Reality Knife Training

Last night we had our monthly instructor workout and we focused on fighting with a knife. When done properly, there is no real defense. Once you attack you can see quickly how helpless your target becomes.

The crew saw how ruthless and brutal fighting with a knife can be. As big Jim Klienfelder put it, I remember going to another "twisty wrist" seminar and they're showing a knife defense that's like, just grab here, kick there, no problem.

Well, once the guys started stabbing the cardboard on the training dummy, they realized how brutal really stabbing someone can be. They also found that it didn't take much to become really effective with a knife when you have the right empty hand training.

So what is your only option for fighting someone with a knife? Create space (run) use your environment, look for an opening, sustain as little damage as possible and attack viciously and frequently. Always take ground and never let up.

Empty hand techniques are the last resort. Alays arm yourself. That's why pepper spray is so effective, squirt 'em and go. But please don't think that just bcause it looks good in the dojo it will work for real.

Nice neat and tidy techniques NEVER WORK. Leave that stuff to the movies. Remember, always bring a un to a knife fight.