Knife defense?

Question

Some say it is virtually impossible to defend yourself against a knife-wielding attacker. Maybe because a knife attack is too fast that you cannot see very well, for example, the exact position of the attacker`s hands and knife, or the exact zone of your body where the attacks is coming.

Answer 1

The problem with knife defence is that there are so many charlatans and bulls hit artists out there that don't teach you the realities of the knife because they themselves don't realize it and are either spouting crap and they know they are, or they are spouting crap because that is how it was taught to them and they have never trained it, or faced a realistic situation with it.

The true reality of knife defence is that there are no guarantees, and even the greatest master of unarmed martial arts is at a severe disadvantage against even an untrained person with a knife. (No one actually says: Here I'm comin' I'm going to stick you. Striking with an ovehand attack, that begins 5 feet away).

Here are some videos that show a bit of reality about knife defence:

knife slashes- non-situational:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a00TPkq6CBE&mode=related&search=

Situational- where knife is presented at close range like a robbery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-uH93EQzKs&mode=related&search=

Knife range and ability to pull and fire a gun (however it could be argued that the cops are polish- therefore they are more a danger to themselves with the gun than the attacker). *

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8884586003342147853&q=martial+arts+myth

At about 5:24 it shows the reality of knife wounds.

*cheap polish joke- LIghten up

The reality of knife is that:
1- it is such a quick and "naturally used" weapon that anyone can pick it up and be a tremendous threat, and

2- many people who teach it don't know how to actually use it therefore they are having people do unnatural and unrealitic attacks that are defendable, and

3- ignoring the reality of the knife attack and the context it comes in. In a realitic situation, no one is going to lumber across a football field to stab you. Likely they will pull out the knife and use it before you even realize that there is a knife involved if thier goal is to just harm or kill you. If there is another situation where the knife is a tool for threats (as in the one video) then there may be a possibility, but still you can expect to get cut.

Because of the above, even a gun is not proof against a knife as the situation is one of surprise, and close range, if you are like charles bronson in deathwish where you carry your gun in your overcoat pocket looking to kill someone and prepared for an attack, that might be different, but people don't do it.

Any knife defence is still likely to get you cut, the real goal is to minimize it so it isn't fatal.

Answer 2

Sure you can defend yourself against a knife attack. The problem is knives are so unpredictable. If an attacker has a gun, you know how he's going to use it. Almost always they will pull the trigger, the bullet comes out in a straight line and kills something. With a knife it can twist and turn in so many odd ways, even wrist locks aren't safe since the hand can still move sometimes and prick your arm, chest or hands.

The best defense against a knife is to run away or blind your opponent with mace or a powder to throw in his face. But learning proper knife defense isn't worthless, it's just not always safe because anything can happen with a knife.

Answer 3

impossible, i don't believe so.

but it's extremely unlikely you disarm someone with a knife without being cut no matter how skilled you are.

i once saw a video of a supposed high level martial artist showing knife defenses. he should have called the video 101 ways to get stabbed by a knife.

so it may become a question of, "You know you will be cut defending against a knife, so where do you move/defend to get cut the least severely while having the best shot at a disarm?"

Answer 4

No defense is ever easy, but you can accomplish defensive moves against a knife wielding attacker .

Answer 5

Depends on the element of surprise. But i think you can if you know its coming. If its not a committed strike, its not going to do as much damage as it should, so you won't really have someone changing directions in mid swing.

I view the intent of someone weilding a knife is to kill, so if the strike is non lethal, its been defended.

Answer 6

you can't exercise for a couple of months and then be able to defend yourself against knifes. it will take a lot of training to be able to.

and yet, we have some martial-artist masters who might get hurt if some1 attacks them with a knife. you can never be sure.

Answer 7

Actually, the art of Aikido was designed for an unarmed person to defend him or herself against a katana-weilding opponent, so defending against a knife would also fall under Aikido.

Answer 8

the best way to protect yourself is to avoid the attacker if possible.if you have to fight find anything you can get your hands on that could help you,a stick,a rope,your belt ,etc.a hand full of dirt thrown at the eyes can give you enough time to get away.the best you could do is run to a place that has a lot of people.tko

Answer 9

There is a method I feel that works...it comes from the equalier defense Gaining Ultimate Nerve (GUN for short)