Five Knife Fighting Lies In And The Martial Arts
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 concern is whether a person is going to be able to get his knife out in a fight. This one, like so many concerns, depends on the situation. Thus, there are several good answers.
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 falsehood is that when you practice a knife defense your attacker will slow down after the first strike so that you can do your defense. This is so silly it is absurd. In a real fight everything is in a constant flow of motion, so you'd better practice in a martial arts system that, in addition to any beginning self defense moves, has drills in which motion is really happening.
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 attack you in a specific manner. Yes, he will probably attack you with the cutter he is holding, but that is no guarantee. Heck, if he's carrying a blade in the first place, he's probably got the tricky kind of mind that will set up with a distraction, and then do something underhanded.
You know, one of the oddest things I do, if students want to learn how to survive knife attacks, is train them to make using the knife as natural as picking up a spoon. I have them tie a knife to the back of their hand, blade out in front of the knuckles, and then I tell them to do common things like brushing their teeth, tying their shoes, eating, and so on. It's educational, they might actually nick themselves, but the awareness process will start up.
One concern is whether a person is going to be able to get his knife out in a fight. This one, like so many concerns, depends on the situation. Thus, there are several good answers.
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 falsehood is that when you practice a knife defense your attacker will slow down after the first strike so that you can do your defense. This is so silly it is absurd. In a real fight everything is in a constant flow of motion, so you'd better practice in a martial arts system that, in addition to any beginning self defense moves, has drills in which motion is really happening.
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 attack you in a specific manner. Yes, he will probably attack you with the cutter he is holding, but that is no guarantee. Heck, if he's carrying a blade in the first place, he's probably got the tricky kind of mind that will set up with a distraction, and then do something underhanded.
You know, one of the oddest things I do, if students want to learn how to survive knife attacks, is train them to make using the knife as natural as picking up a spoon. I have them tie a knife to the back of their hand, blade out in front of the knuckles, and then I tell them to do common things like brushing their teeth, tying their shoes, eating, and so on. It's educational, they might actually nick themselves, but the awareness process will start up.