What are the best self defence moves, to evade a knife attack?

Answer 1

Use your brain.

Knife myths:

1- attackers will attack with that "overhead" stab you see in so many mcdojo (and non-mcdojo) videos.

2- you will know the knife is coming BEFORE you make contact/ start fighting.

3- learning such "defence" techniques, are going to mean you can always take care of an attacker with a knife.

KNIFE TRUTHS:

1- if you go against a knife with your bare hands (or feet) you WILL get cut- the goal is to make sure it is not in a dangerous or fatal area.

2- most time you will NOT EVEN KNOW A KNIFE IS IN PLAY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

3- your safest course is to NOT fight against a knife using opponent (obviously you may not realize, or may not have a choice).

4- Since a knife is often used by the person who "got the drop on you", you might not be able to pull a gun in time. someone looking to cause harm to you with a knife is not going to be lumbering towards you from 20 feet away shouting I'm going to cut you. You likely won't even know until it is too late and might not have a chance to go for your gun.

5- most martial arts classes don't provide effective techniques against a knife, what they do is put your life in danger by giving you a false sense of security, and inherently minimize the danger (in your head) that a knife really poses.

6- it takes little skill to use a knife effectively.

7- most "knife defence" when you are unarmed is going to be a "desperation move".

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

some "knife vs. gun videos"- granted, they are polish, but so is the guy with the knife.


your most effective technique therefore would be awareness and always presume your opponent has a knife and try to tie them up so they can't use it against you- if it isn't already in thier hand.

Answer 2

RUN !!!!!!!!!!!!! Watch any top sports person - the worlds best boxers get hit sometimes , the greatest fighters in the UFC get hit & kicked sometimes and the worlds best footballers sometimes miss an open goal . If you are cut by a bladed implement and it severs an artery you will have in many cases less than a minute before you will pass out from loss of blood . You will also be terrified if you've got any real idea of the situation you are in . This does not help - sparring in a gym is not life or death however you dress it up . If you can avoid being attacked with a bladed implement ( I use this to cover knife , broken glass/bottle , screwdriver , used needle , etc ) by virtually any means then do it - hand over your money/valuables/car etc - you can get more - you can't buy new eyes . If you cannot escape by any means then look for items around you to use as an equaliser - eg bigger bladed implements , chair , table leg , cutlery , hot liquid such as coffee , missiles such as glasses & bottles - anything! .Try to keep space between you - throw objects , get behind things such as furniture . Make as much noise as possible to hopefully attract help - scream aggressivly , break a window - anything! If it comes down to a fight at close quarters consider that one slash or stab could be fatal . Therefore common sense dictates that you use any level of force you can . I would suggest gouging the eyes - try to remove them , biting - try to rip/remove/tear off whatever you can ( particually ears , nose , throat , fingers ) , and any kind of move where you cause major damage to the head such as driving an assailants head into walls , floor , sharp objects , etc . Have a look at some of Paul Vunak's stuff on You Tube particually the sequences where he cuts a joint of beef & where 2 students spar with a marker pen . Again I stress the advice I've given above is only if there is ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER WAY to protect yourself . If you could have left the scene & did not do so or could clearly have avoided the situation before a fight started & you subsequently injured or killed an assailant then you may well be judged to have acted illegally by the legal system & I for one would have no sympathy for you . Regards TM

Answer 3

Saw some knife attacks results on Utube - disgusting wounds on real people in real life hospital ER's, sorry to be boring and repeat the above answers but 'run away' (the military term is tactical retreat) just as fast as you can. Likely you will not know you have been knifed or that the attacker has a weapon of this sort until its over. These (would be) people do not have the code of conduct that true martial artists have to guide them. Avoid knives were ever possible

Answer 4

Your best bet is to deflect or grab his knife hand, and move past him. The more you can get him unbalanced on the way the better.

This is pretty much the only defence you will have time to conceive and execute if faced with a knife at close quarters.
There are other more fancy solutions, but they have a greater "fall height" should they fail. You do not want to end up in a wrestling situation with a armed foe, nor let him get the possibility to grab you.

By moving past him, you will hopefully get some head start on him.

Then you do a all out dash, while getting out your sword and shield...

Answer 5

Following are guiding principles when confronting an opponent armed with a knife:

> First, you should not fight him if it is still possible.

> You should put in your mind that the fight is not fair and he is going to take your life. This means your reaction to his action must be serious and you must be ready to take his life too if you are going to fight him.

> You must also realize that you have two opponents, the knife and the person himself.

> If you have no choice but to fight him and save your life, deal with the weapon first and the person later.

> If you want to defend yourself, your distance must be 1 meter away from him. When he steps forward, keep the same distance by doing 1 step backward. If he steps backward, you must do 1 step forward.

> Actual technique when dealing with a knife is not easy to teach and learn thru writing like this. You must be at least an advance green belter in karate before you can take up those techniques. I am sorry but you must take up any kind of martial arts before you learn this stuff. Otherwise you will be putting yourself in unnecessary danger which is as true as the saying "little learning is dangerous".

> Finally, I would say that dealing with a knife attack is not just simply learning disarming techniques. You must have the complete knowledge of martial arts and physical training must be a way of your life. As a judo-karate practitioner, I believe we can successfully defend ourselves against a knife attack provided we are doing physical training. After all our opponent is only a human being and has one life too.

I hope I have shared something which might be helpful to you.

Answer 6

If you actually see this attack coming and cannot evade the situation completely. The best way is always the simplest. Step out of the way and slap their hand away, preferably to the inside of their body. This will place them in an awkward position and give you more options (aka run like hell or attack) this works from any angel and remember someone almost always ends up being cut.

Answer 7

Gotta understand those self defence courses generally are terrible, i've had this chat plenty of times with woman who do it in school when they find out i do martial arts. + fitness really plays a minor factor when it comes to dealing with the psychological AND physical fear when attacked. Its also pretty easy to subdue a woman by simply hugging her, granted ye might get a misdirected knee to yer general pubic area but believe me what yer looking for (ie ''basic self defence'') doesn't exist. I'm not saying it takes years to learn but you have to have a full understanding off how you will react in the situation & training in how to react better, theres a difference between a self defence course where the guy half heartedly goes to grab your arm & restrain you to when a guy is full force yanking you around the place & squeezing you full force, thats something they generally don't teach

Answer 8

My ju-jitsu instructor demonstrated this technique the other day. After getting everyone to gather round and watch closely, he stood in standard fighting stance while the assistant came at him with a knife. At the first sign of the attack he simply turned on his heel and ran! A lesson well learned if you want to stay safe!

Answer 9

Generally, with this type of attack, the attacker will come straight at you with a thrust. I teach my students to step out with the foot opposite the knife, not the foot closer to the knife. this way, you are out of the way of the attack. With both hands, grab the wrist holding the knife. Now with your other foot, step through to face the opposite way(facing the same as the attacker) while at the same time, turning their arm. This allows for pressure point use. once turned, their mid-arm to elbow should be at your shoulder, your hands still have a tight hold on their wrist. Then come down hard. Yes, this can cause a break, but it is guaranteed to make them let go of the knife.

Answer 10

It is very important to not panic and try to maintain your cool. If you are unarmed and defending against a knife attack, you should try to create as much distance as possible between you and the knife. If you have the possibility to run and escape you should do so ASAP!