As a registered BladeSports Cutter Instructor and keen participant in cutting competitions all over the world (including the World Championship event at the Blade Show) there are one or two matters being raised here that I feel I should address...
Cutters in a BladeSports event must have passed their Cutter Certification before they are allowed to compete. This certification not only involves showing that they can handle the knife competantly, but also includes coaching on how best to use the knife for the various types of cut made in competition and. most importantly, how to do so in a SAFE manner. Any cutter who breaches safety rules is automatically disqualified from the event, and may well end up being expelled from the organisation altogether.
To my knowledge there has only ever been one incident of a competitor in a BladeSports event injuring himself badly. This was (by his own admition as well as the evidence of witnesses) due to the fact that he failed to cut in the manner in which he had been instructed and taught to use for the event.
There have been NO reports of any injury to any spectator at a BladeSports event, ever.
BladeSports events have defined 'boundaries'. Measured areas within which spectators are not allowed.
ALL competition knives must be fitted with a safety lanyard, which MUST be used during the event. Lanyards are fitted in such a way that the knife CANNOT leave the competiors hand, even if released from the grip of the hand. Although this system was originally designed by Ed Schempp it has become known as the 'Osborne Safety Lanyard System'.
All knives are inspected and checked for not only size regulations but build quality and suitability for the event by the judges before any competition. Failiure to meet the standards required will automatically result in disqualification from the event.
All knives MUST be tested before ever being taken to a competition where the public will be present to ensure that any breakage happens well away from "innocent bystanders".
As to these events being pointless with regards to 'ordinary' knife usage...
Many people might feel the same way about Formula 1 racing. The cars are nothing like those we drive on the road "and it's all pointless"... and yet from that sport have come developments such as electronic ignition, turbo chargers, fuel efficiency, seat belts design, crumple zones, advanced tyre technology etc etc.
Just the same can be said of competition knives. Makers and users alike can gain insights as to effective edge geometry, weight distribution, heat treating regimes, handle design, edge retention qualities of various steels and edge types,etc etc. All these things can, and do lead to a better understanding of how to make a better 'everyday' knife for more general usage.
I have had more than one man take his Cutter Certification with me who has come back to me at a later date and admit that only after doing so has he felt truly confident using a large knife for various 'around camp' tasks as he had a better understanding of how to do so SAFELY. They have also found that they are using the knife more efficiently as well.
For some reason (I know what I call it, but I'll let you make up your own minds) just because people have grown up using a knife of some sort to eat their dinner with ever since their mothers stopped feeding them they seem to feel that automatically know all they need to know about how to use a knife for any task they might put it to. Believe me, this is not actually the case and tuition can help people to use these, as well as other tools, SAFELY and COMPETANTLY.
