Sifu Dansac Explains Unarmed Knife Defense

Knife most common weapon carried by mugger and criminal, also popular choice for misguided peoples wishing to protect themselves. Sifu’s first rule of Self Defence Against Knife; never carry knife.

Ancient Samurai wisdom teach that sword will one day ask for blood; man who carry sword inevitably called upon to use it. Same principle apply to knife, which is really only very small sword. Man who carry knife only maximize chances that knife become involved in fight. Sifu repeat first most important rule; never carry knife, even for self-defense. Far better study unarmed combat and learn to handle knife in training, so know how to react when faced with knife-wield enemy.

Do not be fool by Sifu manner of speak, Laui. Wise student will see through Ninja illusion cast by Sifu style; today him speak on matter of life and death.

First step understand how to deal with knife is understand most common ways knife is use and held. Observe how enemy hold knife is best clue to him fighting skill and method of attack. Three ways most prevalent; reverse grip in fist, fencing or sabre grip with fingers, and reverse sabre-grip with knife fold back along enemy forearm.

First Method: Reverse fist grip

This is sign of inexperience knife-fighter. This grip favour savage downwards thrust from above, aimed at you head and neck. This is simple attack made dangerous by aggression of enemy; man who attack like this is not think clearly, focus solely on cause injury and not on him own defence.

You best defence is dodge and get close while block high; trip him ankle, kick him knee, stomp on him foot while you lift and dump him on floor.

Second Method: Fencing or Sabre Grip

This is where man grip knife like sword, using fingers for fine manipulation. Knife hold like this is very fast and present knife as barrier to protect you assailant from counter-attack. This grip favour by man who want you to think him expert knife-fighter. Man who hold knife like this will rely on knife to keep you scared.

Wait for committed attack but do not expect opponent to lunge forward strong like in Dojo or on TV; real knife-fighter very fast, retract knife like striking cobra. If stand in front, very difficult grab opponent knife-arm. From side or behind, grab opponent arm very easy.

Third Method: Reverse Folding Grip

This is where knife is held in palm, folded back along forearm to hide length or even presence of knife. This is grip use in prison knife-fight or by special forces soldier trained to kill; man who use knife like this is most dangerous and intend you serious harm. This is most advance and dangerous way to hold knife, most versatile, most fast, most difficult to disarm. To survive encounter where knife is held like this, you must have no mercy; attack you enemy with full force and aggression, destroy him in blink of eye, or you opponent will surely win.

Only way to block third method of holding knife is to stand extreme close range; this sound counter-intuitive, but close up you can more easily restrain and control opponent arm. Also, this method hold knife allow opponent get very close before attack; knife not always visible until too late. Fortunately, this grip also make easy to apply wrist lock if only you can get hold of attacking arm; as Sifu say before, easiest to grab arm from side or rear, hardest from straight on in front.

Now, Sifu explain method of defend against knife. There is no set technique for deal with knife; opponent may attack in one of million ways, so no one block or counter method will suffice. Best to follow three-step strategy and react appropriate to opponent as fight unfold. Rely on technique you already know. If you not train martial arts, rely on instincts and common sense; martial arts is way of nature, so intuitive response usually best.

Sifu Three Step Strategy:

1. Avoid Knife: Might sound obvious, but is most important especial for Martial Artist. Martial Artist not always train avoid incoming attack; many style teach block and counter, not value footwork and dodge. Most important rule of all is step out of path of knife. You see knife coming, you move. Pivot body, step to side. Training will improve reaction, but basic principle is to avoid knife and move to opponent side or rear where knife less dangerous. Again, basic common sense often not taught in Dojo; directly in front of opponent is most dangerous place to stand. Stand to side or behind opponent much safer; you can hit him but him can’t hit you; you can see him, but not so easy him to see you or what you do.
2. Attack Opponent: Again, might seem pretty damn obvious to some Laui, but sometimes obvious thing need spelling out. Do not become engross with try to disarm or dispose of knife. Knife not really issue of danger; real danger is opponent holding knife, not knife in him hand. Once you have initiate attack, opponent will naturally rely on knife for him own protection; if you think on weapon, you will make contest with opponent in which him have distinct advantage of holding knife. Important not ignore knife, but equal important not concentrate on weapon to detriment of attack enemy.
3. Use Sense of Touch: Often said “Hand is faster than eye”. This is true because sense of touch is react quicker than sense of sight. Do not be afraid lay hold of opponent, get close to him, use whole body to fight. Attack strong, but hold light; while you wrestle for knife, you cannot effective punch and kick. Answer is do not wrestle; hold light, use sense of touch to always know where knife is and where to move you body to be safe.

