This blog covers everything related to self defense including but not limited to training, techniques, principles, martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, weapons, various scenarios, tips, sparring, psychology of combat, the list goes on. It is not restricted to just one fighting art but welcomes every reader regardless of experience to gain knowledge on self defense.
Unfortunately there are many myths about knives in combat circling around. I intend on debunking some of them in this blog post. Being ignorant about how knives work is what's going to get you killed in the streets. That's why it's important to understand knives so you can better use it or defend against it.
* "A knife attacker is going to point the knife at you " - Alot of martial artists and self defense instructors do demonstrations where an attacker is pointing a knife at you like in this video. This is unrealistic. The reality is your attacker won't reveal the knife to you until the time of attack. Even if you are dealing with an armed robber, he or she will likely hold you at knife point. Some will stab you regardless of whether or not you have valuables. Some will just walk up from behind, put you in a chokehold, and slit your throat. Others might pull out a knife in a multiple attacker scenario. You don't really know 100% how someone will attack you a knife.
* "A knifeman will lunge forward to stab you once " - Another unrealistic scenario that people teaching knife defense do is use the knife as a long range weapon like in this example. In most knife attacks, your attacker will land a barrage of quick uncommitted stabs and slashes. Plus, he or she will keep pushing forward until you fall over or back up against a wall. In many criminal cases involving knives, there are multiple stabbings.
* "You will be able to kick the knife out of an attacker's hand" - Some people teach that you'll be able to kick or shoot the knife out of someone's hand as shown in this video. The chances of this happening is very low if your attacker is moving quickly in and out of range.
* "Your going to be able to use pain compliance to disarm a knifeman" - Some schools namely Krav Maga like to have their students redirect the knife hand and strike the groin repeatedly until the knifeman drops his or her weapon. This might work but if your attacker is determined to kill you and is high off of adrenaline, pain compliance isn't going to work. Your knife attacker will get hit but that might not be enough to get him or her to release the knife. While your striking your knife-wielding attacker, he or she might be stabbing you in the process.
* "Your going to be able to apply a fancy disarming technique" - Alot of schools like to teach knife disarming techniques. Under high pressure where a knife attacker is stabbing and slashing away full speed, the chances of you applying a fancy technique is low.
* "One stab = one kill" - Some people believe that one stab is all it takes to kill someone in self defense. Not so. It depends on where you strike, how deep, how fast, and with how much power. Deaths from knife attacks result from blood loss, shock, and loss of a vital organ's functionality (see link below). It's going to take a while for your attacker to bleed out. In the meantime, you are going to be attacked at full force especially if your attacker is high on adrenaline due to the body's natural pain killers. Against an attacker moving around quickly, it's going to be difficult to land a fatal stab.
* "A knife attacker is going to be tactical" - Many schools teaching knife fighting take two people of the same skill level and have them spar such as in this example. The chances of you coming across a trained or tactical knife fighter is rare unless you consent to a fight. If you are attacked by a knife-wielding assailant, chances are he or she will strike at moderate to high speed (stabbing, slashing, cutting, etc.) It will probably happen so fast that you won't have time to draw your own weapon and will have to resort to alternative means of self defense.
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This self defense guide will teach you what to do in a hostage situation. Let's suppose that your in a bank or store when suddenly, an armed attacker or attackers take you hostage. It's very important that you have an idea of what to do in those scenarios as many things could go wrong.
* Disarm - If you are the only one taken hostage then you apply the same principles as you would if you were disarming a gunman or knifeman (see "how to disarm a gunman" http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-gunman.html and "self defense against a knifeman" http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-knife.html). If you and your attacker are surrounded by police then you have the advantage. Distract him or her before you attack. If possible, try to get the attacker to direct the weapon away from you. As soon as you sense an opportunity then strike with explosive speed. Control the weapon, redirect the line of attack, take your attacker down, and disarm. This video explains which techniques don't work and which one is more effective in a hostage scenario.
* Comply - If you and other people are taken hostage by multiple attackers then comply. Do whatever the armed attackers ask of you and get into a non-threatening posture. Doesn't matter how much self defense you know, it's safer to comply in these situations. You don't want to risk any innocent people getting hurt or killed. You and others also face the risk of getting accidentally shot by the police.
