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let's talk about self defense against KNIVES! 
thread.
thread.
now, first off, I've never been attacked with or defended myself with a knife, but I've done quite a bit of training against them over the years. I started in aikido where we would do things like this:
Or this:
which you also see in more "modern" self-defense curricula as well:
In judo, I encountered the judo goshin-jutsu or self-defense forms, which, while not bad, were not practiced against live opponents like judo's unarmed techniques. It can very difficult to catch someone with this technique, waki-gatame, even moreso if they're trying to stab you.
Because, if you watch videos of knife attacks in various situations, they look more like this:
That's what I later heard referred to as the "sewing machine"—many rapid thrusts at close range, thwarting any defense that was expecting a single lunge of some kind. So, via other studies, I learned a new approach:
Of course, sometimes you're unarmed, but you have a way out & nobody to protect, so:
Unfortunately, there can be times when you have no place to run or need to defend someone else, or you've already been stabbed and just have to deal. Knives are not swords: they are used in grappling distance. So, worst case scenario, you try to control that arm.
Which can lead to a fall or takedown and a situation like this:
If you're very slick with your grappling skills at that range (the "clinch"), you may get your opponent into a tie like this, the 2-on-1 or "Russian" tie, that's gonna make it very hard for them to keep stabbing you & lets you apply pressure on their elbow joint.
If you're not so slick, well, they might out-grapple you, even while holding a knife in one hand.
In my experience, a knife problem is a special & deadly type of grappling problem. If you want to come out with minimal added ventilation, you are going to need to control your opponent's arm. That means being a better grappler, and in a fighting sense, not just a sporting sense.
Sport can help you get there, but once you have built some foundational skills in posture, grips, and hand fighting, you will need to study the instance of them holding a sharp object. The classic drill is wrestling in a white t-shirt and handing them a red sharpie "knife".
Then practice grappling as normal while they try to stick you & you try to keep your shirt clean. It's hard! But there are a few paths and techniques you can find, and as always you will need to choose the ones that work for you.
Will they stick you if you do this?
Will they stick you if you do this?
What about something like this?
Or if you get this grip?
Will a grip on their sleeve be tight enough, or dangerously loose?
Can they switch hands with their knife? Can you switch arms if they do?
What if you do something clever for grappling, but then they draw a knife? Will your sporting habits cause you trouble?
Can other non-grappling techniques work? For sure. But they're often harder to practice against resistance, and if they fail, you may end up grappling anyway.
Grappling the arm has a long & successful history, and in my own experience, the ones who are good at it are the ones who have trained it extensively against live resistance.
And not the ones who have practiced their technique against fixed single attacks, no matter how sharp their technique, or how theoretically sound their approach.
So, grab a friend. Grab a marker. Do some drills.
I think you'll see what I mean if you approach the problem, well, scientifically.
Be safe, have fun.
(end)
I think you'll see what I mean if you approach the problem, well, scientifically.
Be safe, have fun.
(end)
