?
Safer training practices and safer equipment have advanced the practice of edged weapons significantly. We use different kinds of trainers for different purposes. In hard-contact practices we have found that rubber is too soft, bamboo breaks hands and lacerates, and wood and metal breaks hands/teeth/ribs. Our trainers are a composite designed to meet the demands of hard contact practice: it offers stopping power, disarm ability, feels knife-like, and is safe to thrust at hands and ribs (they have proven to be remarkably safe even for hits to unprotected eyes though we recommend you wear eye protection). For less-than-full-out practice we use aluminum trainers to get the feel of using metal. Recent development of the “shock-knife” adds a non-injurious dimension to those inclined to face the pain.

What about live blade training?
Training with live blades, either solo or in pairs, is always a voluntary choice on the part of the individual(s) if they wish to pursue this course of preparation. We have years of experience and have developed practices to minimize the risk injury but the fact is that mistakes can be costly and the consequences are your own doing. Ultimately each person decides what instruments with which they are willing to practice.

Is AMOK! physically demanding?
The blade's potential to do extreme damage truly levels the field between men and women, large and small. Knifefighting is based entirely on tactics and techniques where bigger people become bigger targets. Unlike boxing, karate, and other similar martial arts, knifing skill does not demand flexibility or physical inclination. Knife practices promote mental clarity and health, and knifing is a skill of sensitivity and reflexes void of long and painful exercises. Of course good health and athleticism will significantly expand your options and effectiveness, but in bladework it is not a necessary requirement.

What if it is unlawful to carry a pocketknife where you live? Or what if you don't have a knife when you need one?
This question often asked as most people assume a Knifer needs an instrument. This is flat-out a serious miscalculation. Amok! is a mentality of survival, and a system of reflexes and reactions. When empty-handed, Amoks fight exactly the same way, with the same techniques they use for edged weapons. The parallel techniques only differ in that the empty knifehand now seeks to destroy muscles, nerves, and bones, as opposed to seeking muscles and the circulatory systems it worked on when bladed. Quite often martial artists are shocked at the effectiveness and brutality of knifefighting empty hands translations. Should you face the blade empty-handed, Empty Hand EW tactics offer you the best possible chance of survival for several reasons. Amoks know how other knifers attack and won't make the fundamental errors that plague non-knifers. EW drills and tactics offer the speed, sensitivity, and line familiarization necessary to set up your empty hands counters. Facing the blade empty handed is the worst possible scenario for anyone and is appropriately referred to as the “Ultimate Challenge”. Smart Knifers do not claim the ability to get out from under a knife attack all the time, but we do claim to have the best technology to prepare for the Ultimate Challenge. Besides all of that, today's folders are so versatile; there are precious few instances in life when a person cannot have their trusty folder quietly clipped away in a waistband or pocket.

What kinds of people carry knives?
Average citizens comprise the largest percentage of any group carrying knives! Because the knife is much more practical than guns, civilians are turning to it in astronomical proportions. Reputable citizens from all walks of life are embracing the blade because of its unmatched proven ability to provide both practicality and effectiveness. Civilians are seeking edged weapons self-protection through Martial Arts schools hosting seminars, many of which are adding knifefighting to their programs. In our highly mobile business world, businesspersons that travel often are seeking edged weapons skill for effective self-protection in the unfamiliar places they often find themselves. Anyone who travels overseas knows that in many places, just being a foreigner makes you a target of fanatics, and travelers have insured themselves by seeking edged weapons skills in droves. Even those who remain adamantly loyal to their firearms have increasingly adopted practicing the blade as evidenced by most prestigious firearms training institutes adding edged weapons programs. There are now numerous knife magazines where there used to be one or two; with tactical folders making up the largest percentage of knives sold. Custom knife making has never been stronger as an industry, and there are a number of companies producing concealed sheaths and custom rigs. The evidence is clear; people are buying knives and learning how to use them – by the thousands!

Should you learn to handle edged weapons?
In a world plagued with increasing violence, crime, and terrorism, methods of personal self-protection have experienced a parallel pattern of escalation. Ironically, in a world steeped in the pursuit of technology, it is a return to the tool of lost civilizations in which individuals are finding new ground by which to make their personal stand against victimization or living in fear. Most people and parents agree they would do ANYTHING to protect their spouse/children and EW training is the absolute best way to ensure you have the skill to match your will in doing so. There is simply no equal. In a perfect world we wouldn't have a need for self-protection with need to pursue only things of kindly interest. But in the real world of jobs and personal demands, in a dangerous world where busy people have little time, energy, and money to allocate towards their self-protection, EW training provides fast, practical, safe, and effective results - the very highest return on your investment in your own personal safety.


Does AMOK! teach other weapons?
Our forte is edged weaponry, yet AMOK! multi-discipline training includes and integrates all categories across the combative spectrum of hand-held weaponry from firearms, projectiles, edged/pointed, and impact weapons, to flexible, chemical, specialty devices, and a wide variety of Empty Hands tactics. See Specialty and Extension Courses.

