Originally Posted by
Malemute
So...
You watched a video (YouTube?) for 15 minutes and that is the basis for your opinion and perhaps unnecessary "digs" regarding successfully converting his military career and training/experiences (of which you know nothing of) into a respectable civilian occupation and business?
And your credentials are...?
That said - first and foremost the Sakura is a well considered, designed, and manufactured knife. Is it pricey? Absolutely. But if one can afford it and has her/his own reasons for wanting one - like buying a Wilson Combat .45 over a serviceable and solid .45 caliber "whichever" - it's a buyer/user marketplace.
Knives with a finger ring feature have been around for centuries. Like any other form of equipment they have their good points and bad. Bottom Line Up Front - "Use what you know and know what you use". The Sakura is as promoted - an EDC that is minimal in blade length (double edged or single), light, compact, and well made. At 3.5" in blade length it is an effective edged weapon for thrusts/insertions into soft tissue areas such as the calves, hips, hands, forearms, upper arms, throat area, lower stomach/belly, face. An insertion co-occurring with a full or partial slash during withdrawal of the blade from the wound can sever an artery (e.g. inner upper thighs) and that leads pretty swiftly to blackout and death.
In reality, a single insertion (or as you term it, "stab") can end a confrontation right there and then - and not lethally. Self-defense if you have to use a weapon (e.g. knife) in the US is to stop the aggressive, potentially maiming/disfiguring/death producing assault on you. A good insertion can/will produce pain compliance and sometimes "instant sobriety/clarity" on the attacker's part. In short, and pardon the pun, 3 1/2" inches of sharpened steel punched through your palm just might induce you to cease, desist, and run away.
In military CQB, or Close Quarter Battle, if the knife (any knife) is relied upon the engagement is necessarily extremely violent and swift from start to finish. As in 2-5 seconds if you're facing a trained and determined opponent whose intent is to take you out permanently. Scenarios include deployment of the knife in extremely tight quarters (either environmentally or "head/knees/elbows" range) with break-contact-engage with sidearm/rifle...or simply within a range of commitment (there are four such ranges; kicking/arm's length/head-knees-elbows/ground) where the knife is the primary means of attack or defense.
A well trained individual, and oft times anymore experienced individual, can and will deliver as many debilitating insertions/slashes/pommel strikes as fast as possible to take her/his opponent out of play. As the Filipino combative arts teaches "Three strikes and the man is down". There is truly no such thing as an extended "knife fight". Situational awareness may include multiple attackers, reinforcement, and/or pressing forward with an assault or breaking contact / escape and evasion.
Oh, and that's what Tu Lam teaches depending on the make up of his classes student wise.
The chances of the ring on the Sakura, once properly trained with (and training is a never ending process just like Selection is) somehow injuring one's inserted finger are minimal at best. Especially if the hand is gloved (which the ring is designed to allow). First, you're trained and training with the knife; Second, the knife is encased in your hand and held - literally - in a death grip anyway; Third, the attacking/defending cycle is swift, 2-5 seconds; and lastly...you don't have to utilize the ring feature to begin with.
Note: In scenarios where the knife is first brought into play to distract/break contact and transition to another weapon (e.g. firearm) or to simply evade/retreat it is possible and likely the knife, once inserted, will be abandoned in the wound or dropped upon withdrawal as the transition cycle begins.
In conclusion - the Sakura is a well considered edged option and its designer, Tu Lam, is likewise as a CQB instructor.
As for "wanna be" Green Berets I imagine there are as many of those out there on the mats as there are wanna-be knife experts on the Internet...just say'in.
Finally, from one of my Special Forces brothers with far more combat deployments than I was able to collect, his thought process about knives focused on mission requirement. He had an inventory of inexpensive fixed blades and folders that he could, if necessary and in the right environment (e.g. urban) use as throw-aways; and more well made and expensive knives he could/would use per the mission set and his experience in the region/environment/situation at hand. Therefore your suggestions of other models/makers and price range is qualified per the above - with the Sakura (as an example) fitting into an entirely different planning and mission thought process if affordable.
It's the individual, trained or untrained, experienced or inexperienced, behind the weapon system that makes the difference, not the weapons system itself. Sheer grit and never quitting combined with the desire to survive live most often determines who lives and who dies.
Which is what Tu Lam also teaches.
De Oppresso Liber!