Warrior Pages, Defense to a knife thrust attack

Sensei Ed Potter demonstrates a defense to a knife thrust attack.

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Category:

Sports

Tags:

• karate
• jiu-jitsu
• martial
• arts
• self-defense
• Shuri-ryu

[ShuriLeopard]

Thanks ExplosiveFist for the detailed comments. I'll have to try that with the incense sticks. We do train pretty realistic knife fighting using plastic knives and scattering chairs and other debris around the room. Evading and kicking the knees was the most common defense we fell into.

[ExplosiveFist]

These techniques are for passive practitoners only! Work only in dojo & get you killed on street!

[ShuriLeopard]

How do you train knife defense? What do you think would work? I've never been attacked by a knife, so I try as many different systems as possible, and take what I like from each of them.

[bakakata]

And hey, if you dont get cut then great "it just means your further along the path" :) -b boy

[ShuriLeopard]

Excellent comments bakakata. We do practice free flow knife defenses, and no, they do not look like this video. Of course it is highly influenced by the skill of your attacker. Still, we do have to practice some techniques prior to going free flow.

[jdsII465]

WRONG THIS WILL GET YOU KILLED

[kempobrad]

generally i agree, for just about all weapon attacks, not just a knife. get off the path of the weapon, and try to control/disable the weapon hand. personally i would've added a few knees and elbow in there.

[kempobrad]

not to mention a jail term for assault with a deadly weapon.

[Highspeed7]

I really hate to correct the experts, BUT... as an instructor myself, NEVER move to the inside of a knife attack. Always move to the outside. Reason being, the knife can be turned inward, with one slip on the inside of a knife attack, you are fucked. The knife comming in is a number 2 attack, for those of you who know what that is. With an inside out motion, an outside twist and turn you want to get on the outside of your opponent.

[domurr]

"I think the most important aspect of this technique is the footwork " agreed. the footwork of running away!

[JinLamus]

Great comment, totally agree.

[jonasblue99]

all my knife attacks were just like that! if only i would have known this defense, i would have died 45 seconds into the attack instead of 30!

[onmitsu9]

I think the most important aspect of this technique is the footwork used for getting out of the path of the knife. The real trick with a "real" atttack is not getting your arms slashed to bits by a trained fighters reactions. Once you move from the path of the thrust most folks who know what they are doing will divert the knife to a different target. Not a bad technique if the attacker is dead set on a thrusting stab.

[Rathryn]

though if we look at it from a different viewpoint it might actually work in a slightly altered way against a punch, right?

[bakakata]

(generally at the arm, neck and throat follow suit). It is necessary to know when to attack, and when NOT to attack the agressor when a knife is involved. Best to wait for the attacker to really attack (not just stick the knife out and wave it alittle) before launching a counter offense... which means evasion must be practised. -b boy