How do I remove lock nut and knob?
 

My car has been ghettoed completely by the previous owner, one part is the shifter. It was torn up, didn't work well...
Replaced it with the Mazdatrix short-shifter, doesn't rattle and is perfect...
I can't seem the get the locking nut or the shift knob off the old one, are they supposed to be extremely tight you can't get them off or what?
The boot is torn to shreads, I don't have an outer boot right now

The locking nut (the collar below the knob that holds up the top of the shift boot) should break free by turning clockwise. Then the knob will turn off counterclockwise. (Sounds like you already know that, so I'm just confirming that's all that you need to do)

Yeah, right now, I'm using a towel to shift and that's not sporty.
I'm just really having a hard time getting it off, I've stuck the old shifter in a vice and nothing seems to budge at all. I don't see any sort of Bondo agent or anything else holding it on.

Wait nvm, the thing just broke free, damn previous owner used some sort of glue but it's all dryed out...