* Gather and leak information - As you comply, gather as much information as you can on your attackers. Are they mentally ill? Are they committing an armed robbery? Are they terrorists with a political agenda? What demands are they making? Who are they making the demands to? Do they intend on killing the hostages eventually? Where are they located? Where are the hostages located? Is there only one attacker or multiple? What kind of environment are you in? When you've gathered enough information on who your hostage takers are then you ought to find a way to leak it to the police. You could leave a door unlocked, a window open, create an opening in an area of the building, messages, etc. so the police can gather intelligence. If you can't then don't worry about it. Your safety should be your first priority. The information you get also lets you know what the proper response is.
* Escape - If you have an opportunity to escape without your attackers noticing then do so. Give other hostages the opportunity to escape undetected if possible. Otherwise, lay low and comply with your hostage takers.
* Empathize with your hostage takers - Try to get them to see you and others as human beings. Figure out why they are taking you hostage and what they want. This allows you to get a glimpse of the kind of people they are.
* Plan your moves - Complying isn't enough, you should already have a plan A and plan B then a plan C. Plan A should be comply. Plan B should be to leak info. or escape. Your last plan should be to fight. Don't just lay or sit there waiting for the police to rescue you. Hoping that they'll come in and save you while you remain completely unharmed is unrealistic. By the time they come in, you might already be dead. In the meantime, you need to be proactive and use your time wisely.
* Have a plan of attack - As soon as the hostage takers intend on killing or torturing their hostages and the police haven't arrived yet then you need to act quickly. You should've collaborated with the other hostages in taking out the hostage takers at some point. Use the environment to your advantage. Use whatever weapons and methods of distraction are available. Remember when faced with multiple hostage takers, the best way to deal with them is dealing with one at a time. You will need to take out at least one armed hostage taker as quickly and as silently as possible then disarm him or her without alerting the others. Even if it's not possible, you just need enough time to get the weapon and attack. In these types of situations, the use of deadlier force might be necessary than in a normal self defense situation. You might need to kill as many as you can with your bare hands or the weapon. As soon as the police enter or the hostage takers are eliminated, you need to comply with the police. Get down on the ground with your hands above your head and drop your weapons to communicate the police that you are not a threat.
In this particular situation, notice how the gunman pointed his gun at a man and the man responded by attempting a disarm. Immediately, the others rushed in to tackle the gunman and disarmed him. If you are trained in dealing with weapons and these types of situations then you have to take the initiative. By taking the initiative, you inspire others to take action.
Practice these tips with multiple sparring partners in various scenarios. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.
If you ask many if not most people what they think when they hear self defense, they'll say "well martial arts of course!" Martial arts is one of the first things people new to self defense want to learn. Nonetheless, it begs the question "is martial arts effective for self defense?"
Yes and no. Yes because it all depends on how you use it. If you use it well then it's effective. No because martial arts is not the end all be all of self defense. As i mentioned in my other posts (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/12/why-martial-arts-does-not-mean-self.html), there are several problems with assuming that martial arts means self defense. You cannot simply take a course on martial arts and then expect to defend yourself in every situation in the street. There are many different variables in self defense and violence on the streets such as psychology, fear, aggression, brutality, intimidation, weapons, ambushes, multiple attackers, criminal organizations, family, situational awareness, unresolved conflict, stress, strategy, tactics, the list goes on. For example, do you think you would be able to defend yourself against a group of armed gangsters who are far more aggressive and violent than your typical punks? What about an ambush involving guns? It's nearly impossible for you to learn how to deal with all of these variables in a dojo or local martial arts school. This video gives some good insights on martial arts.
Under what situations is martial arts effective? It depends on the martial arts you are practicing. Martial arts are used for various purposes contrary to popular belief. Can you distinguish martial arts used for sport from martial arts used for theatrical performances in Asian cultures and films? What about martial arts for health and fitness as opposed to self defense? Martial arts simply gives you the tools and knowledge needed for a particular purpose namely hand-to-hand combat. Martial arts as it is known today the total essence of combat.
