Five Knife Fighting Lies in and the Martial Arts

By Al Case


There is a lot of bad data out there about knife fighting. Most of this can be handled with a little logic. Some of the truths and lies are going to take a bit of study in a martial arts system that works with real life knife self defense techniques.

One major concern in this matter is whether a person is going to be able to get his knife out in a combat situation. This one, like so many concerns, depends on what is actually happening. Thus, there are several good solutions.

Be aware, see the knife attack coming, and you'll have time to get out a folder, especially if it is spring assisted and you have practiced a bit. A better alternative would be to carry your knife on your belt in a sheath, this can be pulled out quickly. The key, however, is to avoid dark alleys, choose your environment carefully, and just generally be aware.

A big lie is that when you practice a knife defense your attacker will stop motion after the first strike so that you can do your tricks. This is so silly it is fantastic. In a real fight everything changes and keeps changing, so you'd better pick a martial arts system that, in addition to any posing self defense moves, has drills in which motion is real.

One of the biggest concerns people come up with in this matter of fighting with sharpened steel is that they are going to get sliced. Well, maybe, but then again...it doesn't have to be. You can lessen the chance of getting your body cut up if you practice, practice, practice--in any fight, in life itself, the first principle is to always be prepared.

One of the things you have to be careful of is these systems that show people grabbing the knife (or gun or whatever) away from the attacker. This is only after years of experience, and even then, the martial arts instructor involved will probably do something more damaging or careful to protect his body. Simply, you don't have time to mess around when somebody tries to slice and dice you with a sharp edge.

Don't think somebody is going to come at you in a particular way. Yes, he will probably attack you with the cutter in his mitt, but not necessarily. If he's carrying a sharp edge in the first place, he's probably got a sneaky mindset that will begin with a distraction, and then do something you don't expect.

You know, one of the strangest things I do in teaching, if students want to learn how to handle knife attacks, is make them understand that using the knife must be as natural as picking up a spoon. I have them fasten a knife to the back of their hand, blade extended in front of the knuckles, and then I have them do common things like brushing their teeth, tying their shoes,and that sort of thing. It's educational, they might actually poke their own flesh, but the awareness process will start up.




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