First and foremost I want to say that one cannot defend themselves from a knife attack by simply reading an article. You should study the subject of knife fighting in depth.
Yes, you really need to have a strong understanding of what you
are doing and what is really going on.
TYPES OF KNIFE ATTACKERS
The first type is the stone-cold killer type he is most
likely an ex-con. He will kill without hesitation to avoid going back to the
jail. A wanted felon with a history of violent crimes also certainly fits this
profile. His attack will appear to come out of nowhere.
An opportunity attacker is someone who initiates a
spontaneous attack. He has no plan to
attack anyone; he just sees an opportunity and in a split second decides to
attack.
A criminal caught in the act of a crime could react
violently and attack in an effort to get away. He does not set out to attack or
to kill anyone, but in such a situation he believes he has been forced to react
with violence. This is another surprise attack, but not pre-planned.
The mentally disturbed attacker is most likely a homeless
man or woman armed with a knife for reasons of paranoia or protection.
People under the influence of alcohol or drugs can fall
under the same category. The
drug-induced frenzy; a crackhead or meth freak who has gone over the edge and
has grabbed a knife.
TYPES OF KNIFE ATTACKS
(1) Thrust. The thrust is the most common and most dangerous
type of knife attack. It is a strike directed straight into the target by
jabbing or lunging.
(2) Slash. The slash is a sweeping surface cut or circular
slash. The wound is usually a long cut, varying from a slight surface cut to a
deep gash.
(3) Tear. The tear is a cut made by dragging the tip of the
blade across the body to create a ripping-type cut.
(4) Hack. The hack is delivered by using the knife to block
or chop with.
The sewing machine a rapid fire stabbing attack. It is a
truly deadly attack and the intent is to kill you. It is carried out in a
series of short thrusts while moving forward with violent pressure to keep you
moving backward in a vulnerable and reactive type state.
The slash and stab is the scenario you hope you never have
to face. This attacker is usually the most skilled in the use of an edged weapon.
This attacker is set upon killing you and has both the skill and intent to do
so.
REACTING TO THE ATTACK
Rule 1: Present the least vulnerable target. If someone is
shooting at you, you find cover. The same principle applies here. If you are
physically attacked, you move, you angle, you put something between you and the
attack.
Rule 2: Stop the offensive capability of the attacker as
soon as possible. This is where your actual physical training kicks in. This is
where you must turn reaction into action and turn the tables on your assailant
Rule 3: Gain control of the individual. This is the final
aspect where your training comes into play. However, this principle can only be
applied if you have successfully applied rules 1 and 2. Rule 3 is where you
take final control of the attacker. The best way to control the weapon is to
take control of the individual. “You have far more to fear from a deadly man
than from a deadly weapon.”
The first thing that happens to you is your reaction to the
attack. This is where your mind is simply saying Oh No! or WTF is going on? What is Happening?
You are basically frozen in time during this phase even if it lasts only a millisecond
this provides plenty of opportunity for the attacker to get in one, two, or
maybe even three strikes, especially when you are caught totally off guard.
The second phase is when your protective instincts kick in.
This is a pure fight or flight mechanism and your conscious mind is still not
in control. The next thing that happens is that you start to move, usually
backward, away from the danger: the attack.
You can actually practice the above sequence to increase its
efficiency. By combining mental imagery with the physical actions I have just
described you can decrease the time it takes to go from the “oh, no” phase to
the protective phase.
HOW TO DEFEND AGAINST A KNIFE ATTACK
The best defense against an armed attack is evasion and a
well-timed counterattack.
1.) You must block and redirect the attack of the weapon
to neutralize its lethal capability and clear the body of its trajectory of
fire and angle of attack.
2.) You must stabilize the weapon by controlling the
wrist, hand and weapon of the attacking arm of the enemy.
3.) You proceed to disarm the weapon by breaking the
joint of the locked extremity or simply by applying power to induce enough pain
for control and disarmament.