Guru Dan Inosanto said "I think it's important to take the knowledge of the past and improve it." The ancients have made contributions to the knowledge for combat. It is now up to us to take the knowledge of the past and adapt it to the present so it can be applied effectively. Can you use your martial arts effectively against a gunman? A knifeman? Other martial arts styles? If not, how can you go beyond the limits of a particular system or style and find the answers needed in self defense? How can you apply the traditions of the past while making them work for the modern world?
Doesn't matter what martial arts you practice, it's how you can apply what you know effectively and wisely in modern combat. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
If you've read my post "how to fight multiple opponents" (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-to-fight-multiple-opponents.html) then you should have a basic understanding on how to deal with multiple unarmed opponents. Now what if you are faced with multiple armed attackers? I will elaborate on the weapons aspect from my previous post. Assuming that your attackers have some melee weapons as opposed to all guns (i will deal with gunmen in the future), you will have to fight with quickness and efficiency. Some weapons training will be useful in these situations.
1) Understand the range of the weapons - By having a good understanding of each weapon's range, you are better able to utilize them effectively. For example, if you managed to disarm a swordsman then you can now keep a knifeman (close range weapon) at a distance with your sword (long range weapon.) If you have a knife, you need to time your intercepting moves against long range weapons and attack at close range.
2) Prioritize which weapons to disarm first - In order to be effective in fighting multiple armed attackers, you must be good at prioritizing which attackers to take out first. You must asses which weapons are the most deadly and focus on those. For example, you can keep a knifeman at bay because the weapon is for close quarters but you will likely get shot and killed by a gun. Therefore, you must focus on taking out the gun strategically.
3) Attack the closest attacker, disarm, and retrieve the weapon - If an attacker with a bat or knife comes charging at you, take him/her out as quickly as possible and disarm. You need an equalizer so don't just stay there empty handed - grab the weapon quickly and use it. If you already have a weapon of your own then use it. Any weapon improvised or not is better than no weapon.
4) Strategically move around - Like i outlined in my previous post, you will need to line up your attackers and fight only one a time. If you've already disarmed a knife, keep moving around keeping only one attacker in front of you as you close in and attack. Conserve your energy by striking at vital areas and take down your opponent's efficiently (kick to the knee caps, circle kicks, leg sweeps, etc.) If someone pulls out a gun in the middle of a fight, you'll need to use the other attackers as human shields (rear naked chokes, clinches, moving in front of them, etc.) Get close and push an attacker into the gunman as a distraction then quickly take control of the gun.
Practice these basic principles with good sparring partners using fake weapons. Make sure that you are aware of your surroundings and use improvised weapons or even the environment to defend yourself. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.
If you've read my posts on "self defense against a knifeman" (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-knife.html) and gun disarming then you'll notice that the same principles apply to knife disarming (ex. redirecting the line of attack, understanding distance, timing, etc.) When training, here are several tips on dealing with a knifeman along with some helpful videos.
Understand the warning signs of a potential attack - A person planning to use a knife will give away several cues through body language. Keep at a distance from a suspicious person. Be aware of your surroundings. You will find in several instances where a seemingly normal person suddenly draws a knife and starts stabbing away at his or her victim.
Use a long range weapon - If you have a bat or stick, use it against your knife wielding attacker to keep the distance while attacking. You could continue attacking or perform a disarm. This video demonstrates how this works.
Practice simple and effective techniques - The reason why many knife techniques don't work against a fully committed knife attacker is because they are too complex and work only against a cooperative partner. If the techniques don't address the possibility that the knifeman may disrupt your technique by moving or fighting back then they are ineffective. It's about quality over quantity techniques. The techniques you learn must address as well as include the line of attack, possible resistance, distance, isolation, timing, and be done with no wasted movement. Ideally, you will want to A) Stop the knifeman's attacking motion B) control the knife wielding arm with both hands C) Move to the side of the knifeman and isolate the arm from the body. D) Disarm. Why would i want to control the knife wielding arm with both hands? If i simply grab the wrist but not the elbow, the knifeman could pull back and stab me. Why would i want to move to the side of the knifeman or behind him or her as i control the arm? If i stay in front of my attacker, he/she could attack me with his or her free limbs (punches, kicks, headbutts, etc.)
