Hard-Won Wisdom now back with Paladin Press

Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks: How To Avoid a Fight and Things to Do When You Can't or Don't Want To is now back with Paladin Press. You will notice it has a new cover design, with the same photograph of me striking Brian Hurd, that was used with the iUniverse edition.

I will have the updated cover and prices on my website very shortly. I will then have copies for sale then as well.

If you have one of the original Paladin Press editions, or the iUniverse edition, this book is the same. However, if you don't have a copy, now is the time to add it to your self-defense library!

Alain

Overhand knife attacks

Here is an interesting observation.

Peyton Quinn and I were talking about knives at the Animal List BBQ this summer, and he was telling me of some of the research he had done. He pointed out that many knife "experts" talk about how no one will attack you with the overhead ice pick grip ala "Psycho." Peyton said in his research, many or most, I forget the accurate number, of the prison attacks he was researching were done with the overhand ice pick grip. Yes, maybe the FMA knife expert won't attack you in the way, but it is a very common attack according to Peyton's research. This video clip reinforces that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyiZLvHC2rM

(Please note the video is not the best, and it is a real knife attack, and may be too graphic for some individuals)

Some of the prison research can be attributed to someone using a shank that is only good for stabbing. Without an edge, slashing and cutting type of attacks would be useless. Regardless, it is an attack that is used, and something one should prepare for when training to be prepared for knife attacks.

Obviously, the best defense is to be aware and never let someone with a knife or shank get close enough to attack you with it. While this is the ideal, sometimes things don’t work out that way, and you must be able to deal with whatever is thrown at you.

Stay safe,
Alain

Jim Wagner's Disarm Rules

Some of you may be familiar with Jim Wagner. He's a police officer who also teaches and writes for Black Belt every month. He also has some new DVDs and a book out through Black Belt.

I was reviewing an older video he put out a few years ago that had his four rules regarding knife disarms. It basically teaches a drill and his four rules.

1. Grab
2. Close
3. Take Down
4. Escape

The drill goes like this. Person is in a corner, so you can't run away, or do as many evasive moves. Attacker comes at you with a knife. Attacker comes hard with any attack and keeps attacking with multiple slashes/stabs. The attacker does whatever he wants to do to kill you. Wagner does not teach any specific techniques, he just has you do whatever you can to keep the knife away from vital areas which is mostly slap type blocks until you can grab the arm that is holding the knife. He then teaches to close with the person immobilizing the arm and preventing the attacker from moving and continuing the attack. He does teach that you may get cut during this, but it should be minimal to the damage that could be done. After closing, he teaches to throw the guy down and then escape, don't go to the ground and try to wrestle with a guy with a blade.

I found that actually doing the drill worked in many attacks. Yes, all of us doing the drill took cuts, etc. But backed in a corner with very few alternatives, the grab, close, takedown, escape worked. And trust me, if you are backed in a corner with no weapon faced with a knife, you don't have many alternatives and will have to do whatever you can to survive. Needless to say, it is a situation you do not want to be in. One more reason awareness and avoidance are so important. But if all else fails, having trained in this drill, and remembering Wagner's rules could save your life.

One thing I noticed, after people grabbed the arm with the knife, if they didn't close and get better control of the person, sometimes the person would fight out of the grab and continue to do damage to the person. Grabbing and closing and controlling the arm fast is the key. Everything is going to happen in a blindingly fast second. You can be dead, or you can survive in such a short time.

I think this was a good video, and it is a good drill. There is also validity in those rules that can save your life.

Stay safe!

Alain