This week’s scenario will be the last in our chair series…
Using a Chair as a Shield or Weapon
Saturday, 12/14, 8:30AM
Post requests for future scenarios to the comments below!
Photo credit: practicalowl, on Flickr
Machete Defense?!
The usual question came up the other night at the end of a stick defense class: What if the object is not blunt? What if it’s a machete?!
My very brief thoughts:
- RUN!
- Grab anything you can to use as a shield and/or weapon.
- If you have to make a defense, it is most likely going to be a “stick” defense rather than a knife defense due to the size of the weapon and the hacking nature of the attack, which more closely resembles how a blunt object is typically used. When making the redirecting defense against an overhead or angled swing, we ideally make first contact with the wrist and avoid the weapon altogether. When making the blocking defense against a horizontal swing, we ideally burst in past the weapon and slam into the attacker’s arm. The key adverb here being “ideally.” Our stick defenses are designed to “work” (i.e. avoid fatal injury but not necessarily serious injury) even if we’re very late in our defense. Not so much with a machete, though. And, of course, I would not recommend using a stick disarm against a blade!
- For me, my ideal defense (if I were able to kindly request of my assailant) would be Knife Defense Against Backhand Slash: dodge a forehand slash and pounce in on the dead side before it comes back. You know, if I could choreograph it.
- We’re talking about a miscreant with a machete here, not a master swordsman. If you run afoul of these dudes, I cannot help you.
- Did I mention RUN?!
Colin sent this video. It is NOT Krav Maga, and I don’t agree with everything in it, but there are some interesting and useful points.
Knife Observations from Moshe Katz
Here are a couple of interesting articles by Moshe Katz of Israeli Krav Maga International.
Really Bizarre Krav Maga Videos…
‘Get Back, Stay Back’ is a fashion story with a difference, combining self-defence how-to with high fashion starring model Lara Stone. Trained in Krav Maga, a self-defence system used by the Israeli Defence Forces, Stone demonstrates to women everywhere how to defend yourself against would-be assailants, whilst wearing high fashion.
The concept sounds silly, the videos look bizarre, but here’s the thing: The information in these videos is actually really good!
See all the videos on YouTube and the official site. Also check out the interviews with Jonathan Bullock and Magda Nikitczuk of the Institute of Krav Maga UK.
Krav Maga Knife Defense Drills: Quick Observations
We’ve been focusing on knife defenses in Fight class for the last several weeks, gradually increasing the intensity of the drills by combining the defenses with higher levels of contact. One drill looked like this:
The knife-wielding attacker wore headgear, mouthpiece, and a body protector. He or she was restricted to upward and downward stabs with the right hand, but the assault was frenzied and relentless.
The defender wore headgear, mouthpiece, and a 16-oz glove on the right hand only. Ideally, he or she made a 360° Defense against the first stab with a simultaneous counter with ACTUAL impact, transitioned to a control position, and continued with combatives until the threat was neutralized or enough space was created to escape the room.
The defender performed the drill five times consecutively. Each iteration began with decreased space between the participants. The first began with enough space that the defender could use a Defensive Front Kick if he or she chose. The last began nose-to-nose.