Learn how to deal with a knife from behind - If someone holds you at knifepoint from behind, you distract the knifeman before you redirect the knife arm away from your body as you control it with both hands then go for a disarm. Let's suppose that someone grabs you with a rear naked choke from behind and puts a knife to your throat. You must trap the hand without the knifeman seeing, redirect the line of attack away from your body, turn the weapon arm, reposition it, and attack or disarm.
Learn how to deal with a knife on the ground - If you are in a position where the knifeman is ontop of you and is about to strike, you control the knifehand with both hands then buck over as you disarm. If the knife is at your throat, you trap the knife hand as you redirect it then buck and disarm. It's very important that you get out of the bottom position when on the ground because it's very dangerous for you to stay there.
Learn how to deal with slashing - Let's suppose that a knifeman comes charging in on you with fast aggressive slashes. Create distance via kicking legs and practice perfect timing. If the slashes are moving in a predictable pattern (left to right and vice versa) then you intercept the knife hand before or after the knife passes your centerline. If the knifeman is a bit more methodical in his or her approach, you drop down and explosively go for the leg at a reasonable close distance. The knifeman won't expect your movement and will thus not be able to change the direction of the knife attack in time to strike you.
Learn how to deal with ice pick grip attacks - Let's suppose the knifeman comes at you with an ice pick grip and stabs downwards. You could cross your arms into an "X" shape above your head to stop the arm then quickly grab the elbow, turn it, and control the arm as you move to the outside. You could also move to the outside as you redirect the arm away from you then grab the knifeman's elbow and wrist.
Practice stop hits - If someone came in stabbing you at full speed, you could perform a stop hit to briefly stop the knifeman's forward thrusting motion and allow you a split second to control the attacker's arm. A stop hit could be a double palm strike, a hammerfist,a chop, etc. You could also grab the knifeman's elbow and knock the knife out of the wielder's hand.
Avoid the leveraging hand - Some knife attackers will grab your shirt or put you in a rear naked choke that is half applied to use as leverage so they can better strike you with the other hand. Don't get so focused on the knife that you forget about this hand. Why is the leveraging hand dangerous? Because your attacker can control where you move and has a better position to strike you at full speed. It also makes it difficult for you to disarm the weapon. As soon as someone grabs your shirt or wraps his or her arm around your throat, you know it's bad news so you must act quickly. As soon as someone tries to grab you, move to the outside (behind the knifeman or to the side) and attack. If someone manages to grab your shirt, break the grip, and attack from the outside. If someone tries to apply a chokehold, start attacking with elbow strikes, headbutts, punches, etc. You could probably apply a Judo or Jiu Jitsu throw and attack your opponent from there. In this video, you will observe how knife attackers grab ahold of their victims with the free hand while attacking them with the knife.
Attack the knife wielder, not the weapon - Sometimes it's better if you attacked the person holding the knife rather than the knife itself. If someone charges in trying to stab you, move to the side and perform a side kick or trip your attacker over. Knock your attacker off balance before you perform a disarm.
Disrupt the knifeman's balance - By knocking your attacker off balance be it a sweep kick or otherwise and trapping him or her on the ground, you are in a better position to perform a disarm.
Distractions - Use verbal and non-verbal communication to distract your attacker. If you could throw something to block the attacker's vision (a shirt, a bag, keys, etc.), you give yourself a brief moment to go for an attack and a disarm.
Practice timing and controlling the distance - It doesn't matter how fast your knife attacker is, you can still disarm a knifeman with timing and distance control. It's much more efficient to time a stop hit against one out of a thousand quick thrusts than to try and grab the knife hand. Distance is also important but don't keep a distance for too long or your knife attacker will eventually hit you.
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
You've probably heard people ask "what's the best weapon to defend myself? Should i use a gun? A knife? A stun gun? A taser?" While salesman and companies offer weapons for self defense. What they don't want you to know is that - there is no best weapon for self defense! They are essentially lying to you by giving you false confidence that you can defend yourself for profits. They don't warn you about the severe drawbacks in each weapon. There are four questions you must ask yourself before you even consider purchasing a weapon 1) Am i able to use it? 2) Do i know how to use it? 3) Am i prepared to use it? 4) Do i have a strategy when i'm using it? I will go over several weapons and explain why each one is ineffective under the wrong circumstances.
