Conceptually a response to any attack in general remains the same whether it is with or without a weapon and comprises three simple elements.

• Avoid the attack,
• Control the attacker and therefore the situation, and
• Then neutralize the attacker.

Certainly it sounds easy but most concepts do. There are innumerable considerations that establish a diverse number of variances that may impact the outcome of any altercation; hence the phrase “it sounds easier than it really is” certainly applies. However, that having been said, let’s get back to concepts.

In attempting to avoid your attacker you will immediately start to read your attacker looking for signals and his body language that will indicate his intent and motivation and the intensity of his hostility and psychological commitment. If it is money the attacker is looking for then pay for your life and buy your way out of this situation and give up your cash. Even if this is an option it does not mean that you will not get hurt. If your option is to act defensively then understand that you will get cut and that this realization is your start point. When closing with the attacker it is not all about the weapon certainly it must be controlled but the real weapon is the person using the knife as a tool. Have it focused in your mind that you must stop the attacker and you will stop the attacker using the knife.
Attacking the limbs or the intelligence that is controlling the limbs and ultimately the knife is an effective means of defeating the attack. For this to occur however, we must always be mindful of where that knife is and control the weapons movement. However, in controlling the limbs we can lock the wrist, forearm, shoulders neck or head. Remember all of this is happening as a fluid continual series of attacks. Our final goal in this process is to neutralize the attack and the attacker.

Avoid.

When dealing with an attack by an assailant with an edged weapon understandably the defender needs to avoid the attack. The majority of injuries sustained by a victim in a knife attack are defensive. Defensive injuries usually involve wounds to the extremities of the victim’s appendages such as the inner areas of the forearms where the victim has reacted instinctively in an attempt to shield or protect themselves exposing these vulnerable targets to the attacker. These wounds will also extend to the leg or thigh if the victim has tried to kick out at their assailant. Other wounds can result as the victim has attempted to flee their attacker.

What needs to be remembered is that the weapon when used properly especially by a person trained and understanding the nuances of speed, power, fluidity, mobility, tactics, target areas, and who is intimately familiar with the use of the weapon and displays the psychological commitment to support such an attack is a formidable opponent not easily defeated.

This is enhanced even further by the attackers understanding of the social, moral and legal consequences of that attack no matter if it is successful or not. Therefore the attacker has committed their all, is emotionally charged and as such is unpredictable, hard to read and extremely dangerous.

The defender needs to be aware of this and be prepared to respond accordingly developing the appropriate mindset. It is a poignant point to remember that a victim is a person unable of successfully managing to defend against an attacker with an edged weapon.

Avoidance will be based on what strategy the defender employs against the attacker. Will the defender stay out of the range of the attacker’s weapon employing anything what comes to mind to ensure that the attacker’s weapon cannot be properly used enabling the defender to gain the initiative, respond, and counter the attack. This can include using the environment, anything as a distraction, furniture or items to include clothing as an obstacle, barrier or as a weapon against the attacker; anything that can distract, disrupt or defeat the attacker in their efforts. Surprise, subterfuge and treachery should always be employed.

As an example, if necessary throw an item you have with you at the attacker, use furniture as an obstacle or as a weapon, spit in the face of the attacker responding quickly to take advantage of their temporary distraction and disadvantage. After distracting the attacker the defender needs to move and close with the attacker to control the weapon. This is best achieved by moving off line from the attackers advance while protecting the vulnerable target areas of their body as best they can while closing to a distance suitable to effect control of the weapon and the attacker.

Once past the knife, the defender needs to move to the side or rear of the attacker to control the attacker's balance and ensuring that the knife is as far from your body as possible. This is the stage where staying at a close distance to the attacker becomes essential. Once you establish contact with the assailant's body, you have to remain as close to the attacker as possible restricting his opportunity of movement which will psychologically unbalance him as well as in the normal physiological way. Any space between you and your attacker works to his advantage, giving him space to maneuver the knife or control your balance which will result in your defeat.

The outside and the inside of the attackers body position is best described as the outside being when the defender moves to their left ending up on the outside of the forward advance position of the attacker. This enables the defender to position themselves outside of the attacker’s body and direction of movement and in a position to control and strike vulnerable parts of the body and gain easy control of the head and the attackers leading hand controlling the weapon. The inside of the attackers body position is when the defender moves to their right ending up close to the attackers body and target areas like the stomach, groin and face.
This is applicable when the attacker is using their right hand to execute the attack. If the attacker is using their left hand to attack simply reverse the description above.
When faced with an attacker with a weapon, the choices available include retreat, preferably offline from the attackers advance, escape to the outside and escape to the inside of the attackers body position, escape and enter to the outside and the inside and escape, enter and rotate to the outside and the inside. Each of these responses as an initial movement allows the defender to shorten the distance between them and the attacker. Once the defender has closed the distance and is close it enables the application of neutralizing techniques of the defenders choice, experience and training background to be implemented.
When moving to the inner or outer side of the attacker the outer side provides more advantage as it moves the defender to a position where it is more difficult for the attacker to respond by punching or kicking if the defender remains close to their opponent. The inner side will move the defender to almost in front of the attacker’s body.

