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Put 'Em Down, Take 'Em Out: Knife Fighting Techniques from Folsom Prison
Anyone can be the subject of a knife attack. Maximize your chances for survival by learning realistic aspects of knife attack and defense. These deadly techniques were developed in the violence of Folsom Prison and go far beyond what you learn in karate class.
64 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 27, 2014
Despite the low mark, I would actually recommend this to read. The information about knife encounters is pretty solid.
The reason for such a low mark is the author spends so much time talking about how tough he is and how his way is the only true way. He spends a solid chunk of what is an already very small "book" just hating on all martial arts. And don't get me wrong, I have seen woefully stupid and inadequate knife techniques perpetuated by several so called experts. What got to me was the simply stupid statements along the lines of "No martial art style or system has any self defense value" and "If you want to learn about personal protection then martial arts will be a negative detour on that road."
These kinds of statements are so broad ranging as to be utterly laughable. While many martial art systems/instructors do present some bad techniques for dealing with knife attacks there are also several systems and teachers that know what they are talking about. For example, several of the Filipino arts have extensive and practical knifework.
As for content, (when he takes a break from being macho and trash talking everything that isn't his own book) there is some interesting points raised and would definitely give the reader a better insight into some realities of knife attacks. The techniques and stances are all very basic and as always, no book is a substitute for proper training with a decent instructor/sensei/guru/teacher etc. I would recommend anyone serious about martial arts to check it out. (If you can get past the author's own BS, it took me 3-4 attempts over a few years to finally get past the introductory chapter)
The reason for such a low mark is the author spends so much time talking about how tough he is and how his way is the only true way. He spends a solid chunk of what is an already very small "book" just hating on all martial arts. And don't get me wrong, I have seen woefully stupid and inadequate knife techniques perpetuated by several so called experts. What got to me was the simply stupid statements along the lines of "No martial art style or system has any self defense value" and "If you want to learn about personal protection then martial arts will be a negative detour on that road."
These kinds of statements are so broad ranging as to be utterly laughable. While many martial art systems/instructors do present some bad techniques for dealing with knife attacks there are also several systems and teachers that know what they are talking about. For example, several of the Filipino arts have extensive and practical knifework.
As for content, (when he takes a break from being macho and trash talking everything that isn't his own book) there is some interesting points raised and would definitely give the reader a better insight into some realities of knife attacks. The techniques and stances are all very basic and as always, no book is a substitute for proper training with a decent instructor/sensei/guru/teacher etc. I would recommend anyone serious about martial arts to check it out. (If you can get past the author's own BS, it took me 3-4 attempts over a few years to finally get past the introductory chapter)
February 13, 2026
Originally published in 1988 that claims to teach real-world knife attack and defense methods based on experiences and observations in Folsom State Maximum Security Prison, rather than traditional martial arts or sport fighting. The information in a clear and factual manner. No flowery descriptions it discusses how knife fights actually occur, basic techniques for survival, myth-busting common media portrayals, and psychological readiness.
"In fact, most martial artists are neither trained nor profligate street-fighters because. simply put, they do not fight. Contrary to the teachings of "noted" knife fighting experts, certain accepted techniques are ridiculous and will get you killed in a real-life situation."
3/5
It is important to remember the book is a response to the martial arts craze of the 70s and 80s many martial arts are selling a style. Eastern religion philosophy, language, tradition etc and culture.
(See: Not fixated on effective self-defence.)
You can almost feel the frustration as as he relays the information on what will really happen if you are attacked with a knife
(Hint: it will suck. This is not a movie.)
Culture would later march on, with people first believing that WWF was real, then fixating on MMA.
Nowadays there is an entire Reality Based Martial Arts industry that could consider this book is outdated, and many techniques are simplistic and not necessarily effective in all scenarios.
Personally, I consider it an interesting historical snapshot.
"In fact, most martial artists are neither trained nor profligate street-fighters because. simply put, they do not fight. Contrary to the teachings of "noted" knife fighting experts, certain accepted techniques are ridiculous and will get you killed in a real-life situation."
3/5
It is important to remember the book is a response to the martial arts craze of the 70s and 80s many martial arts are selling a style. Eastern religion philosophy, language, tradition etc and culture.
