Knife Self Defense for Combat was the first book written by Michael D. Echanis. He was an enlisted soldier who served in Vietnam, and was the recipient of an award after continuing to fight after being severely injured. After his medical discharge, Echanis delved into the martial arts full time and was awarded a black sash in Hwarangdo. In this book he shares his extensive knowledge of knife self defense for combat, in clear, descriptive photographs. Echanis’ books have been described as exceeding any other close quarter combative manuals or books. There were to be nine books in total in this series, but unfortunately Echanis died at the age of twenty-seven.