When confronted with the attack we have ten methods of avoiding that attack by moving off line from the attackers advance as follows:

← Outside Retreat Escape: Slide rearward, tucking the stomach, right hand blocking the weapon, left hand protecting the stomach, be aware of knife striking leading right leg.

 

Inside Retreat Escape: → Slide rearward, tucking the stomach, left hand blocking the weapon, right hand protecting the stomach, be aware of knife striking leading left leg.

The retreat escape affords the defender time to think and maneuver, adjust footing and stance. Furthermore, it compels the attacker to respond to the defender. This action will occur in a split second but during this time the OODA process enables the defender to judge distance, decide on the suitable defence, and assess the attacker’s position and capability identifying weaknesses and anything that can give the defender an advantage.

In general any form of retreat is seen as a sign of cowardice. You are afraid to fight or you are unable to match your opponent's strength or ability, so for the defender to step back to avoid being drawn into a confrontation can also be employed as a deceptive measure to lure the attacker. This tactic could also signal to the attacker for them to back off enough to let you escape. This is, of course, the safest and most intelligent way to defeat an armed attacker. However, the possibility of the attacker allowing you to flee is also unfortunately the least likely outcome.

While a retreat may be a sensible option it does have disadvantages that make it unworkable in some situations. The retreat escape may not be an option in a confined space. And while gaining a physical advantage by retreating, the defender may lose the psychological advantage. The minute you step back, the psychological upper hand goes to your opponent. The attacker will gain courage from your retreat but this will compel him to respond and lure him to be overconfident. You must however maintain focused and psychologically committed. If you do not maintain psychological commitment your fear will only be magnified by retreating in this way.

Escape, enter and escape, and enter escape and rotate are common methods of avoiding and closing with an attackers thrusting, lunging, or slashing knife attack. These methods of avoidance allow the defender to reduce the distance and get close to the assailant. This will restrict the amount of options that the attacker has and forces the attacker to respond. By closing the distance and using the attackers momentum against him will restrict the attackers ability to employ their knife unrestricted. The attacker will be compelled to block the defenders attack and will become distracted from their initial primary attack with the weapon lessening their advantage.

These forms of avoidance, escape, enter escape and enter escape and rotate can be executed either to the outside or the inside of the attacker. The outside and inside describe the direction of the defenders movement in relation to the attackers body and in avoiding the attackers assault and movement.
The outside series of escapes is much safer for the defender to execute and enables the defender to get close to the attackers head or upper shoulder. These series of movements also enable easy control of the weapon hand. Performed correctly the advantages of the outside body movement by the defender has significant advantages. The outside body movement of the defender is able to get behind the attacker, the attacker is placed in a position where they must adjust their body position to continue their attack and the movement of the attacker’s weapon is restricted.

The inside escape, enter escape and enter escape and rotate has a higher risk potential but is very intimidating when followed up with a rapid and seamless control and neutralizing technique. These movements will place the defender directly in front of the attacker’s chest and face or adjacent to their body. This enables the defender to get between the attackers line of vision and their weapon. The defender however, must move quickly to follow up or face the risk of the attacker trying to counter with a grappling or striking technique. From this position the defender can easily strike the attacker’s face, liver, spleen and groin.

Escape to the Outside: → move 90 degrees offline from the direction of the attack, block the weapon hand, free hand protecting the stomach.

← Escape to the Inside: move 90 degrees offline from the direction of the attack, block the weapon hand, free hand protecting the stomach.

Enter Escape to the Outside: →
Enter by stepping diagonally forward, move 90degrees offline from the direction of the attack, block the weapon.

← Enter Escape to the Inside: Enter by stepping diagonally forward, move 90degrees offline from the direction of the attack, block the weapon.

Enter Escape and Rotate to the Outside: → Enter by stepping diagonally forward before moving 180 degrees offline from the direction of the attack and either block or claim the weapon, the entire appendage, or the head of the attacker.

Enter Escape and Rotate to the Outside: ← Enter by stepping diagonally forward before moving 180 degrees offline from the direction of the attack and either block or claim the weapon, the entire appendage, or the head of the attacker.

Forward Outside Close: → Pass the attackers thrust or lunge, move forward, strike the attackers face.