(See: Not fixated on effective self-defence.)
You can almost feel the frustration as as he relays the information on what will really happen if you are attacked with a knife
(Hint: it will suck. This is not a movie.)
Culture would later march on, with people first believing that WWF was real, then fixating on MMA.
Nowadays there is an entire Reality Based Martial Arts industry that could consider this book is outdated, and many techniques are simplistic and not necessarily effective in all scenarios.
Personally, I consider it an interesting historical snapshot.
March 16, 2015
This title brings back important memories from a great and terrible time...
My cellmate wanted to order a copy of Put ‘Em Down, Take ‘Em Out! Knife Fighting Techniques From Folsom Prison but I was able to talk him out of it.
Good thing, too, because the publisher’s catalog through which the order would’ve been placed belonged to me, and it was high contraband. Back then I was a maximum security prison inmate, in possession of several such catalogs. Most offered titles on everything from document falsification to improvised explosives; from contingency cannibalism (my favorite) to how to dispose of a dead body. I remember having the sense I’d exceeded the natural encyclopedia of criminal knowledge around me as a result, and that was nothing short of cross-eyed fabulous.
Each catalog entry was accompanied by a book-jacket photo and lengthy summary. Reading snippets of these out loud to certain trusted inmates caused laughter so physically enfeebling that only a death rattle was left in the human body’s big bag of tricks.
Put ‘Em Down was our favorite.
It seems crazy to recall being rendered sightless by tears of joy in the company of murderers, shot-callers, and stone-hearted life termers. But these “moments of genuine whimsy” were what my own prison survival was made of.
Sure, I’d read the titles and descriptions in a funny voice, but I allowed the absurdity of it all to do the heavy lifting. We didn’t actually need to possess the instructions for do-it-yourself blowguns; picturing blowgun wars in the chow hall was priceless enough. We'd really lose it when some badass piped up to correct, clarify, or corroborate. Such sessions turned tall tales into skyscrapers.
To me, Put ‘Em Down, Take ‘Em Out! definitely counts as a prison survival book, despite its sensationalized premise and author Don Pentecost’s intended civilian audience.
The man struck gold with that godless title, and all these years later, it’s hard to find even a worn copy for less than $80. Reviewers seem to take the book pretty seriously too, which, as you may expect, I find impossible. In my world, Put ‘Em Down will always represent learning -- early on -- that nobody behind bars will watch your back like a guy you can make cry with laughter.
There are other knife fighting and prison-inspired survival guides out there, of course, but none as rich with unintentional –alarmist– humor as Put ‘Em Down, Take ‘Em Out!
As for the quality of the techniques described therein – ha! Who cares? In the civilian world I find its value heightened tenfold. During holidays it's a gift that keeps on giving, trust me on that one. It's the best paperback ever to leave around for guests (or your mom) to find. With that in mind, who cares whether or not the techniques described within really deliver?
I'm recommending this book because it helped me "survive" in ways its author could probably never have imagined.
My cellmate wanted to order a copy of Put ‘Em Down, Take ‘Em Out! Knife Fighting Techniques From Folsom Prison but I was able to talk him out of it.
Good thing, too, because the publisher’s catalog through which the order would’ve been placed belonged to me, and it was high contraband. Back then I was a maximum security prison inmate, in possession of several such catalogs. Most offered titles on everything from document falsification to improvised explosives; from contingency cannibalism (my favorite) to how to dispose of a dead body. I remember having the sense I’d exceeded the natural encyclopedia of criminal knowledge around me as a result, and that was nothing short of cross-eyed fabulous.
Each catalog entry was accompanied by a book-jacket photo and lengthy summary. Reading snippets of these out loud to certain trusted inmates caused laughter so physically enfeebling that only a death rattle was left in the human body’s big bag of tricks.
Put ‘Em Down was our favorite.
It seems crazy to recall being rendered sightless by tears of joy in the company of murderers, shot-callers, and stone-hearted life termers. But these “moments of genuine whimsy” were what my own prison survival was made of.