What kind of atmosphere can you expect?
Your Trainer will guide and assist you and our down-to-earth members always welcome newcomers. You have no need to be concerned about inadvertently offending anyone because you don’t know a secret handshake of some sort. Universal courtesy and honest intentions are all that are expected. You will discover a refreshing lack of ego among knifers because realistic training is a self-regulating atmosphere that engenders mutual respect amongst its participants. Training groups tend to be tight-knit so there is no need or want for superfluous or lofty titles. Combative training groups tend to be less outwardly formal than is customarily emphasized in martial arts. This does not mean we are any less disciplined or less respectful; we are just less obvious about it.

What are the actual training sessions like?
There are nine realms of edged weapons combat and you need to learn to negotiate all of them, so most sessions begin with participants working together non-cooperatively through those various tactical environments. After working the nine realms the Trainer will choose one or two specific tactics/tools to work on. An AMOK! adage is, “The quality of our training and what we get out of it depends on the quality of the questions we ask”; so when you have a question, ask it, because your life may depend on it! Afterwards, checklist your notebook for the things you learned well and ask the Trainer to sign your training logs.

What do you need to start?
Simply obtain a membership on the Service Page and contact your local trainer.

What do you need to know before the first class?
When visiting any Trainer for a private lesson or group training for the first time you should contact the Trainer in advance to confirm the workout. Ask if you need “mat-only” footwear (some places do not allow daily footwear) and inquire as to the training fee (Trainers set their own rates and they vary). Bring your own safety gear (mouthpiece, groin protection, eye protection, etc) and if you have one, bring your notebook to checklist the things you learned.

How often should you train?
This is a performance-oriented activity and what you get out of it is determined by what you put into it. We encourage you to attend as many events as you can and be sure to engage your solo practices every day.

How long does it take to learn?
In just hours, one can learn a few solid basics and a few weeks of practice will yield effective results. With proper practice, just a few months will yield a Knifer who is a force to be reckoned with. Whatever time you can put into AMOK! will yield one thing for sure – the most amount of protection you can get for the amount of time you spent.

How and where did AMOK! start?
In 1992, Tom Sotis penned the Knifers Code of Ethics, founded the International Blade Fighters Guild, and set upon his mission to bring the benefits of edged weapons for self-protection to persons of good character.  Sotis first established a solid following among Law Enforcement personnel to make clear his intention, and demand for, social responsibility. A number of those pioneering agents and officers are still among us today.  Believing “education fosters acceptance”, Sotis has vigorously championed the responsible use of edged weapons for self-protection in the face of overwhelming disinformation, fear, and prejudice. Often quoting Albert Einstein “The mind, once stretched by a new idea can never return to its original dimension”, Sotis has made over 70 trips to 27 countries spreading his ”Undeniable Logic of Edged Weapons” through articles, demonstrations, talk-radio, TV and magazine interviews, and 500+ hands-on seminars. No longer a solo mission, together Sotis, Arrowsmith, and Human spearhead a force of over 100 Trainers dedicated to train a lot of people and a save lot of lives; every life precious, and to their loved ones, priceless.

What is the difference between AMOK! and MA?
Martial arts and Combatives are vehicles for personal development engineered according to their needs and values. Circumstances, intent, and development time are three fundamental differences between them, each imposing profound engineering designs that determine form and function. Martial arts, intended for dojo/street circumstances, enjoy the luxury of unlimited preparation time (years). Conversely, combatives intended for street/war circumstances, with very limited time to prepare (weeks or months). Civilians aren’t limited to the time constraints of combatives, and soldiers can’t afford the delayed skills syndrome of MA, and so it is natural that civilians are served best by MA and soldiers by combatives. However, the lethal nature of any edged weapon conflict is inherently combative to both civilians and soldiers alike. Thus, when martial arts values are imposed upon knifefighting it produces methodologies distorted in form and function, following tangents that obscure the essence of its combative nature.

Does AMOK! have rank like in martial arts?
There are no ranks in AMOK!
Members are anyone who joins AMOK!
Trainers are members authorized to operate a training group.
Presenters are Trainers who have authorization to teach some public courses.

What is the “Undeniable Logic of the Blade”?
When making an honest evaluation of any single means’ effectiveness for self-protection it is necessary to weigh it's training against the threats it is likely to encounter. In self-defense situations, one is likely to encounter a gun, knife, stick, multiple armed opponents, multiple unarmed opponents, significantly larger opponents, fighters, and least likely, average untrained persons. The true fact is: even after several years of grueling pain and effort, all but a few persons remain at a significant disadvantage when empty-handed against someone experienced with a gun, knife, or stick, let alone multiple armed assailants. Against multiple unarmed assailants they still remain at a huge disadvantage. Empty Hands practitioners have an even chance when facing a larger opponent or another trained Martial Artist. Empty Hands practitioners have an inherent advantage in only one of the eight categories – against the average untrained person – the least dangerous and least likely to occur. On the other hand a person trained with EW remains at a disadvantage only when fighting multiple opponents similarly armed, or when facing a drawn gun from a distance. The blade has an even chance against a close-quarters gun or knife. The knife has an inherent advantage over the stick, multiple opponents, larger opponents, Martial Artists, and, of course, the average untrained person. Examined through logic and reasoning no method of self-preservation compares to edge weapons. In terms of one's time, effort, and money invested in self-protection, the choice is training years in a martial art for the narrow advantages it produces, compared with weeks of knife training which offers instant and effective self-protection (while empty hands skills develop). When analyzed, EW advantages are so significant over empty hands methods; it's not fair to even compare them.

