Kyle Sloan
Let me start with this: If you play with knives, you’re going to get cut. Period. I seriously doubt there is anyone reading this who hasn’t been cut with a kitchen knife while performing some task of slicing, dicing, chopping, deboning, filleting, etc. in the kitchen. Paper cuts don’t count :).
If you have an encounter against an attacker with a knife, you’re going to get cut. Period. Get used to the idea. It will probably help keep you from going into shock when he cuts you for the first time.
In tonight’s Aikido class I asked the 11 people (self included) who carried a knife on a regular basis. Answer: 3. Just a random factoid.
In some of the classes the past couple of weeks, we’ve focused on knives. Defensively, we looked at the responses in Aikido’s Koryu-Dai-San and some empty-hand Filipino arts entries that feed nicely to Aikido terminations. Offensively, we also looked at tori (the good guy) holding a knife, and using it during Aikido release techniques and how it will work the same as it feeds to the 17 techniques of Randori-No-Kata.
In all of this, we’ve also looked at things from two sides — what you don’t want to get cut if you are empty handed, and understanding areas to cut if you have a knife. It’s the same targets. It’s the same lesson with a dose of reinforcement about why. It’s a short lesson to know the juicy spots that are show stoppers. This isn’t about scoring points in a tournament, this is about the real world.
In martial arts training, empty hand defense against a knife is a tough game — even against an untrained opponent. The Filipino arts deal with knives as a core element, so they’re more prepared. Aikido, Judo, Karate, Kung-Fu, BJJ, etc. are behind the curve on this aspect.
Empty hand defense against a guy skilled in using a knife…. well, hope you can find a bigger badder weapon for that empty hand. Knives are a messy, lethal business, and the best solution is having a black belt in run-fu. Seriously, if you can leave, GO! Even with something in your hands with a range advantage this is still a problematic puzzle, as any over-commitment on your part results in giving your partner an opening to enter and wreak havoc. It can result in a Mexican standoff where neither side engages, which ought to be plenty fine.
Maintaining eye contact and using this to control distance is one of the best bets. DO NOT watch the knife. You’re going to get cut anyway, but watching the blade ensures it will be very, very bad when it happens. Do not reach for the opponent, as he will only proceed to cut whatever you’ve offered him (assuming he’s got some level of skill).
It’s also important to note that in an encounter outside the dojo, it is good to pay attention to small details. Grappling becomes highly problematic should your opponent produce a blade and start carving you like a Thanksgiving turkey. The knife clips visible on the outside of pants pockets should be a beacon of potential danger, but most people will not even notice them.
Random thoughts. Need to play with different attack options yet, especially the prison shank “sewing machine” attack. Need to look at the brain-mouth disconnect when the attacker is forced to speak to provide a moment to gain entry.
Of the traditional weapons we train with — bokken, jo, baton, etc. — the knife has the closest range. It takes the least amount of space to maneuver. It is operationally faster than any of the other weapons. It’s the big kid on the block.
Other weapons take more space to operate, and therefore provide more time to mount a response. Closer is harder.
