Knife combat seminar keeps 1 PPCLI soldiers sharp

April 22, 2025 - Capt Kyle Ho, Real Property Operations Unit (West) Program Officer

On March 22, soldiers from 1^st Battalion, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI) and 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) participated in an intensive eight‑hour edged‑weapon seminar.

Organized by Corporal Raven Bingham, the seminar was a resounding success, drawing significant interest from the battalion and beyond.

Following the recent completion of the Close Quarter Combative Basic (CQCB) course, many junior members expressed a desire for continued training. Cpl Bingham recognized the importance of developing multi‑spectrum skillsets and invited edged‑weapon experts Tyler Irvine and Ronda Lent to run a training course. The combat regiment Irvine and Lent taught is based on the Martial Blade Concepts edged‑weapon system, creating a well‑rounded training program.

Cpl Bingham explained the program is meant to reinforce that the soldier is the primary asset on the battlefield.

"Soldiers are the weapons and everything else is just tools,” he said. “High‑tech equipment will malfunction, and rifles will run out of ammo. CQCB is the core skillset, and everything else just gets bolted on to it. Having GPS doesn't mean we stop mastering our skills in map and compass. Having high tech weaponry doesn’t mean we stop mastering our crafts as a soldier."

The seminar covered a range of topics, including the fundamentals of edged weapons, disarming techniques, positioning, and the psychological aspects of edged‑weapon combat. The practical phase focused on knife versus knife encounters, earning the draw to gain initiative back, and knife versus unarmed encounters. Participants engaged in both class theory and practical application sessions, honing their skills in a dynamic environment.

Cpl Aaron Kostiuk from 1 CER attended the seminar and emphasized the psychological impact of edged‑weapon encounters.

"I feel more aware of how severe the consequences of a fight like this would be,” he said. “Drilling unarmed against a partner with a blade was particularly unnerving because of how disadvantaged it seems, and I highly recommend it to all soldiers from all trades, especially infantry and engineers.”

Major Chris Tymchuk also voiced his support for initiatives like this.

"Training soldiers to deal with life‑or‑death situations is crucial,” he said. “Programs like this not only increase their confidence but also ensure they are prepared for any scenario. We are training soldiers to win in the mind before they win the battles. I encourage more soldiers to participate in these valuable training sessions."

The seminar's success has sparked plans for additional training sessions, welcoming soldiers from other units on base to expand beyond 1 PPCLI. With CQCB removed from the Infantry DP1 course to expedite recruit training, initiatives like Cpl Bingham's seminar are crucial for soldiers seeking to improve their core skill set.

The 1 PPCLI team looks forward to hosting more seminars and continuing to develop the combative skills of its soldiers to ensure they are prepared for any situation.

Please reach out to your unit grappling contact for more information. Additionally, we extend our appreciation to Irvine and Lent and those who dedicated their weekend and leave, paying out of pocket to support the seminar and making it possible.