Knife Defenses

[Greg Shindler]

Greg Shindler is an Instructor for Fit and Fearless/Westlake Krav Maga
in Austin, Texas. Mr. Shindler studied with John Whitman, one of the
foremost leading practitioners/instructors in the world. He began his
training with CJ Kirk at Krav Maga Houston and still trains with the
Houston school any chance he gets. Mr. Shindler is passionate about
Krav Maga and dedicates 5-6 days a week to training and instructing.
For more information, you may contact him by email at
gregsh...@gmail.com or visit www.westlakekravmaga.com.

Krav Maga knife defenses are some of the best and easiest defenses
against an edged weapon attack around. But is ANY knife defense really
going to work in a LIVE setting? I read recently where if there were
solid, consistent defenses against a knife, attackers would stop
carrying them and move on to something else. The suggestion is that
any knife attack is hard to defend against. Edged weapon attacks are
certainly the type of attacks that keep me awake at night. The angles
of the attack can vary vastly. The aggression of the attacker wielding
the knife can vary. The size of the blade. And so on.

What does seem to be effective is Krav Maga's fundamental principles
of addressing the danger and counter attacking (before controlling the
weapon and finishing). If we are successful in "blocking" the knife
and IMMEDIATELY deliver a counter strike to the attacker, the chance
for surviving the attack increases significantly. The counter attack
is what saves your life. From there, if you can run...RUN. If you must
continue to fight, then getting control of the knife is paramount
while "softening" up the attacker with combatives.

This much is true. In an edged weapon attack, someone is definitely
getting cut. The focus is on picking up the knife attack early
(situational awareness here, folks. you have to be aware of your
surroundings and the people in them at all times.) and trying to be
early with your defense and counter(s). Training repetition and
working the angles with your training partner is a good idea. Let me
know what your thoughts are on this topic. We are all trying to learn
from one another. Thanks.

Greg Shindler