Knife Attacks

Last week in class we spent a lot of time practicing reverse knife slashes and discussing how we sometimes have to recover from our natural reflexes and responses, that although keep us safe from the initial assault/attack, may lead us to be in a disadvantaged position for the follow-up or secondary phase of the attack. It is always worth remembering that assailants with knives will almost always recoil the slash or cut, to set up a second and a third attack etc.

The standard 360 Block that is common across all Krav Maga systems, is based on the body’s natural flinch reflex, that is triggered when fast movements cross the line of our peripheral vision e.g. such as a swinging punch or a slashing knife. In such instances the body will naturally and with lightning speed raise the arm to intercept the attack. There are times however when circular motions occur within our peripheral vision, and in such situations if the movement is within the eye-line you will make a swaying back motion to move the head out of the line of attack; rather than bringing the arms up to block. This is a good back-up defense that the body has when the flinch reflex isn’t triggered. The only problem is that with a knife slash, it’s very easy for the attacker to reverse the cutting action and slice again.

Our fear system is incredible at making natural defenses but it only does so against the first threat/initial attack, it relies on us, or our conscious processes, to deal with whatever happens next. The problem that you will encounter with swaying back, is that your weight is all on the back foot, which means that moving back will be almost impossible – the only way to shift the weight and move is to go forwards and start to put weight on to the front leg i.e. sway forward.

What we need to do with the swaying back motion is to “assemble” another motion with it. Namely raising the arms up (this is the same thing we do with the 360 Block; training the flinch response to result in the forearm being extended and held out at a 90 degree angle at the elbow, along with a body movement away from the attack, and a simultaneous strike). By bringing the arms up as you sway back in you have a natural “block” to any reverse cut or slash, plus you are now able to close the person down and restrict further movements of the knife.

Restricting and limiting the movement of the knife is the first part of any knife defense, whether the defense is a solution to a threat or an attack. Many times it’s not possible to apply “technique” especially when you are surprised and caught off guard, with your body moving you out of the way, or putting you in a disadvantaged position for the next phase of the attack. Then it really is a matter of just working to the principles and applying the concepts. When it is almost impossible to recognize and determine the threat, such as in the case of a fast, reverse backhand slash (after you failed to identify the first attack), everything must come down, to restricting movement, getting two hands/arms on the knife, and getting your body positioned behind the blade.