Your body is a machine. A machine made of flesh, bones, organs that allow it to function, a feeding system to "feed" it - the blood system - and a transmission system to coordinate everything from the brain (the nervous system). Of course this is a schematic (any doctor would present the body in a more detailed way), but it will allow us to establish a basic premise: any significant damage to this complex machine jeopardizes its ability to function, even prevents it from continuing and can lead to death. The human being, as the biggest predator on our planet, is perfectly aware of this fragility and has never lacked imagination to develop a means of attacking or defending himself, from the good old club to the inter-continental missile. But there is ONE weapon that has crossed the ages, the fashions, the technological evolutions without ever losing its usefulness in the eyes of our species: THE KNIFE. In various forms, swords, daggers, daggers, folding knives, from flint to the latest carbon steels, it is used everywhere and remains an indispensable defense tool (we'll talk about mushroom picking and sushi cutting another day, eh?) and deadly - in a hand-to-hand combat situation.
To be convinced of this, just use your kitchen knife to cut out your steak or any piece of meat. Did you see how sharp a sharp knife is? Just imagine that a human body is made up of the same structure to immediately understand how a knife thought and intended for combat is a terrifying weapon. Terrifying for the one in front, but especially for you if you do not know how to use it!
A knife really does damage? (go directly to 1m07s):
Do you understand the principle? Perfect! In two words: you won't get out of a knife fight unscathed. Whether you're a martial artist, 2 meters and 100 kg, if your opponent (or opponents) touch you with a blade (EVEN IF THE BLADE IS NOT WOUNDED WITH MUCH POWER) you will be immediately injured, potentially very seriously.
Some statistics (Professor Boxho - Institute of Forensic Medicine of Liège):
- 30% of people who have suffered a knife attack die (against 10% for those affected by a bullet)
- 80% of people affected by a knife (thrusting) did not notice it - they thought of a simple punch - it is the presence of blood that gives the alert
People who are armed on a daily basis (with a handgun or rifle - police and military) believe that the safe distance to the knife carrier before shooting him/her is 25 meters. Why is this? Because the inertia of a moving human body (of a man of 70Kg for example) will be sufficient to reach you, even if shot.
Now that it is well understood that to fight with bare hands against an opponent armed with a knife is simply suicide, it is a question of choosing the ideal knife to accompany you in your daily life, to be used for your defense but not only (to prepare a sandwich, to tinker with the children's cabin...). It must have several advantages:
- Be easily transportable without risk for you
- The handle of your knife is adapted to the morphology of your hand (its size is the same as the width of your four fingers together)
- The blade is (ideally but always with what we have) adapted to your fighting style (Bowie, Karambit ...)
- Obviously if it is maintained and sharpened!
Once you have chosen the knife of your dreams and (I'm not going to dissert on the subject, but it's important) that you have made the psychological step to allow you to carry it on a daily basis, you MUST learn the basic movements to familiarize yourself with the sensation of the knife in your hand and avoid injuring yourself or someone else unintentionally:
- Drawing/Sheathing
- Opening / Closing (in the case of a folding knife)
To begin training, a safe and effective method is to use a felt pen (instead of a knife) against an opponent who is also equipped with a felt pen of another color.) After an exchange of blows, count the number of marks on your respective bodies...and you will quickly understand that it is far from being won!
There is no "correct" way to wield a knife, except your own. You will have to find the position that is naturally familiar to you, the one you are most comfortable with. On the other hand, HOLDING your knife correctly is essential! Your hand must be at one with the handle and leave as little opening as possible for an opponent who wants to disarm you. The simplest grip (and therefore THE ONE TO ADOPT IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY) is called the "hammer grip" - your hand is completely wrapped around the handle, and your thumb is also positioned around the handle (like when you use a hammer). This grip has the advantage of optimal power when you make a thrust or a cut (from top to bottom), without having to be very technical. There are (depending on the fighting style, your technical level, the type of knife) a variety of grips. Just remember that the goal is to be effective and to SURVIVE, it is not a choreography.
We note that:
- Your blade is ALWAYS in front of you (and between you and your opponent), like a bulwark.
- Keep your back to yourself, try to offer as little surface area as possible to your opponent's blade (pull in your shoulders and head, adopt a "fighting" posture).
- ALWAYS stay in motion! You can move from right to left or from front to back but EXCLUSIVELY facing the opponent
- Do not make large movements with your arms (at the risk of being injured by a blow from the waist) but limit them to the fastest trajectory (straight ahead).
- Use your knife rather than your arm to parry the blow. A wound, even a superficial one, that bleeds profusely will be very disabling. A good knife fighter will parry THEN strike (in theory...in practice...come what may!)
- It is very likely ( VERY CERTAIN ) that you will not be able to dodge all of your opponent's blows. Even if you keep your distance, even with a long knife. It is ESSENTIAL to preserve your organs and bloodstream. If you have no choice, use your arm to save your vital functions.
- BEFORE YOU STRIKE:
- Keep your distance (and stay in motion)
- Observe your opponent and his reactions, his repeated movements, everything that can look like a “routine”
- Observe (and where appropriate use) your environment
- AT THE TIME TO STRIKE:
- If you are in danger of death, strike as soon as the opportunity arises.
- Remember that your stroke must be direct, straight to the target
- At the moment of the blow, stop thinking and let your body take over.
- Strike with as much power as possible, towards the neck or upper torso (heart and lungs) if possible
IF YOU DON'T LEAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN DANGER BEHIND YOU AND THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, RUN AWAY! IT'S NOT ABOUT ACTING LIKE A FILTHY PUSSY BUT ABOUT STAYING ALIVE. AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL IN THIS CASE IS TO SURVIVE!
To go further : contact me, I will send you a list of books, websites, methods...
Stay strong, be blessed!
