Two more defenses
against an ice pick attack illustrate the principle of avoidance.
The two knife defenses shown
below are also useful against a downward strike
with a club, batten, stick (short) or bottle,
or a stab with a knife. Don’t think people
won’t attack you this way … it happens
more frequently than you would think especially
with bottles or clubs.
It’s true that experts,
or those well versed in knife techniques will probably
not use this type of stab since it leaves the body
open and is easily blocked compared to other type
knife techniques. However, but people who are angry
or emotionally upset or don’t know much about
weapons do resort to this type downward strike.
Unfortunately so many of the knife defenses I see
demonstrated in the martial arts magazines, and even
in the police publications, have what I think are
important inherent faults.
For example, here are two downward knife strike (or
ice pick) defenses recently illustrated in a leading
police publication (reproduced by two of my students).
In the first defense the defender
blocks a downward knife stab with one hand while counter
attacking with a strike, all in one movement. This
is force against force. It might work, but you better
strike hard and do not miss. If the attacker is significantly
larger and stronger, or the defensive technique is
off, the attack might just power through. Also, even
if the attack is stopped, if the counter doesn’t
stun or knock out the attacker, the attacker is also
still right in front – with a knife. A strength-on-strength
struggle can easily ensue, or worse, a second or third
knife attack might occur.
In the second suggested police knife defense,
the defender does a double hand strike to the attacking
arm followed by an arm bar (wrapping the defending arm
up and over). The good point is the defender does move
out of the way of the direct path of the attack. The
bad news is that the defender is so positioned that
he could be punched in the face with the attacker’s
other arm. A second problem is that there is no counter
attack until after an arm bar is established, something
that might be hard to do if the attacker is moving,
or resists. Notice too, even if the arm bar is established,
the attacker can still stab into the defender’s
back (not critical if the attacking weapon is a bottle
or batten). In short, this defense might work, but it
has serious risks.
I teach that it is much better to “avoid the
attack first.” In fact, any defense should avoid
risk. Thus, never directly try to stop an attack,
force against force. This is especially critical if
the attack is with a knife. If you are trying to stop
a punch you might just get knocked out if it doesn’t
work. But, if it is a weapon, you could get killed.
This doesn’t mean that a direct force against
force defense never works. It often does, but if you
are smaller or significantly weaker you could be in
serious trouble. Also, as you age both strength and
speed wane. That’s why I teach my students that
strategically it is wiser to “avoid the attack
first and only then control the attacking weapon.”
A second principle of any defensive technique is
to ”keep it simple.” I see a lot of teachers
with great technique, but what they do is far too
complicated.
In this article are two more possible alternatives
to the downward knife attack – both illustrating
avoidance. In the first article in this series the
defender moved to the right and away from the attack.
Here, the defenses show how you can move to the outside
(in the other direction).
There are other defenses in which you can move inward
too. You should practice to find defenses with which
you feel comfortable given your size, weight, physical
capability and skill. But, don’t limit yourself
to a single defense for any given situation: for in
a real attack, the direction you practiced moving
might just be blocked.
Attacker attempts a right hand overhead
knife stab to the defender's body.
Defender's left foot arc steps to
his left and left hand blocks (thumb down) the attacker's
right arm.
Defender's right hand strikes the
attacker's groin.
Defender's right foot arc steps to
his right, moves his right hand under the attacker's
right arm to his left hand, and rotates the attacker's
arm to the rear.
Defender throws attacker to the rear.
He places his right knee on the attacker's right
triceps and with both hands rotating counter clockwise
the attacker's right wrist.
Here the defender move out of the way,
grabs the attacker’s wrist, strikes to the groin,
gains total control of the weapon, dislocates the attacker’s
shoulder, throws the attacker to the ground and then
releases the weapon.
Attacker attempts a right hand overhead
knife stab to the defender's body.
Defender's left foot arc steps to
his left and double hand blocks (thumbs down) the
attacker's right arm.
Defender hands push the attacker's
right arm downwards stabbing his right leg.
Defender's right foot arc steps to
his right, moves his right hand on top of the attacker's
right hand, and throws him downward in a wrist lock.
Here the defender moves out of the
way, executes a double hand block and grab, and
directs the weapon into the attacker’s leg.
Then the defender moves in front of the attacker,
applies a wrist lock, and forces the defender face
down to the ground.
