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Martial Arts Article
Knife Fighting -- Throw During the Fight
     by Keith Pascal  

 

What would you do, if your attacker dodged the throw of your weapon at him or her?

If you count on the fact that your knife throw will do damage and end the fight, you could get into a lot of trouble. Instead of piercing your attacker's skin, your attacker dodges his head slightly to the side and your knife wooshes past.

Threat gone.

Should the rule be to avoid throwing your knife ... always?

What if your attacker's face is just inches from your blade? And what if you feel, that you could just flick it right into a vulnerable area?

Should you go for it and throw the knife [legal ramifications aside]?

What if your attacker dodges, and woosh -- the knife is gone?

 

What do you do to make this an effective tactic?

  • First, don't count on it to work. You should never be afraid of losing your weapon. Don't use it as a crutch. Be just as comfortable fighting empty handed, as you are holding a knife. Then you don't care as much if you lose it.

  • Always be willing to give up the knife if you gain some sort of tactical advantage. For example ...

  • Don't wait for the next 'beat' in your opponent's rhythm to launch your attack. Many martial artists don't throw the knife immediately. They wait to see what kind of damage they have done, and THEN they come in with their next attack. 'You' should throw and then start attacking as soon as the knife leaves your hand.

  • Don't think in terms of just throwing a 'knife.' Throw whatever will disrupt your attacker's rhythm. This allows you to launch your almost simultaneous attack with your hands and/or feet. Throw a paperweight. Pick up a chair. Is there anything in your pocket, like loose change? Could you fling a small, hanging picture in a glass frame? (No works of art, please -- just photos ;-)

  • If your attacker has to deal with the thrown object, then he can't be dealing with your martial arts attack at the same time. If you think in terms of distracting while attacking, you will be more successful.

  • If you have successfully distracted your opponent, you should be able to follow with a couple of quick hits. And if you can take advantage of these quick offensive hits, you should be able to follow up with a controlling writs lock. The idea is that you start an offensive attack the minute you throw your object.

    Then you quickly follow with some hits. These hits continue the distraction, loosen up your attacker, confuse your attacker, and allow you to move ever closer.

    The whole time you are hitting, your arms are working in tandem to be able to feel the entrance to one or more of your locks. The second you have that lock past the point of no return (see my book), the fight is over....

    And let me end this article by saying this control is very desirable if you have more than one attacker. You have one attacker under your control. You get to use this attacker as a shield from the other(s).

    Then you employ more of your techniques to move on to the new threat.


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