* Gun - I've heard alot of people say "i don't need to learn martial arts, a gun will solve everything.." First of all, the laws on self defense are very complex. If you can't build a solid case in which you can legally justify it was self defense then you will get punished under the court of law. There's been several cases where people have used guns Someone can pull out a knife, say "I'm gonna kill you!", and you are still not legally justified in shooting that person. Unless he/she rushes towards you and clearly tries to kill you, you are legally justified in using a gun. By then, it's already too late as you'd have been stabbed many times. There are a bunch of people sitting in jail right now because they illegally used a gun and failed to adhere to the legal laws on self defense.
According to the 21 foot rule outlined for police officers, it takes at least 21 feet for an officer to be safe from a knifeman. If your at a distance from a knifeman and you can shoot then good for you. The problem is not every knifeman will attack that way. Some will have it concealed. Do you realistically expect to draw your gun and stop someone charging at you from a few feet? Another issue with using a gun is that it's very hard to shoot and stop a moving target at vital areas especially under high levels of stress. Adrenaline rushes can greatly increase the chances of people taking 2 and more gunshots as they attack you at full force. The idea that you can just shoot an attacker twice and the attacker's down is Hollywood fiction.
This is one of my favorite videos i love to use as an illustration of what happens when gunmen confront a knifeman. Notice how many times police shot him and he still kept attacking! Do you think the gun was the appropriate weapon of choice in that situation?
* Knife - Just because the gun poses several problems, doesn't mean a knife is any safer. Same problems apply under the court of law. A knife poses the same problems as a gun. Realistically, you won't be able to stop an attacker in an adrenaline rush coming at you head on. You probably wouldn't even have time to draw your weapon if the attacker rushes in before you pull it out. If you do draw a knife, you would need to strike at vital areas in order for a knife to be effective. Against a highly aggressive and violent attacker, you probably wouldn't be able to do it accurately especially if you don't know how to handle stress. Even if you hit a vital area, the attacker may not even feel it and just keep attacking. It takes alot of time for the attacker to bleed out and by the time the attacker does, you'll probably be dead or seriously hurt. There's also the great danger that the attacker may knock the knife out of your hand and take it away from you. What would you do then?
* Stun guns and tasers - More reasonable than a deadly weapon but it still has fatal flaws. You'd have to get very close to an attacker which is what you don't want in order for it to work and many times - it does not work. Many police officers have found that criminals who are under high levels of adrenaline resist the effects of stun guns. If your attacker is wearing thick clothing, it makes the stun gun harder to penetrate. It also takes a few seconds for it to take effect upon contact. Do you realistically expect this weapon to work against a non-compliant attacker or multiple attackers? A taser is more effective as it fires probes into attackers and immobilizes their movements but it still has it's drawbacks. If you miss a violent attacker with a deadly weapon which is highly likely under stress, you don't have enough time to reload the cartridge and fire again as you would with a gun. Even if you land a direct hit, the attacker can STILL resist! If you need proof, just watch this video.
A trained police officer hunts down a perp and uses the taser. Only ONE of the probe actually gets stuck on the perp, reducing it's effectiveness before it gets seemingly torn off due to movement. The police officer gets shot in the leg shortly afterwards. Realistically, would a taser have been appropriate in these types of situations?
* Pepper sprays, mace, and other chemical weapons - These weapons also have the same problems that stun guns have. There's no guarantee that the pepper spray or other chemical based weapons will completely stop your attacker. If you miss, your in deep trouble. Watch what happens when cops use pepper spray on a man high off of PCP and how ineffective it was in subduing him. The wind and other environmental factors can render any spray weapons useless.
Still not convinced? Check this video out. By the time you spray your attacker in the face, he/she would've already landed several attacks before the effects start to kick in.
