Seeking Knife Advice? Popular Blitz Columnist William Lye, Barrister and Writer of Our ‘Lye’S Law’ Column, Recently Received This Email from a Reader

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Seeking knife advice? Popular Blitz columnist William Lye, barrister and writer of our ‘Lye’s Law’ column, recently received this email from a reader:

William’s response: tactical or combative blade then Hi William, As for your query, I’ve written several the response might be different. columns on weapons, and would refer Remember, if you are carrying a $400 I enjoy reading your articles in you to the December 2005 column of blade just to cut an apple, how likely Blitz and was wondering about the Lye’s Law titled ‘Know Knives’. is that story? If you are carrying a Carrying a knife per se in a public small kitchen knife to do so, perhaps following scenario: place requires a lawful excuse, it is more likely. So, ultimately, the If I carry a knife for self-defence which could be for work (i.e. as a answer will be that it depends… then I’m breaking the law. If I carry butcher, tradesman, etc). However, As for using your knife (whatever an apple with me and a knife to cut carrying a knife for self-defence it looks like) to defend yourself, will not be considered as having a well, that’s something I cannot really it up, am I breaking the law? I only lawful excuse. Of course, if you use answer you. Too many variables, but ask as I do this going to work every a balisong to cut your apple, you the principles outlined in my article day and was wondering if I was doing have immediately committed an and my response here might just give something illegal. If someone attacked offence if you do not have a licence you enough clues that perhaps you to own one, as a balisong is a might like to consider a different way me going to work with a weapon I prohibited weapon. Carrying a knife of defending yourself, and train to do could use the knife to defend myself to a school environment also attracts so without the need to rely on bladed but it is not the reason I have it. Only strict liability unless you are on the weapons. In the end, the hands and hypothetical, as I have never had any premises legitimately doing some feet are also ‘deadly weapons’ (see my trouble on my bus. authorised work. September 2004 Lye’s Law column). If your knife is a standard Hope this helps. pocket-knife, I think common sense Thanks, would prevail when queried by the Regards (name withheld by request) authorities. However, if you have William a hunting knife or some kind of * Lye’s Law will return next issue

Jury’s out on judo star Blind Paralympic judo gold medallist Anthony Clarke has accused the Will (in white pants) with Girdham and the seminar group Oceania Judo Union of costing him a spot on the Australian judo team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, by John Will takes street grappling to Sydney banning him from their 2005 World Tournament. According to an article Geelong-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and “John’s teaching style provides a structure in The Advertiser, Clarke launched shootfi ghting instructor John B. Will where the moves were broken down into action against the organisation in presented his ‘Grappling for Life’ seminar easily understood stages, with easily retained the Federal Magistrates Court in for 25 people at Sydney’s Alexandria Town terminology,” said Ray Floro, head of Floro December last year. Hall on 30 March. Fighting Systems. “What I liked about John’s He claims that an email from the The focus of the three-hour seminar approach is that he did not provide the be-all, union excluded him from its 2005 was to bridge the gap between the end-all solution. Instead, he gave strategies World Tournament — an Olympic attending martial artists’ sport-fi ghting that fi ll in the many pieces of the jigsaw qualifying tournament — because of skills — especially in regards to grappling puzzle of fi ghting. What John taught can be his disability. Clarke says the email — and the skills needed for street easily supplemented with other systems.” breaches the Disability Discrimination survival. Will covered worst-case ground Floro’s sentiments were echoed by Act (1975), the paper reports. scenarios and dominant positions, as seminar organiser Clive Girdham and several He is asking the court to well as the ‘shell’ method of covering other attendees who posted on the Blitz reprimand the OJU and award him against an attack, escapes from under forum at www.sportzblitz.net. $31,440 in compensation. a mounted opponent, sweeps from “[It was] a great session with John. He truly guard and arm-bars from the mount. is a world-class instructor,” wrote Girdham.

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