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WABUKAN Arsenal · Knives and blades · Southeast Asia

Karambit

A small curved knife shaped like a claw, with a ring for the finger. It comes from farm tools of Sumatra and Java.

Karambit
Karambit WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

kerambit · kerambit; kurambik

Origin and history

The karambit is a small curved knife from the Minangkabau region of West Sumatra and the wider Malay world, originally a farming and everyday tool. It is used in pencak silat and has become popular in modern self-defence and knife systems.

Martial arts that use it

Pencak Silat

Construction

A short, claw-like blade curved like a tiger’s claw, usually with a ring (finger hole) at the end of the handle, held mostly in reverse grip with the point down.

Basic techniques

Training

Short-blade training starts with trainers made of wood, aluminium or rubber. Students drill angles of attack, grips (forward and reverse), checking the opponent’s arm and footwork, then flow drills with a partner. Live blades are kept for solo forms by experienced practitioners, if at all.

Safety

Use training knives for all partner work and eye protection for fast drills. Never mix live and training blades in the same session, store blades sheathed and out of reach of children.

Legality (general information)

Swords, knives and other edged weapons are regulated very differently from country to country (and sometimes from region to region): owning one at home is often allowed, while carrying it in public, buying it under a certain age or importing it may be restricted or banned. Practitioners usually transport them cased, out of reach and straight between home and dojo. This is general information, not legal advice: check the law where you live.

Did you know?

The ring lets the user keep the knife while the hand opens and closes, and spin it between grips.

More weapons

Golok Balisong Bolo Katar Khanjar Tanto

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Karambit
  2. Wikipedia — Pencak silat