Posted: 8/19/2007 5:38:10 PM EDT
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Introduction: I don't have all the awnsers, I don't even know all the problems. People should look into multiple trainers, seminars, and classes. There are some places you should not look and some pitfalls you should be aware of. These ideas are not original but I wanted to put them in one place for folks to get an overview of and point them to better places for more comprehensive coverage. An edged weapon will be used for one of two things, an intemidation tool or a tool for assasination. In the later case it's going to be a rapid and violent encounter. The attacker won't annouce I've got a knife, you probably will not know untill you are bleeding. The knife won't hang out in space for you to grab and manipulate, it's going to be in and out like a sewing machine. If your knife defense system doesn't encompass this sort of attack. Note: The link is not safe for work. NSFW: Prison Shanking Video You need to broaden your horizons and look else where for training. Because that is the sort of exposure / training the majority of criminal assailants in the US have. They will not be versed in classical Japanese use of the Tanto, nor WWII Combative Knife Work, nor a FMA Blade expert. Odds are high you are be attacked like above. This is not to say that you will definitly be attacked in that prison yard rush fashion but the odds are higher of that than being attacked by a Kali Master who moonlights as a mugger. The FMA and other blade arts are grate for devloping skill working with and defending blades. Much like alive contact and sparring makes for good self defense the skill sets built in FMA and other blade arts can help you with the skills needed to survive an edged weapons encounter. Don't write off the other blade arts and there disarms, but don't fall into the pitfall that all attacks on you with a blade will be stylized like your pet art trains for. What is an edged weapon? An edged weapon is anything that can stab or cut. This can be a fixed blade knife, folding knife, or a sword. It can also be a broken bottle, a nail, writing pen, box cutter, a razor blade or a peice of scrap metal or plastic. It could even be a credit car cupped in the hand. Edged weapons come in may forms and can be improvised from a lot of everyday objects. The school of thought I personally abide by is that I assume folks that are a threat if there palms are not visible they are armed. And if I am fighting and someone starts hitting me somewhere other than my head, I am probably getting hit with a weapon. This is because there are so many things that can be used as an edged weapon and in fight my adreniline will be pumping and I may not notice the injury. What are some BAD places to look for instruction in edged weapons defense? The typical culprits of Aikido, Ninjitsu, Karate (All Karate), Tae Kwon Do, Tang So Do, Hapkido all have the same typical crummy edged weapons defenses. They are based on single static styleized slashes and stabs. But even Judo and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu have the same styleized static attacks and defense to them. These are not good places to look for edged weapons defense. The traditional defenses in the arts above range from small joint manipulations (Aikido Kote Goish) to a Cresent Kick the Knife out of the hand (Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Hapkido). None of the listed arts practice knife defense aginst a dynamic attack in an alive manner. Full Contact Karate and Judo are great for unarmed self defense but look elsewhere for edged weapons defense, because there styleized responses will get you killed. What are some edged weapon defense systems that are relevant to common encounters? Systems to look at:
Guys like:
Southnarc- A lot of good Close Quarters Stuff his company is called Shivowrks. Thanks to NCPatrolAR for the help. His list is the same that I would have suggested. |
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Systems to look at: Escrima, Kali, Arnis - classic Filipino systems that give you a systematic approach to edged/blunt weapon use. Sayoc Kali - A style of Kali that takes a scientific look at edged weapon use. They go a bit over-the-top with the number of knives they carry, but that is their choice. You can take a glimpse of Sayoc Kali if you watch "The Hunted" Guys like: Joe Maffei - a JKD instructor, Joe has solid edged weapon material that is highly relavent Karl Tanswell - Karl's STAB material is pretty good. Jerry Wetzel - Jerry's Redline material is good Tony Blauer - Tony has some great stuff out on counter-knife material. It is some of the best I have seen Hock Hochheim - Hock has some great material as well. |
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I would add a couple of names to that list: Steve Tarani (and anyone from his company, Operational Skills Group). I have worked with him in several courses and on several courses, and he is top shelf. Right attitude to help someone learn. Ben Salas, who, so far as I know, is on his own. I took a course from him, and had him over to the dojo, and he is very knowledgeable and a good teacher. Right attitude to help someone learn. I have heard good things about Southnarc, but I don't know him. Videos of his training have found their way to me, and I liked what I saw. |
I just wanted to highlight this part, because it is very important. Although today, we as humans have almost lost sight of this simple indicator, it is still one of the first things to look for. Take animals for example... I'll use the Canine here. When you try to approach an aware (as opposed to a sheep) Canine, he will pay strong attention to your hands and your eyes. Because he knows that your eyes show your interest and your hands show your intention. Close your hands and stare him down as you approach... He will posture and show his teeth as he stares right back at you. Visa versa, you can approach him with open palms facing him and avert your eyes in a casual, friendly manner but, make sure that you keep eye contact enough that he does not think you are trying to fool him. * *The smarter criminal will often try to distract you and avert your attention from his true intention. He will approach you with speed and speaking friendly nonsense, because if you know that he is speaking to you in a friendly manner you will assume that he is a friend, and because he is speaking jibberish, you will be focused on trying to decipher it. ... By the time you realize what is happening, he already has a gun to your head or a knife to your throat, and your life is now in his hands. Do not let it get this far. Do not be afraid to offend someone by telling them to stop their advance. Your life is worth much more than someones hurt feelings. To see it first hand, you can use either a friend or an unknown. (I would suggest a friend, but if you want an unknown, look for a sheep just as a criminal would.) ... Now, as was described above, approach the subject with speed while speaking jibberish and looking right at them. After you are within arms reach, ask them how they felt about your approach and what their instinct told them, then tell them who you were impersonating. (If doing this to a sheep, just say "sorry, thought you were someone else" and keep walking.) That method is used to distract and confuse the senses. It is surprisingly effective. |
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Die Less Often, Dog Brothers Martial Arts and Gabe Suarez. I viewed this 3- disc DVD and it is the answer I was looking for. I highly recommend this set, it has changed the way I train. After watching it once I was able to incorporate the principles against my training partners and die less often. This is a class that is on my short list to attend. CY361 Stan |
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It takes one to beat one. If you don't understand to attack with a blade, how can you defend against it?
Filipino martial arts, hands down. Most martial arts today started bladed but lost their way at some point. Sports don't have much use for real weapons and weapons can't be taught to kids easily in the current environment. For thousands of years, people went to war knowing they live or day based on how they could fight with or against bladed weapons. Moderns don't have it figured out... the people who were warriors before the gun perfected the techniques long ago, losing many lives to do so. Reject the "modern", and go back to the past to find the answers. If they don't know how to attack with a knife, they can't know how to defend. |
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Quoted:
I would add a couple of names to that list: Steve Tarani (and anyone from his company, Operational Skills Group). I have worked with him in several courses and on several courses, and he is top shelf. Right attitude to help someone learn. Second Steve Tarani and company. Leslie Buck of the Texas Kali Association (Austin area), and his people are also excellent instructors - welcoming to all students, top notch training, with no BS or marketing static. They are there to train, not beat their chests, or impress people with their wisdom/machismo. First class all the way. |