The Knives of The Piper System
The Piper system is synonymous with the use of a pocket knife. I thought I would do a quick article on the two knives used for training in the Piper system which people have asked me about.
The first blade type is colloquially referred to as an Okapi knife, as if it were manufactured by the Okapi Knife Company; however, this would be inaccurate, as this pocket knife is made by Okapi a division of Southey Holdings, one of South Africa’s largest privately owned industrial companies. The style, however, is called an Okapi and has somehow become synonymous with the blade itself.
The pocket knife itself, is of a Spanish design, and very much resembles a Navaja style knife. Originally, this ring tab, ratchet-lock knife, was made by a German company, and exported to Germany’s African colonies before becoming popular in South Africa.
The second type of pocket knife, is called the Sable, and it is similar to a standard lock-back knife, which can be found here in the United States.
These knives, because of their affiliation with criminal activity in South Africa, have been given a nefarious reputation. It should be remembered that, in the Piper system, the knife is only a tool, and a tool for training.
It should be noted that Lloyd De Jongh, will be coming to the Chicagoland area, April 14th and 15th 2018 to teach this unique African fighting system.
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