This is quite similar to how the Keris was made by dousing it in poison. The edge of the blade was often smeared with different types of deadly poison so that even the smallest cut would cause the poison to seep into the victim’s body. Living up to its name as a last-ditch weapon, it makes sense that they were made short, small, easily carried, and most importantly, concealed. The earlier designs of the Karambit knife were inspired by tiger claws and fangs (kuku dan taring), and they were short compared to modern designs which are larger and longer in size. ![]() ![]() “A Silat warrior that hasn’t mastered the karambit is like a tiger that doesn’t have claws.” Minangkabau proverb Further entrenching the karambit into the culture of Minangkabau and its Silek systems. ![]() But few people know that the karambit knife, when used in pairs, one in each hand, also forms the shape of the tanduk kerbau (buffalo horns) which is the lambang (symbol) of the people of Minangkabau and part of their coat of arms. The tiger has always been associated with Orang Minang because of the mountains that were home to the Sumatran tigers. Legend also has it that many of the early karambit techniques were initially developed by women warriors before later being improvised by the soldiers and royal guards as they adopted the weapon for themselves. Even across the waters in Malaysia, folklore stories abound with tales of incredible warrior women like Walinong Sari and Che Siti Wan Kembang, akin to Valkyries, besting men in duels and battles. In the past, many women were trained in Pencak Silat, and they used to hide their karambits by tying them into their hair and drawing them whenever the need to defend their honor arose. It was effortless to use and required minimal power to cause severe damage to the intended target, so the karambit knife was an obvious choice for a smaller frame. The karambit knife supposedly originated with noblewomen who needed a small, deadly weapon for defense of honor and virtue. What was used as a farming tool was the Sabit (sickle), which is a common farming tool and used for cutting down kelapa sawit (palm oil) fruit and other farm-oriented tasks. It was a tool of the nobility of Minangkabau and rarely taught except to specific people who the masters trusted with their ilmu rahasia (secret knowledge). The exact shape, size, and material have changed over time as it was adopted by warriors and the royal guards, but contrary to popular belief, the karambit knife was never a farming tool or tool of labor. Orang Minang can also be found in the brother country of Malaysia, specifically in the state of Negeri Sembilan where Minang food, culture, architecture, and the traditional karambit knife are always present. Orang Minang are famous for their harimau (tiger) systems of Pencak Silat, known locally in Bahasa Minang (Minang dialect) as “Silek” and widely practiced by the people for generations. It is believed to have originated from western Sumatra, Indonesia, where it was used by Orang Minang (Minangkabau people). Want to see the best Karambit knife to carry in 2021? Click Here ![]() If you’re like many people, you must’ve been wondering, what’s the hype with this curved claw-shaped blade? The awesome karambit knife! Why is it so popular? Why are you seeing it almost everywhere now? Why is it in the movies and also in video games? What’s so special about this blade? In this article we’ll explore why the karambit knife is so famous and why it’s the best knife for close combat.
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