Self-Defense Tip 71 Everyday Objects as Weapons of Self-Defense: Jacket vs. Knife, Part II

Before I show you how to disarm a knife-wielding attacker, here are a few facts:

A knife-wise attacker can make five or more knife stabs or cuts in one second, each to a different body part, and can maintain that intensity for a few seconds. (By “knife-wise” I mean an attacker who knows about attacking with knives, not necessarily a highly trained knife-fighter.)

Jacket, a weapon of opportunity against a knife attack

With your jacket or other piece of clothing, you should aim for the nearest target, striking a blow that will “interrupt the program.” If the face is safe to hit with your jacket (the knife is just being drawn, your position permits it), then hit the face. If the knife-holding hand is closer, hit the hand. If you miss it, hit the face or that hand again. Your task is to slow down the attack so you can disarm the attacker.

Jacket vs. Knife, Part II

The video above presents the concept of slowing down the armed hand with a piece of clothing and using the cloth to lessen the likelihood of being severely cut when grabbing the armed hand. At the instance the cloth is draped over the armed hand, it gives you some protection against getting cut as you lock the arm or wrestle it to the ground.

When the opportunity presents itself, you may grab the knife-holding arm (its forearm to be exact). If you grab it, do so as if your life depends on it — because it does — and pull that arm to the ground. You want to press the knife-holding hand into the ground. Your body should block the attacker from grabbing the knife with the other hand.

Question: What if the attacker has a second knife?
Answer: You are doomed.

Question: What if there is more than one attacker, also armed?
Answer: You are doomed.

And now, for more education, six myths of knife fighting:

Now if, when attacked by a knife fighter, you had your Unbreakable Umbrella with you, then your defense would be simpler and safer. Every whack with your Unbreakable Umbrella has a good chance to be both disarming and disabling. It does not matter whether you strike the armed hand or the unarmed hand, a kneecap, a throat, or an eye orbit, or whether you stab the trunk. The Unbreakable Umbrella powerfully applied to any hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or knee, even to the meat of the limbs or the trunk, leaves a “strong and lasting impression.” In good hands, it leaves a bone-crunching, bloody strong impression. . . . For examples, see Self-Defense Tip #75 — Everyday Objects as Weapons of Self-Defense: Why Unbreakable® Umbrella? and Self-Defense Tip #107 — Self-Defense with the Unbreakable® Telescopic Umbrella.

Attention:
Applying any of the techniques mentioned above is your sole responsibility.

Neither Never-Thought-of-It LLC nor the author of this self-defense tip, nor persons pictured in this self-defense tip, make any representation, warranty, or guarantee that the techniques described or shown in this tip will be safe, effective, or legal in any self-defense situation or otherwise.

The reader or viewer assumes all risks and hazards of injury or death to herself, himself, or others, as well as any resultant liability for the use of the techniques and methods contained in this self-defense tip.

Specific self-defense responses demonstrated or described in this self-defense tip may not be justified in certain situations in light of all the circumstances or under the applicable federal, state, or local law. Neither Never-Thought-of-It LLC nor the author of this self-defense tip makes any representation or warranty regarding the legality or appropriateness of any techniques described or demonstrated in this self-defense tip.

Self-defense tip from Thomas Kurz, co-author of Basic Instincts of Self-Defense and author of Science of Sports Training, Stretching Scientifically, and Flexibility Express.

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