Does AMOK! teach Empty Hands Knife Defense?
Some people or places require or desire stricly empty hands solutions and to meet their needs, AMOK! offers a 4 hour Introductory Course, a 20 hour Basic Course, and a 40 hour Advanced Course. The program hours are cumulative (4 hours +16 more +20 more). All courses award participation certificates. Completion of the 40 hour course often yields the first level Rank in AMOK!

Do Martial Arts have good empty hands knife defenses?
Most martial knife-defense techniques have amazing deficiencies. While many MA experts demonstrate techniques that appear to be effective, it is important to distinguish between what is achievable in pre-arranged demonstrations, and what is the nature of chaos in a real encounter. Most arts practice and demonstrate defenses against unrealistic strikes in which the attacker (never using his free hand) then complies with the attempts of the defender. Virtually all empty-hand-only martial arts lack the correct technology to answer combination random attacks. This is not a criticism of the martial arts that lack these facets – it simply is not their specialty. The problem lies with instructors who pass faulty expectations and knife-defense techniques to trusting students. So, the answer is, "No, empty-hand martial arts rarely teach effective self defense against a knife.”

What constitutes real proof?
Nearly every knife defense system ever invented claims to be “proven”. After all, who wants to bet their life on unproven solutions? We believe it is important to question this claim further by asking, “Proven by what criteria? What are the conditions and standards that constitute proof? Proven by whom, against whom, and how many times?”  Many people wrongly assume martial arts masters teach effective knife defense but the fact is, if they themselves are not experts with a knife they simply can’t design adequate defenses that work against real attacks. Many masters of MA take offense to this, but when face-to-face we have never failed to prove our point (if you’ll forgive the pun). There is no lack of persons who have a bit knife training with no experience whatsoever who parrot information off DVD’s or gleaned from seminars who have “proved” their method on helpful students. Then there are systems that fall victim to narrow success and those are created by individuals who have had success in a couple of edged weapons conflicts and then base an entire system around that limited experience. Consequently, methods developed by any single person with limited experience and usually results in the Tunnel Vision Syndrome whereby the method is tactically narrow and thus, dangerously incomplete. The developers of AMOK! work on the principle that “None of us is as smart as all of us” and consequently AMOK! as a methodology is the cumulative and combined product of numerous persons with edged weapons combat skill and experience – a combative think-tank for research, testing, and fighting. There is no better proving ground for an edged weapons method than South Africa, the murder-by-stabbing capitol of the world, and is AMOK!’s Tactical HQ for that very reason. In the last eight years South African Amoks have encountered no fewer than 200 edged weapons conflicts and every one of them have prevailed. In fact, Amok Dawid Botha used himself as bait and single-handedly captured a knife-wielding serial killer. And though Tom Sotis founded AMOK! it is his opinion that Mark Human is a superior fighter with more experience fighting with edged weapons in combat. Not including the collective experience and contribution of Amoks from 18 other countries, based on South Africa alone, AMOK! has more experience than any other method can claim in the last decade, perhaps more than any in the last generation. Another testament to AMOK!’s effectiveness, the world-renowned Guardian Angels chose AMOK! Empty Hands technology to safeguard themselves and citizens in Johannesburg and may use AMOK! as a model for all their chapters worldwide. Outside of SA, AMOK! hard-earned its reputation in other hot zones and among the Special Forces community and we earn support from the law enforcement community for our stand on responsibility and legal compliance. Comparitively, AMOK! is the most proven method in the world.

Cultural vs. Global Methodology
Combative methods naturally reflect the cultures from which they spawned and evolve in accordance with the forces that shaped them. The functionality of cultural methodologies normally suffers when they are exported because their doctrines, suitably born of their cultural ideologies and personal prejudices, were not designed with the intention of cross-cultural transmission. The globalization of AMOK! forced us to adapt and thus transcend any such cultural limitations. AMOK! is not defined by, or confined to, the inherent limitations of geographic and sociologic cultures; but instead is based on the combined factoring of human anatomy, physics, and tactics; as provided by nature, universally, and without cultural prejudice. This means there is no cultural or religious influences in AMOK! – no matter where you live, we present the straight-forward science of combat for humans and don’t require you to learn history, foreign terminology, bow to anyone, or perform rituals of any kind. AMOK! is engineered to rapidly functionalize tactics against aggressive unpredictable non-compliant adversaries. From over a decade of mutually interactive training, the values and methods of elite military and law enforcement teams had a profound effect on AMOK!’s evolution driven by the cumulative effort of many persons training, fighting, learning, and prevailing in conflict.  AMOK! is a multi-cultural assemblage of Warriors indifferent to gender, race, creed, wealth, fame, education, social status, or any similar social convention. Indeed, combative diversity is another characteristic that makes our practices so strong because so many experienced combatants have contributed to its development.