Forward inside Close: ← Pass the attackers thrust or lunge, move forward, strike the attackers face.
Passing the weapon is achieved in combination with the chosen method of avoiding the assailants attack. The defender blocks the blade slipping the attack using the attacker’s momentum against them and finishing the chosen avoidance technique.

 

 

How the defender avoids an attack and closes the distance to the attacker will depend on the skill level and experience of the defender. If the defenders skill base is limited avoiding to the outside is safest. Considerations include the following:

• Stay as close to the attacker as possible after closing with them.
• Focus on taking control of the knife first.
• Controlling the knife wielding hand is always preferable to parrying or blocking.
• Obstruct the attacker's view of the knife.
• Close the distance quickly and smoothly.
• Never take unnecessary chances or use complicated techniques.

• Detach yourself from the fear you feel when faced with a weapon and maintain psychological commitment.

• Stay alert but unemotional.
• Keep a natural demeanor and deceive your opponent.
• Move suddenly and without warning, explosive speed and power are essential.

Control.

It is essential that the defender control the weapon at all times maintaining the initiative. Weapons such as a knife, machete or even a stick or hand gun are short axis weapons.

Short axis weapons are those that can easily change the direction of the focused attack by a slight or minimal move of the attacker’s wrist. With that in mind control of the weapon hand by controlling the wrist is crucial.

 

Attempts to control the weapon by grasping the forearm and not controlling and immobilizing the wrist and weapon hand can result in failure because the wrist is still able to be moved as is the weapon hand and the weapon.

 

 

Simultaneously the defender needs to not only be able to control the weapon but also control the body of the attacker. Certainly there are numerous striking, locking and grappling techniques that will achieve these objectives. What needs to be remembered is that it must occur with seamless speed, focus, power and fluidity and be instinctive. There are several options to control the body:

• Control the weapon by controlling the wrist and hand that the weapon is being held in is a must.

• In addition control the entire appendage by locking the shoulder or elbow of the attacker.

• Control the attacker’s body by controlling their head, and or a combination of all options simultaneously employed in a swift and fluid motion leading automatically to a neutralizing technique or in itself becoming the neutralizing technique to counter the attack.

Once you have closed the distance with the attacker, you have access to his head or neck to apply a finishing technique of your choice. Attacking these vulnerable areas will remove the attacker’s ability to function and coordinate the attack or any response for that matter. It must be your intention to completely neutralize your opponent and their ability to use the knife to kill or injure you with. In achieving this you destroy the attacker’s functionality of using the weapon.

 

Remember the defender needs to stay close to achieve this especially if the attack is to be instinctive when disrupting the attackers cutting or thrusting attack.

It must be remembered by the defender that to achieve control distraction is an integral element in countering these types of attack and needs to be employed while attempting to avoid the attack as well as when controlling the attack. It should be remembered that “Pain” is an excellent distraction and will assist to neutralize the attack.

 

 

The wrist lock is one of the most useful techniques in controlling your opponent. Often the defender may encounter situations in which they cannot execute kicking or punching techniques as a result of lack of space for movement.

Furthermore the defender needs to stay close. This enables the defender to employ wrist manipulation to control and claim the weapon and control the attacker. Remember, the wrist has many vital points, once you know how to do the techniques properly; you can take complete control of the attacker without causing permanent damage and ensuring that your own actions are compliant to the use of force continuum.

There are four primary manipulations of the wrist: straight, reverse, lateral, and hooking angles. In addition there are four ways of controlling the direction of you and your attacker's movement: forward, rearward, lateral, and spiraling circular paths. Whether the defender manipulates the wrist from a standing or kneeling position or while defending from the ground application of the same principles to control the attacker are achievable.

To be efficient and effective employing wrist locks and or wrist hand throws you need to develop strength within your thumbs and fingers along with your forearm muscles to be successful in executing these types of techniques.

Neutralize.

The choices available to neutralize the attack are boundless and include striking, throwing, locking and grappling techniques based on the defenders training, experience, psychological outlook and physiological ability. Where possible the counter needs to conclude once the attacker has been neutralized. The situation is neutralized where the attacker no longer poses a threat to anyone including themselves and they have been disarmed and subdued.

This must be achieved in compliance to the legal requirements established by society. Failure to do so is at the defenders own peril legally speaking and may result in their breaking of the law if ignored. That having been said a combative situation may define that the use of lethal force is required by the defender while still complying legally.

However, legal considerations aside we must also train for the possibility of having to use lethal force and what that means to us psychologically. It is necessary to overcome the natural human phobias of injuring or killing another human even in self defence. Hesitation and lack of the required psychological commitment can result in the defenders subsequent failure and death. Whereas displaying the correct mental attitude and steely eyed commitment may indeed be enough to communicate to the attacker that the defender is prepared and capable to use lethal force. In that case it may end up a win, win situation of sorts where both protagonists live.