A gun does not make you a skilled shooter anymore than a guitar makes someone a musician. It's all about how pro-efficient you are in the weapon. In what situations is the weapon useful and what situations will it get you killed? What's your 2nd line of defense in case your primary line of defense fails? You have only your mind to rely on when weapons fail you. If you don't know the strengths and weaknesses of your weapon then my advice to you is don't use it until you do.
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
Tasers could potentially immobilize you completely and put you at the mercy of your attacker. Here are a few tips to avoid getting tased in self defense.
2) If tased, fight through the electrical currents and disarm - The reason why close range tasers are no longer used by police is because many criminals still managed to attack despite the pain. Tasers that rely on pain compliance rather than immobilization of the muscles and other vital components of the body will not take down a relentless criminal. Don't believe me? Here's one example. In this video, a man at McDonald's gets tased several times and still manages to flee. You can do your own research and see for yourself. With proper pain tolerance, you could still disarm your attacker. Because of this, a more advanced taser was made. This model could immobilize someone from a distance by firing probes and activating upon contact. This model however still has it's flaws.
There is a video of a man who managed to resist the taser and remove the probes off his body. The key? Willpower and intense concentration. If you could focus on getting the probes off of you, the taser is briefly rendered ineffective and gives you the opportunity to close the distance as you take your attacker down or escape.
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.
If you've read my other blog post on self defense against a knifeman (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-knife.html) then you should have a general idea of how to disarm a swordsman. Like self defense instructors teaching impractical fancy knife disarms, self defense instructors also teach fancy impractical sword disarms as well. I've taken some courses in sword fighting and had some experience in disarming during sparring sessions. Therefore, i will use what i know to help you defend yourself against a swordsman. While it is highly unlikely that you will come across situations such as these, there are several criminals who have used swords to murder innocent people and cops. In the case that it does happen, you should note several differences between swords and knives.
Knives are short range weapons, move quicker than swords, don't require committed attacks, used more for lightweight, etc.
Swords are long range weapons, move slower than knives, require committed attacks and blocks, heavier than knives, have longer handguards than knives, etc.
1) Be Vigilant - Pay close attention to your surroundings. Keep a safe distance from strangers. Recognize that it's much harder to conceal a sword than it is to conceal a knife. Your primary goal should be to avoid conflict and run.
2) Strike first - If you can't run away and your at a close distance then don't wait until the swordsman draws his/her weapon. It takes only a few seconds for a swordsman to get into a fighting stance, grab his sheath with one hand, grab the hilt of the sword with the other, pull it out, and point it directly towards you. That's plenty of time for you to close the distance and grab the handguard then do whatever attacks you want before you disarm the swordsman. Don't waste a single second.
3) Use a weapon - If the swordsman has already had his/her weapon drawn then it's time to improvise and get a weapon of your own if you are unarmed. Look for an object that the sword cannot cut apart and that would either serve as cover or an offensive weapon.
4) Move outside the line of attack - There are around 9 angles from which a swordsman can strike. Regardless, the same principle applies for any angle of attack. This video demonstrates the general idea of how to prepare for attacking a swordsman.
5) Control the blade - From a relatively safe position, you can briefly struck at the swordsman vision as a distraction as your other hand grabs the hilt then perform a disarm. You can redirect the blade several ways 1) Using a palm strike or slapping perhaps grabbing at the safe parts of the blade (sides, top, etc.) as you strike. 2) If the situation calls for it - you could grab the entire blade with one hand and the hilt with the other then disarm your attacker. Historical accounts actually affirm that with proper hand techniques, you could grip a stationary blade and not get cut. This is very risky so use with extreme caution. Do not use this on a moving sword as you are likely to get your hands cut off in the process. This would only work on a still blade. Do not grab the sharp edges of the blade with both hands and wrestle it out of the swordsman's hands as you will also get cut. Grabbing the sword would probably work best against a two handed swordsman as the previous video demonstrated. 3) You could alternatively push the attacker's arms away to redirect a strike before you control and disarm.
6) Disarm - For a one handed sword, it'd be best to throw your opponent off balance or immobilize via break his arm to render his attacking ability useless and make it easy to retrieve the weapon. For a two handed sword, you could tilt the blade until the attacker's grip is lost under pressure. Run away an dispose of the weapon where the attacker cannot reach it.