Three step strategy only work if all steps employ together; dodge, attack and sense of touch combine for total attack on opponent.

Total Attack:

Most important defeat opponent is to wage total attack; no hesitate, no mercy, no consideration for man who use knife in fight. Him have no consideration or care for you; quite the opposite, Laui. Only way to win is to throw out concepts of normal behave and unleash maximum aggressive attack.

Avoid knife, step close by opponent side and attack knife-wielding arm. Disorient enemy by step to side or rear, distract by gentle grip on knife, defeat by thorough application of violence. Use simple technique, sharp punch and low kick, attack vulnerable areas that are easy to hit; sides of lowest ribs easy to break, kidneys and small of back very sensitive, neck and throat have many nerves and joints easy to strike; opponent knee is weakest part of leg, step on foot is very effective unbalance enemy; eyes and gonads always soft, no matter how big and hard are enemy muscles.

Also important to shout and swear; aggressive sound make aggressive face, increase adrenaline in you body, frighten enemy by make him think you total psycho. Dominate opponent body and mind, dominate him physical space; this is no time consider opponent feelings or human rights. Once you have safe position at opponent side or rear, once you have gentle control of knife, beat opponent to floor and kick him into hospital; teach him serious mistake in choose to attack you, teach him be afraid ever attack anyone else for the rest of his life.

Consolidate Victory:

Okay, so now we have opponent disarmed on floor and whimpering, but fight is not over. If opponent is alone, kick knife far away or pick up and put in pocket, toss knife over wall, do anything get rid of knife before opponent recover and then run as fast as you can. Do not stand and beat chest like victorious ape; Police not look kindly on you. Run from scene and call Police from safe location.

Multiple Opponents:

If opponent has friends who also want kill you, they may be arm with knife too. Do not pick up first opponent knife for own defence; remember law of reasonable force; while opponent have knife and want to kill you, you entitle use any force necessary, even kill him in return. Once opponent defeat and disarm, you no longer legal use lethal force. Where opponent have friends on scene of fight, Sifu suggest you give knife back to defeated opponent by stab him in thigh, leave knife behind. Knife in thigh not instant lethal; death from bleeding occur only when knife is removed. While knife is in thigh, opponent cannot possibly chase or fight you. While knife is in him thigh, him friends got bigger problem than you; first opponent badly need hospital care.

Question of Morality:

Remember, Political Correctness totally unimportant when fight to preserve your life; normal morality totally unimportant . Only important that you defeat opponent and live to run away. Always call Police after fight, but only when you are safe from danger; go home, go to pub or bar, go to hospital if you hurt, call Police from there. Common conception is that mugger is invincible; Police very unlikely believe that you can be winner of fight without you be criminal aggressor.

Conclusion:

Some Laui may think Sifu advice vicious and nasty. Truth is, real fighting always vicious and nasty; only way to win is forget normal behaviour and do whatever is necessary without any hesitate. After fight, go back to normal civilised way of behave. Also do not ignore effects of shock and adrenaline; if you are injure, you may only realise once fight is over; adrenaline is powerful painkiller, make you feel invincible for very short time. When adrenaline stop, you maybe feel sick or very frightened; this is normal, Laui, and not mean you are coward for feel fear. More concern is injury you may not notice at time; after fight, check self out for be sure you okay. If you are uninjured, shock still serious issue that need attention. Best cure is hot drink in safe environment, give self time to relax and recover from horrible experience of fight, maybe think about get counselling or talk to close friend.

Finally, remember that even best lesson on-line or in book is no substitute for real training. Sifu advice maybe highlight points you never consider, but self-defence is learned skill best improve by training; if you serious learn how defend against knife, go to good class and practice with serious mind.

Join Sifu again to elucidate mysterious questions of Martial Arts and Oriental mystery.

The World Shall Hear From Me Again!