Thank you both for the compliments gentlemen. Due to sheer forgetfulness on my part, I had neglected to mention someone who assisted me greatly in the preparation of this article, my daughter Gina (lilkilogulf).
Mainly due to researching and working with the Khukuri for the article, I have grown rather fond of it. However, I in no way see it as some wonder weapon or anything of the sort, it is what it is. My personal favorite for a large fixed blade field knife is still the K-Bar. It is, in my opinion, about as neutral and general purpose as one can get in a knife, lest we forget very cost effective as well.
As far as the Bowie knife is concerned, first we must define one. That name covers such a wide range of knives, as I am sure you are aware, that it is hard to say certainly, what the primary focus ought to be. Essentially the discourse’s techniques thrive for any larger edged weapon or truncheon for that matter (substitute strikes for slashes etc.). The emphasis will depend upon the size and feel of the individual blade. For example, using an old Raider knife or the huge Western Bowie, the focus would be the chop or cut with the thrust being secondary, just as with the Kukri. Should a K-Bar or similar knife be used the application would be reversed in my judgment.
By and large, I do not care for the fencing or so-called duelists approach to the combat use of the knife (note I did not say “knife fighting”). A knife is to a sword what an F-16 is to a B-52. Nonetheless, due to the size of the Kukri and the fact that a Soldier may be facing a bayoneted rifle I included some fencing moves. For further research on this I recommend both “Do or Die” by Lt. Col. A.J. Drexel Biddle and “Cold Steel” by John Styers with the preference going to the latter. Mr. Styers places a somewhat modern, combat applicable, twist on fencing techniques for knife combat.
Bear in mind that sport fencing is an evolution of the sword duel just as target shooting is from the pistol duel. Any form of martial training that incorporates rules and dos and don’ts is a game or sport. Read some of the old texts on medieval and renaissance combat and you will not see anything pretty, in point of fact, it was quite brutal. Aside from the obvious use of the sword, there was the dagger and hand-to-hand techniques. Reference
Top Myths of Renaissance Martial Arts by John Clements for some enlightenment to western martial practices.
Remember when considering any combat training, there is what’s fun and/or historical and then there is what’s relevant to the current condition, perhaps the two meet but not likely.
I was surprised at the amount of e-mail this has generated as well both from this forum and ICCF. Should any of you have further questions or comments on the techniques do not hesitate to ask, if I can help I will and if I do not know I will find out.