Several important key things that may save your life:
* Timing - As i've mentioned before, a swordsman has to commit to an attack or block. By that, i mean that the swordsman must use his/her body namely footwork in coordination with the arm and wrist to attack or defend. A swordsman cannot kill you unless he/she lunges forward or moves his/her arm to a certain degree before retreating to a defensive position. When is the perfect time to intercept? Before or after an attack is completed.
* Footwork - A swordfighter's stance is very essential in attacking and defending. By knocking the swordfighter off balance, you greatly reduce his/her attacking power and gain a grand opportunity to disarm him/her.
* Use your environment - Pay close attention to your surroundings. If you can get a sword stuck in a tree or car roof, a wall, that would be a great opportunity to strike at the swordsman and disarm him.
* Vision - A Swordsman's vision is vital in attacking and defending. Obstructing his vision with bright lights, sand, dirt, toxic substances, and other objects will briefly distract him/her thus giving you enough time to make your attack or retreat.
* Control - Grabbing hold of the swordsman's wrist and arm like you would a knife or the hilt is key to a successful disarm. Once you've gained control, you could drive the sword into the swordsman or take it away.
* Distance - It only takes some distance for the blade to reach you. A swordsman especially one with one-handed swords would have to extend his/her arm in order to strike, briefly leaving it vulnerable. This allows for you to control and isolate the offending arm (wrist + elbow).
* Accept pain - You will get cut mildly or severely but it's entirely possible for you to survive.
Mistakes to avoid:
* Don't try to "catch" the blade - I did an experiment with a friend where i'd kneel down then attempt to catch a downward sword strike. As soon as i got in position, he simply redirected his practice sword to a different angle and i was hit to the side instead. It doesn't take much for a swordsman to redirect a sword with just the flick of a wrist. It'd take a miracle for you to perform this move correctly.
* Don't move back too much - The more you move back, the more opportunities you give the swordsman to strike you. If you back up into a wall trying to avoid the sword, you will most likely get killed. You will want to be just close enough to avoid getting struck by the blade. Move around the swordsman to get into a position where you can strike and disarm.
I'd encourage you to spend some time practicing these techniques and principles with a partner using a fake sword. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.
Weapons are a great equalizer against any trained martial artist. They have the potential to seriously injure or kill in one attack if you are not careful then you could seriously end up hospitalized or dead.
While there are self defense guides teaching you a complex step by step guide on how to defend against someone armed with a knife, the reality of the situation may not allow you to perform those techniques. A frenzied attacker would ideally charge at you with a series of stabs and cuts as opposed to just one fatal stab. You won't have time to react quickly enough against a very mobile attacker. Therefore, it is best to resort to simplicity. There are some fundamental principles that will ensure a successful disarm against someone attacking you with a knife within a short amount of time. The basic principles are as follows:
* Control
* Close the gap
* Takedown
* Disarm
1) Know the signs - Be aware of the people around you. Don't get too close to a complete stranger. In many cases, knifemen ambush you with a flurry of attacks. Have a plan in motion. Are you in a reasonable distance to escape via running? Are you in a confined area? Are there cars? People? Police nearby? Cameras? How will you respond against a knife attack? Be aware of your surroundings and a potential attacker. This video shows you different types of knife attacks.
2) Determine the attacker's intent - Is your attacker trying to kill you or rob you? If your attacker gives you a chance to save your life then take it by all means. If however your attacker is bent on killing or kidnapping you then it's time to respond.
3) Accept the likelihood of pain - If unarmed, your likely to get stabbed or cut. Regardless, many have survived knife attacks through willpower. The more mentally prepared you are for pain, the more chances you have of surviving. Don't give up even if you have been struck once. Keep fighting until you can no longer fight.
4) Use a weapon - What weapons are at your disposal? Sticks? Pipes? A sword? Chairs? A gun? Use them as an equalizer to a knifeman. Remember anything can be used as a weapon - sweaters, shirts, glass, sand, a wall, a door, a tree, etc. By using weapons, you increase your chances of survival than if you were unarmed.
