Respect for the knife

This post provides background and teaching context for the Premium video Respect for the Knife, taught by Master Steve Pellow. The first step in learning how to defend against a weapon is to have genuine respect for that weapon, and this session makes that point very clearly.

Working with a group of instructors, Master Pellow moves from stick work into knife skills to build a realistic appreciation of distance, timing, intent, and the danger posed by a trained attacker. The goal is not to create false confidence, but to make sure students and instructors understand what a skilled fighter can do, and what that means for self defence training.

A key strength of this video is the progression. By starting with stick skills and then transitioning into knife awareness, the session helps instructors recognise how quickly situations change when the weapon becomes smaller, faster, and harder to read. This makes the training more honest and forces better judgement about when techniques are appropriate.

The session finishes with open discussion about knife defence in reality, including uncomfortable truths that many martial arts either ignore or avoid. For instructors, this is valuable because it encourages responsible teaching, clearer safety messaging, and realistic expectations for students.

Learn more about the instructor featured in this video here:
Master Steve Pellow – Expert Coach Profile

You can also explore all of the instructors who contribute to TKD Coaching here:
Our Expert Coaches
On each coach’s profile you can see all the videos they have featured in for TKD Coaching.