Distance Learning Arts Taught by Grandmaster William Flynn Sanders

Home - Thai Indonesian American Silat - Italian Knife - Irish Stick - Bear Paw Whip

You can email any questions to: willsanders@earthlink.net

Italian Knife Home - DVD Volumes - San Michele Blades and Items

San Michele Sicilian Knife Fighting System

By Vito Quattrocchi

It always troubled me when so called knife fighting experts said, “If you get into a knife fight, expect to be cut.” That notion condemns even skilled blade fighters to cut, wounded, disfigured, disabled or even killed if ever forced into a blade to blade.

This is why my family, the Quattrocchi family, has spent many years in blade to blade confrontational sparring developing a knife fighting that allows a Cavaliere de San Michele an opponent with minimal risk of being cut or stabbed himself. “San Michele” is a Sicilian knife fighting system originating in the Province of Palermo Sicily. It borrows heavily from Western Fencing techniques, Savate, and Western boxing as well. This system was taught to me by my family, especially my Grandfather, my Father, and various Uncles and cousins. My male cousins have always been my sparring partners.

I have even added techniques and methods that are entirely my own, as they came to me while training. As I am sure that this is the proper way to allow a fighting system to grow, I view “San Michele as a living art, constantly coming into being and growing as its practitioners grow and develop. The result of this continuous effort is a Sicilian knife fighting system which stresses avoidance of close range in favor of long range techniques and is aided by footwork, rhythm, speed and superior tactics and strategy. 

Footwork is an absolute must in “Il Arte de San Michele” for no knife fighter of any skill level does not possess superior footwork if he is at all competent in his art. “San Michele” stresses the point of the stiletto to execute techniques such as the slash, thrust, stab, as well as circular and up-thrust stabbing methods, snapping and vertical whip cuts are also employed.

Don Giuseppe Quattrocchi developed defensive footwork and evasion techniques into the system. He also stressed defense against attacks on the knife hand, parrying, counter slashing, stabbing and blocking with the knife edge.

The traditional “San Michele” method stressed the free hand behind the back method as taught in Western Fencing. However, I, Vito Quattrocchi incorporated techniques using the empty hand to stop-hit beat, parry, block, entrap and capture the opponent's knife hand. 

I recently had the honor of bestowing the title of “Cavalieri de San Michele” on William Sanders C.S.M. a man living on the west coast of the United States (Oregon) and studying the martial arts in one form or another for quite a few years. I look forward with anticipation to the nuances William will add to this comprehensive blade system. The system is particularly Sicilian and particularly family oriented. 

I, Vito Quattrocchi C.S.M, a direct heir of the San Michele System Quattrocchi Style give William Sanders an open door to spread and propagate the San Michele/ Quattrocchi Style blade fighting system, as he sees fit and proper. 

May God bless his efforts,

Don Vito Quattrocchi C.S.M.

Mission Statement

The knife fighting art of “San Michele” is the exclusive family art of the Quattrocchi clan hailing from the town of Corleone, Sicily. The art was developed by adapting traditional saber fencing movements to the shorter stiletto knife which the Quattrocchi family favored carrying in lieu of other traditional Sicilian knives.  In the many knife encounters and duels fought over the years by the men of the Quattrocchi family, techniques that were proven to work in combat were absorbed into the system.  It is from these experiences that the art of “san Michele” continued to develop and grow.  Thus, “San Michele” contains some techniques from Sicily, as well as other Italian areas and Italian systems that proved worthwhile to strengthen the art as happens in all regions where fighters and masters share techniques.  In these duels, combatants learned to adapt what was most effective and useful. 

This is now what “il arte de san Michele” has become. The foundation of the Sicilian Arts with the added regional techniques that added to its effectiveness over the many years.  “Il arte de San Michele” is a living art that continues to grow.  As the years and the students progress and learn from their respective environment. What was effective fifty years ago might not be effective today.  “San Michele will always be a living art that absorbs what is useful and discards what ceases to be.

I, Don Vito Quattrocchi, am the one and only living grandmaster of the “San Michele” knife fighting system.  I am the only person who can bestow the title of “Cavalieri de San Michele” on any student.

All cavalieri who desire to add anything new to the system must have my express permission to do so. It is my sincere desire to continue the art of “san Michele” in an honorable and god fearing way.  My hopes are that all cavalieri will uphold the honorable traditions of truth, nobility, and manhood, always honoring our patron “San Michele Archangelo”.

May he always defend us in battle, being our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

Viva San Michele