Knife Attack Lessons

Found the below on another Blog and thought I would share as it touches on several key-points that we discuss in class; most importantly: an Offensive-Mindset.

Reality Check: Knife Attack Lessons

My client (we'll call him Mr. M) was walking back to his car after socializing at a local music club when he became aware of two men shadowing him.  They came from different directions but both were moving on a path that intercepted his own.

 

Lesson 1: Situational Awareness.  Awareness of your surroundings is your first defense.

 

Now registering the potential threat, Mr. M changed direction.  The two men changed their own paths accordingly.

 

Lesson 2: Evasion. It is always better to avoid trouble than to meet it head on.  Even though Mr. M's change in direction did not allow him to escape, it did serve to help reveal the intentions of the two potential attackers.

 

Realizing that the two men intercepting him were going to reach him before he could get to his vehicle, Mr. M took two important defensive measures.  First, he positioned himself between two parked vehicles and a wall so that only one man could approach him at a time while simultaneously denying either of them access to his back.  Next, he drew a folding knife from his pocket, opened it discreetly and hid it behind his right thigh while placing his left side forward; effectively assuming a defensive posture without appearing to do so.

 

Lesson 3: Position. Antisocial types that prey on otherwise law abiding people usually attempt to put their victims into a position of disadvantage. Whenever possible, turn the tables on your attacker(s) by positioning yourself in a place that forces the attacker to face you on your own terms.  This is especially important when dealing with multiple assailants.  Force your attackers to meet you one on one or risk being surrounded.

 

Lesson 4: Preparation.  Realizing the potential danger of the situation, Mr. M didn't wait for his assailants to confront him before drawing his weapon.  On the flip side of this coin, he did not posture with his weapon either.  While displaying a weapon to an attack can act as a deterrent, one should never rely on a weapon to discourage an assailant.  A truly determined attacker will either attempt to use your weapon against you or just simply attack anyway.  Posturing with a weapon can also lead an attacker to escalate a situation exponentially.  Flashing a weapon is an easy way to end up bringing a knife to a gun fight.  Note: Mr. M is a firearms enthusiast but was not carrying one that night because the local municipal code prohibits the carrying of a firearm into an establishment that serves alcohol.

 

Seconds later, Mr. M was confronted by the assailants.  Because of his position, they were forced to approach him single file.  The smaller of the two approached first; quickly and aggressively.  Mr. M. expected them to confront him verbally but this did not happen.   As the first assailant moved into his personal space, Mr. M gave a verbal warning to stay back.  Without a word, the first assailant lashed out with an edged weapon that Mr. M had not seen and was never able to identify.  This is becoming a common tactic among the local thugs.  Instead of showing their weapon and demanding money, they initiate the robbery by cutting the victim's face with an aggressive attack, then robbing the victim while they struggle with the shock of being cut and bleeding.

 

Lesson 5: Challenges and fighting stances are not common in violent attacks.  Bad guys don't necessarily announce their intentions and shout "On guard!" while assuming a fighting stance.  Don't expect them to and don't expect to get the chance to do the same.

 

Lesson 6: You will probably not see the knife that cuts you.  Forget about tracking and catching it.

The assailant's attack came at Mr. M's face/neck area at a downward, diagonal angle.  Even though he did not realize he was being attacked with an edged weapon, Mr. M reacted defensively by leaning back (taking his head out of the danger zone) while bringing up his left hand up to protect his face/neck.  His left hand caught the attack and was cut along the side of the hand.  Almost simultaneously, Mr. M counterattacked with his own knife; cutting at an upward angle into the attacker's arm; by his own estimation striking him somewhere near the tricep.

 

Lesson 7: Expect to get cut, even if you do everything right.  Knives are too fast and too unpredictable to track. However, we can protect our vital targets and counterattack effectively based on our assailant's actions.

 

Lesson 8: Strategy.  Keep the targets most likely to take you out of the fight (eyes, neck, torso) out of range. Use the outside of your non-knife arm as a shield to protect your primary targets.  Don't seek to cut or stab the assailant in a specific place but cut or stab whatever target comes into range (in this case, the arm).

 

The cut to the first assailant's arm was apparently enough to discourage any further aggression as the wound caused him to cry out and retreat backwards; crashing into the second, larger assailant.  Mr. M wasn't sure if the second attacker was armed or not but the effect of the first assailant running backwards into him interrupted his attempt to launch an attack of his own; leaving his right arm outstretched for a second.  Taking advantage, Mr. M thrust his blade into the larger attacker's arm; striking him somewhere near the bicep.  At this, both assailants fell over themselves trying to beat a hasty retreat; leaving Mr. M bleeding and shaken but alive. The entire incident lasted only seconds.

 

Lesson 9: Aggression. "Invincibility lies in the defense but victory lies in the offense." These were the words Sun Tzu used to describe the relationship between offense and defense.  In other words, you can block or evade every blow thrown at you but if you don't attack, you don't win

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