5) Know which techniques are practical - There are many martial arts and self defense instructors that teach impractical disarming techniques in complex steps. As i mentioned before, your not going to have time to perform them. It doesn't take much for a knifeman to move back and move his knife with his wrist then stab you from another angle. Keep things simple and follow the basic principles mentioned above to guide you to proper disarming techniques. I've found an excellent video by Martial Arts Tutorials and Fight tips explaining how easy it is for a knife attack to occur. It also explains how to deal with a knifeman using the fundamental principles of situational awareness, closing the gap, timing, speed, controlling and isolating the weapon, and so forth.
6) Move around the direction of attack - When a knifeman strikes at you, he/she will likely move in to strike. When that happens, move to the side or behind the attacker where he/she is at a vulnerable position. The more distance you create by moving back, the more likely you are to get struck.
7) Control the offending limb - Once you've gotten in a position to disarm the knifeman, control the knifeman's arm by grabbing the wrist and elbow quickly. Controlling the elbow and wrist with both hands is vital to disarming an attacker. If you only grab hold of either the knifemans's wrist or elbow, it's very easy for the knifeman to pull away or rotate their arm to strike you and attack you with the other free hand.
8) Takedown the knifeman - Kicking the knees or behind them or sweeping his or her legs off balance as you drive your bodyweight with your knees on your attacker's back will ideally make disarming easier. It's more efficient to deal with one limb for a disarm than to deal with a knifeman's kicks, headbutts, and other hand if he/she were standing up. The faster you can disarm a knifeman, the better.
8) Immobilize a knifeman - Some self defense videos suggest attacking a knifeman and struggling for the weapon. While you may be forced to strike back in some cases, it will not work in others as the knifeman may be drugged to resist pain. You should focus on immobilizing an attacker by breaking or momentarily stunning the arm holding the knife, making a knife disarm easier. Doesn't matter how tolerant to pain a knifeman is, he/she cannot attack you effectively with a broken or stunned limb.
9) Retrieve the knife - Once the knife is in your hand, toss it into an area where your attacker will not be able to reach such as an ocean, a rooftop, etc. Land a few blows if your attacker is still bent on attacking you then run away to safety.
Key points to keep in mind:
* Focus - Your focus should not be on the knife. Your focus should be on the person controlling it. Control and attack the knifeman in order to eliminate the threat.
* Timing - Perfect timing is critical in disarming a knifeman. You must respond quickly. By timing your hands to grab hold of your attacker's offending arm and controlling, you are better able to disarm him or her.
* Control the distance - Always control the distance between you and an attacker. Never allow him or her to get too close or too far away. If you have difficulty controlling the offending arm then keep your distance with kicks to the groin or knees and strikes to the head. Don't kick above the waist as it leaves your legs exposed to the knife. Even keeping a few centimeters away from a knife can mean the difference between life and death.
* Use your environment - Don't get so caught up in disarming your attacker that you forget about your surroundings. Use the environment to your advantage. Pushing the knifeman off a bridge or an ocean could be your opportunity to survive an attack. Just pushing a knifeman into a brick wall could cause him/her to suffer a concussion or momentarily knock him/her off balance, allowing you the perfect opportunity to close the gap for a disarm. Using a barrier between you and a knifeman may also help. There's many ways you could use the environment to potentially disarm or even escape from a knifeman.
* Vision - A knifeman's vision is important. Blinded or distracted by other objects will serve to your advantage. Gouge and strike at your attacker's eyes. Do whatever you can to get him/her's focus away from the weapon.
* Various knife attacks - There are different kinds of knife attacks from behind, front, side, in different forms such as stabbing or slashing at high speeds. The knifeman may openly or stealthily attack you. Be prepared to adapt to each one.
* Angle of attacks - Being cautious of the angles and trajectories of a knife attack allows you to evade or move to a safer position where you can either control or attack your opponent.
* Distractions - Whether your attacker is an armed robber or a murderer, distractions are key in creating an opportunity in attack. Communicating with your attacker is also a means of creating a brief distraction before you commit to an attack or disarm.
Spend some time practicing disarming techniques and principles with a partner in various scenarios with a rubber knife. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