Sure, I’d read the titles and descriptions in a funny voice, but I allowed the absurdity of it all to do the heavy lifting. We didn’t actually need to possess the instructions for do-it-yourself blowguns; picturing blowgun wars in the chow hall was priceless enough. We'd really lose it when some badass piped up to correct, clarify, or corroborate. Such sessions turned tall tales into skyscrapers.
To me, Put ‘Em Down, Take ‘Em Out! definitely counts as a prison survival book, despite its sensationalized premise and author Don Pentecost’s intended civilian audience.
The man struck gold with that godless title, and all these years later, it’s hard to find even a worn copy for less than $80. Reviewers seem to take the book pretty seriously too, which, as you may expect, I find impossible. In my world, Put ‘Em Down will always represent learning -- early on -- that nobody behind bars will watch your back like a guy you can make cry with laughter.
There are other knife fighting and prison-inspired survival guides out there, of course, but none as rich with unintentional –alarmist– humor as Put ‘Em Down, Take ‘Em Out!
As for the quality of the techniques described therein – ha! Who cares? In the civilian world I find its value heightened tenfold. During holidays it's a gift that keeps on giving, trust me on that one. It's the best paperback ever to leave around for guests (or your mom) to find. With that in mind, who cares whether or not the techniques described within really deliver?
I'm recommending this book because it helped me "survive" in ways its author could probably never have imagined.
August 21, 2007
This book could save your ass in the pen. Seriously, the detailed illustrations for proper knife fighting can be applied to the daily grind. If you want to stab someone or feel it's a good skill to aquire buy this book!!!!
April 19, 2013
This is a brutal little book that pulls no punches in relating what will really happen if you are attacked with a knife. In the movies you'll have seen the attacker lead with the knife, be swiftly disarmed by the hero and collapse after a right hook to the jaw.
In reality, against an unarmed hero, the attacker would have lead with his empty hand to distract and then stabbed the hero to death.
The best defence against a knife attack is to not be there. The second to be a lot faster at running than the attacker. If you have the misfortune to not have either option available, then this book may help keep you alive.
In reality, against an unarmed hero, the attacker would have lead with his empty hand to distract and then stabbed the hero to death.
The best defence against a knife attack is to not be there. The second to be a lot faster at running than the attacker. If you have the misfortune to not have either option available, then this book may help keep you alive.
April 16, 2020
Welp. If you were to highlight all the salient points, you would basically highlight the whole book. It’s 54 pages, and that includes the pictures. There’s a lot here that can be carried over into other forms of attack, as it’s more a book about the nature of fighting for survival than it is about how to cut someone.
February 28, 2012
Quite sensible, straightforward and concise. Very useful. There is a lot of Mythbusting here.
December 6, 2020
Only for this pic I would give it 5 stars:
https://ibb.co/25nKfwh
https://ibb.co/25nKfwh
December 12, 2023
Really an ingenious title as a marketing scheme. It's gone through a lot of editions and seems to have sold well, but I only saw anything about Folsom prison on the first page, where the author tells you that he won't be talking about his experiences in Folsom. Such a classic bait and switch that you have to admire it.
The advice Pentecost is fairly straightforward and nothing I haven't heard before, but it's a good read if you haven't had a grown-up talk about knife fighting or real high-stakes violence in general yet or just enjoy that kind of talk. This includes his critiques of many of the techniques taught in conventional martial arts classes.
It's heavy on critique and pretty light on "technique", but that's fine because if you are talking about killing someone with a knife (which he does), there really isn't that much to say, and if you are talking about defending yourself from a knife attack, well, it's incredibly difficult and you won't learn it from a book. He does give some good basic advice though. His photos on what NOT to do are important.
I've spent decades in martial arts and over 15 years in Eskrima (3rd degree Black Belt in Bandalan Doce Pares Eskrima) and worked with combatives and other practical combat forms (important in our Hawaiian Kenpo as well, which is a derived from Kajukenbo and CHA-3 formed directly after WWII by combat veterans), just so there is bit of my background.
Short, fun read for me.
The advice Pentecost is fairly straightforward and nothing I haven't heard before, but it's a good read if you haven't had a grown-up talk about knife fighting or real high-stakes violence in general yet or just enjoy that kind of talk. This includes his critiques of many of the techniques taught in conventional martial arts classes.
