Is Your Knife Defense Too Focused?

Martial Arts Article

by Keith Pascal

I think martial arts techniques need to be put to the test, don't you?

You need to see and feel that the move is a practical self defense maneuver.

Here's a simple test to determine the effectiveness of you self defense techniques against a knife. In this case, you will be grabbing or somehow controlling the arm holding the knife.

Your attacker attacks with a practice knife. For this exercise, your defense can not consist of solely kicking or hitting.

You are going for control of the knife.

Yes, you can do an initial kick or hit, but your follow-up must be a control of some type.

For This Exercise, Look to Control The Knife Hand

If you are looking for ways to control the attacker's wrist or arm, start with wrist locks and arm bars. The game has changed a little, because now you have to make sure you apply enough pressure that you aren't gouged, but you can still use the same locks.

Now, right in the middle of the control, have your partner switches the knife to his or her other hand.

And continue the attack!

Were you too focused on the first hand holding the knife? Could you adapt?

Did you feel a sense of panic?

Keep in mind, the principles are the same for wrist locking and joint locking someone without a weapon. For example, apply the prinicples from my book, Wrist Locks: From Protecting Yourself to Becoming an Expert, on how to apply a lock without getting pucnhed by your aggressor's other hand.

The principle is the same ... but now, you have to allow for a slightly greater reach, depending on the length of the blade.

Another Important Hint

Look for self defense techniques that use an offensive technique as your defense. In other words, hit first rather than block.

If you block, you concentrate on one hand or arm. In this case, it could be the wrong hand. Beware.

So, if you hit as your first counter, you strike the body, and can't get fake by the hand, Of course, I also advise that you check the hand and arm while you strike -- you have a 50% chance or more of protecting against the hand with hte knife in it.

And even if you check the wrong hand, at least you were hitting at the same time.

Call the above a typical Bruce Lee principle.

Practice Until You Are Really Competent

You should do this exercise over and over, until you get to the point where it doesn't matter which hand the attacker uses to hold the knife.

And switching back and forth won't bother you either, right?

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For This Exercise, Look to Control The Knife Hand

Another Important Hint

Practice Until You Are Really Competent