Sifu Dansac Explains Advanced Knife Defense

Hello Laui, nihao! My name Sifu Dansac, I am Kung Fu Master. Recently, many Laui read Sifu Dansac teachings on unarmed knife defense, bar fighting and escape from mugger. In those lesson, Sifu explain self-defense points practical for everyone, no matter size or level of training. Today, Sifu go into more depth for benefit of martial arts student and serious practitioner.

TAKE BASICS AS READ

Okay, so what are basics of unarmed knife defence? Basics are enemy with knife, try to kill you. Important remember right from off-set that man try to kill you is bad man; when you fear for you life, you have right to use extreme force. Sifu will explain legalities of extreme force and other deep Martial Arts issue.

EXTREME FORCE

Reasonable force is legal term, define in law to mean ‘minimum necessary force’; generally, this interpret to mean as much force as is need to repel attacker. Law not expect you to win; law expect you to survive and escape. Therefore, things Sifu will discuss in article only applicable when opponent is try to kill you and there is no way for escape except kill him first.

STEP 1: OVERCOME FEAR

Fear of knife is major problem; to overcome, Laui must be familiar with weapons and associate dangers. Best way overcome fear of knife is train with sword. Sifu say train, not carry; carry sword is illegal. It most important train you body, because read article not enough. Even if you memory good, recall Sifu advice in emergency, it not matter what you mind remember; you body must also remember and know what to do. Only way to teach body is to train.

If you are experienced Martial Artist, maybe even black belt, go ahead and get shinai (bamboo Kendo sword), then get friend and garden. It bad idea train even bamboo sword in street or front yard; police not like that sort of thing. It also bad train indoors with weapon, especially in house, so train outside in secure location such as own garden.

Proper equipment also essential; use proper shinai, which are cheap and safe. Whack friend with shinai, him only bruise. Whack him with stick, even cheap broom handle, you maybe break a bone. Shinai also not break; improvise wooden sword can break and become sharp-tip improvise spear; Sifu cannot stress enough, use proper shinai.

For best training to overcome fear, Laui should not us protective equipment. Kendo armour very expensive and reduce physical fear in training. Whole point of exercise is to feel fear in safe environment, feel shinai connect and what it like be hit; Laui learn quickest when training is real as possible. Nervous Laui may consider gum-shield and eye-goggle when use shinai, but Sifu think this make for lazy Laui.

If you are not black belt or very confident of your training, do not train shinai without supervision; it okay for black belts whack each other with sticks, they can take it and trust each other not do something stupid. Other student should have additional person look out for safety while train with shinai.

It not necessary be any good at sword fight; it only necessary for Laui to experience intensity of sword-fighting adrenaline. Once you have experience this, adrenaline of fear from knife much less, more familiar and easier to handle.

STEP 2: DISARMING ENEMY

Now you are brave, used to fight opponent with long reach and quick sword; knife is small and quick, but not nearly so scary as sword. Sword have what is called ‘defensive line’; this is solid barrier of sword edge between you and opponent. It not necessary him hit you, only interpose defensive line of sword in you path. Knife does not have defensive line; it is small, and opponent must present weapon in attack to do you harm. Obviously, if you are stupid and run straight onto knife, you in trouble; do not be reckless, but attack you opponent secure in knowledge that you can disarm man with sword, so knife much less scary.

Basic principle of sword fighting is to deal with weapon, then opponent arm, then opponent body. Same principle apply with knife; first, evade knife and seize opponent wrist. Do not seize hold of knife! It is possible grab knife by flat of blade, but very dangerous to try; intensive training and much luck needed to succeed. Seize opponent wrist and apply wrist lock. It not matter which wrist lock; only necessary cause opponent pain and occupy knife from attack again. If you familiar with nerve points, apply with wrist lock to increase opponent pain-compliance.

Do not concentrate on wrist lock at all; make grab, apply pain and immediately attack opponent arm. If possible, strike to elbow joint before apply shoulder-hold or arm-lock. Between wrist lock and shoulder-hold, experienced martial artist should find enough options to break opponent arm. Less experience Laui should only try restrain enemy; you are not done defend you self yet.