It's heavy on critique and pretty light on "technique", but that's fine because if you are talking about killing someone with a knife (which he does), there really isn't that much to say, and if you are talking about defending yourself from a knife attack, well, it's incredibly difficult and you won't learn it from a book. He does give some good basic advice though. His photos on what NOT to do are important.
I've spent decades in martial arts and over 15 years in Eskrima (3rd degree Black Belt in Bandalan Doce Pares Eskrima) and worked with combatives and other practical combat forms (important in our Hawaiian Kenpo as well, which is a derived from Kajukenbo and CHA-3 formed directly after WWII by combat veterans), just so there is bit of my background.
Short, fun read for me.
February 10, 2023
Кратка и доволно зловеща книга. И много информативна. Нямам намерение да участвам в бой с нож, но тези неща така или иначе не питат затова е добре човек да убие всички филмови илюзии в себе си.
Боя с нож е кратък и брутален. Авторът, в малко на брой страници, успява да го внуши повече от добре.
Боя с нож е кратък и брутален. Авторът, в малко на брой страници, успява да го внуши повече от добре.
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January 30, 2025A short narrative presenting plain-talk guidance on surviving a knife attack.
August 21, 2015
I have heard it said that Don Pentecost is one of the most hated names in the martial-arts world. After reading Put 'Em Down, I can understand why. Over the course of 54 pages (barely enough to count as a book) Pentecost destroys the pile of myth upon which most American knife-based martial arts (and MA in general) are built.
In place of complicated techniques or "warrior" mysticism, Pentecost lays out a simple and brutally direct guide for knife combat, one which can be best summed up as "get in, get it done, get out". He stresses leading with the off-hand, controlling the opponent's vulnerable side, and repeated attacks. The reality that you will get hurt during the course of any knife encounter is stressed from page one. From my own very limited experience with blade work I can vouch for both of these concepts being true and accurate.
Note: I have never been in a knife fight. However, I did spend my youth goofing around with foam swords. While no bloodshed was involved in these bouts, there were next to no rules either and the bouts were 'free-form'. The one time my friends and I experimented with "knife fighting", everyone involved was injured in some way - black eyes, bloody noses, bruises, scrapes, etc...and this was a situation where all parties involved were trying hard not to hurt each other.
Knife work is brutal stuff, and Put 'Em Down is one of the few resources I've encountered which properly stresses that aspect.
My only gripe with this book is its length; while his ideas about knife work are simple, they are not quite '54 pages' simple. Pentecost touches on many important concepts (including mental attitude and the social dynamics in a violent encounter) but does not get deep enough into them to properly explain.
In sum, I recommend this book highly, especially for authors looking to put some realism into their work.
In place of complicated techniques or "warrior" mysticism, Pentecost lays out a simple and brutally direct guide for knife combat, one which can be best summed up as "get in, get it done, get out". He stresses leading with the off-hand, controlling the opponent's vulnerable side, and repeated attacks. The reality that you will get hurt during the course of any knife encounter is stressed from page one. From my own very limited experience with blade work I can vouch for both of these concepts being true and accurate.
Note: I have never been in a knife fight. However, I did spend my youth goofing around with foam swords. While no bloodshed was involved in these bouts, there were next to no rules either and the bouts were 'free-form'. The one time my friends and I experimented with "knife fighting", everyone involved was injured in some way - black eyes, bloody noses, bruises, scrapes, etc...and this was a situation where all parties involved were trying hard not to hurt each other.
Knife work is brutal stuff, and Put 'Em Down is one of the few resources I've encountered which properly stresses that aspect.
My only gripe with this book is its length; while his ideas about knife work are simple, they are not quite '54 pages' simple. Pentecost touches on many important concepts (including mental attitude and the social dynamics in a violent encounter) but does not get deep enough into them to properly explain.
In sum, I recommend this book highly, especially for authors looking to put some realism into their work.
November 1, 2023
Ordered it on Amazon. Book arrived with cover pictured, interior was empty lined paper.
Haha
Haha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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