The
Instructor
Ernest
R. Emerson is the greatest living authority on the design and use
of the knife as a tactical weapon. He is the owner of Emerson Knives
Inc., recognized as producers of the #1 Hard Use Knives in the World.
His designs have won numerous awards and are used by elite military
and law enforcement groups throughout the world. Mr. Emerson is
one of the most sought after and respected instructors of reality
based combat in the world in both Hand-to-Hand Combat and the use
of a knife as a tactical edged weapon. His resume includes instructor
positions at some of the leading professional training facilities
in the world and a virtual Who's Who of seminars and courses taught
to many of the world's elite military fighting units. Mr. Emerson
started his martial arts training at the age of 16 in Korean Judo.
While attending high school he was an outstanding wrestler and athlete,
being drafted to play pro baseball at the age of 17. While attending
the University of Wisconsin, he double majored in World History
and Physical Education. While there he earned a brown belt degree
in Kyokushinkai Karate and a black belt in Shotokan Karate.
After
graduating, Mr. Emerson moved to Torrance, California to train,
fight and compete at the prestigious Filipino Kali Academy run by
Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo. While studying there for five
years he was trained in Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino
Kali and Escrima, and a plethora of related arts. Mr. Emerson went
on to train in Gracie Jiu Jitsu for three years at the original
Gracie Academy in Torrance, California and was fortunate enough
to train with the founders of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Rorion and Royce
Gracie. Mr. Emerson travels extensively around the world to teach
and train in various martial disciplines and has studied with top
combat arts instructors from various European and Asian countries.
Mr.
Emerson is a respected authority on ancient warfare and hand-to-hand
combat systems. He has undertaken an extensive study of ancient
hand-to-hand combat systems from the ancient Roman Gladiatorial
and Legionary fighting systems. The system that he now presents
is a hybridization of that system and is based upon many of the
gladiatorial and legionary techniques, principles and concepts.
You will find that this course and system are like no other and
do not represent a rehashing of techniques as taught by so many
others. What is contained in this system is 2000 years of distillation
to what now represents an original style of fighting - original
meaning from the origin. These are combat techniques. They are raw,
savage, simple and brutal. They are designed for survival.
Ernest Emerson was a martial artist and fighter many years before
he was a knife maker. Starting at the age of 16 and continuing rigorously
to this day, he has accumulated over 30 years of "hands on"
practical experience. Mr. Emerson has developed a highly specialized
and unique fighting system that has revolutionized the way in which
fighting skills are now taught. Ernest Emerson teaching credentials
include, Gunsite instructor, Hand-to-hand Combat Instructor for
H&K Defense Group, and Director of the Combat Research and Development
Group. In addition he is an expert witness for the Los Angeles Prosecuting
Attorney's Office and has been used as a consultant to National
Geographic and has consulted as a technical advisor to various television
and movie productions.
His
hybrid system has been taught to numerous Police and Law Enforcement
Agencies, numerous members of the U.S. Military, including U.S.
Marines, U.S. Navy SEAL teams, U.S. Air Force and Army Special Forces.
Mr. Emerson has instructed FBI, DEA, Federal SWAT teams, operatives
from various government agencies, correctional officers, high risk
entry teams and hundreds of civilians.
This
system is based on simple truths and effective, proven techniques
unencumbered by dogma, ritual, or sportorized versions of various
fighting arts.
Emerson
Knives is the only knife company in the world that can bring such
unique experience to not only the tactical design aspect of the
knives, but to the tactical training in the use of the knives, as
well as hand-to-hand combat. Emerson Knives was the first knife
company to offer training in the use of knives and this was started
back in 1995. Others have followed and more will surely follow Emerson's
precedent, but "hired on" instructors teaching the same
old techniques as any other martial arts school, is not what the
Emerson Defense System is about. There is really less than a handful
of instructors in the world qualified to teach "real world"
combat fighting skills. Ernest Emerson is one of them.
