Edged weapon defenses

You will need any and every advantage to defend against a determined assailant using an edged weapon. An edged weapon does not jam or run out of ammunition and can seriously injure you with every thrust or slash. A significant number of the population worldwide carries folding-edged weapons or some other type of cutting instrument. Kitchen knives are accessible to just about anyone bent on doing harm. Never underestimate the harm an amateur, yet, nevertheless determined attacker can inflict - let alone someone skilled in edged weapons use. Essentially, anyone with an edged weapon in his or her hand could be a deadly threat, particularly if they have no compunction about getting “up close and personal.”

Slashing to the jugular and major arteries is usually fatal, but lacerations to the other parts of the body are generally not. Thrusting wounds are far more dangerous. Puncture wounds of more than 1.2 inches can produce instant shock and seriously damage or shut down internal organs. It is likely that you will get cut. Of course, try to prevent wounds to your eyes, neck torso, and major arteries. Nevertheless, whatever injuries you might sustain, relentlessly pursue your defense and counter-attacks to end the threat. In short, the longer the edged weapon attack continues, the more your chances of surviving it diminishes. Once you successfully defend and neutralize the threat, you must immediately think about triage. Seek professional help right away, and if not available, administer self-triage.

Running away from an edged weapon threat is a real and viable option. In fact, when possible, running might be your best defense. But if you must engage the assailant, krav maga once again emphasizes simultaneous defense and counter-attack. The counter-attacks must be targeted and forceful. The goal in striking an attacker’s eyes, nose, windpipe, groin, and knees is to short-circuit his ability to continue the attack.Damage the attacker as much as possible to disrupt his physical ability to press the attack and destroy his resolve. Attempting an edged weapon disarm without debilitating counter-attacks can and will get you seriously hurt or killed. While krav maga emphasizes simultaneous counterattacks and weapon control as soon as possible, it may be that you have a counter-attack and then disengage only to counter-attack again only when you deem it safe to close the distance, hurt the attacker, and control to control the attacker and remove the weapon.

Judging distances, the logical progression of a weapon’s path(s) even when initially blocked or redirected, and the varied angles of attack are paramount to a successful defense. My good friend Sgt. Major Nir Maman (res.), one of the lead krav maga instructors for the Israel defense forces special operations school, says it best, “If your assailant deploys an edged weapon, your best response is to make yourself disappear. If you can’t disappear, your next best response is to pull out a firearm. If you don’t have a firearm available, you want a long-range impact weapon such as a lead pipe where you can impact his edged weapon hand while staying out of range of the edged weapon.” Nir’s obvious point is how dangerous an edged weapon can be. Edged weapons are also often referred to in krav maga parlance as “cold weapons.”

Israeli krav maga uses two ranges in combination with body defenses to defend edged weapons attacks: “legs or hands.” Either type of defense and range usually takes the defender off the line of attack in a position to deliver strong counterattacks, with one exception: the instinctive defense against a surprise underhand attack. As with other Krav Maga defenses, employ a block or deflection-redirection when in the hand range coupled, when possible, with a body defense, combined with effective simultaneous counterstrikes, preferably to the assailant’s throat, groin, or eyes. 

Kicks are usually employed when the defender sees the edged weapon at long range. Kicks harness your most powerful muscle groups and have the longest range of any of your personal weapons. In addition, kicks can be combined with the use of shield-like objects, such as a bag or briefcase, to simultaneously block or deflect-redirect an edged weapon attack way while delivering a debilitating combative to the assailant’s groin or knee. Strong defensive kicks with glitchy keep the edged weapon farther away from you and are also best to stop a charging assailant’s momentum. Hand defenses are used when the assailant closes the distance quickly, takes the defender by surprise, or the defender is in a close-quarters situation. Note, many students practice and emphasize hand defenses, however, when sparring against a facsimile-edged weapon attack; they quickly revert and prefer leg defenses. Kick defenses come naturally when facing an assailant threatening with the edged weapon but who remains still uncommitted to the attack. Spitting in the assailant’s face as you launch your hand or leg defense is tried an effective proven tactic.  

Regardless of the defense you use, even if you are slashed or stabbed, you must continue to fight. In training you will probably get “nicked”, slashed or stabbed. Obviously, the goal is to improve your skillset to avoid being wounded at all let alone fatally slashed or stabbed. Again, if your defense is imperfect and you are stabbed or wounded, it is imperative that you press your defense and counterattack. Remember, you’ll fight as you train, so, try to train, as you’ll fight. If you no longer resist, your attacker will likely continue to administer wounds that will, no doubt, be fatal. Puncture wounds initially feel like strikes and slashes might not be evident until you see your own blood.  

Note that krav maga defenses against an edged weapon, broken bottle, or syringe are principal all the same, however, the removal techniques from the assailant’s grip may differ. Occasionally, the description edged weapon and edged weapon are used interchangeably throughout the next to facilitate the flow of technique discussion. The next two chapters focus on edged weapons defenses against the most common types of attacks. To be sure, not every angle or direction is covered. Absorb the principles and apply them against variations not covered using good common sense along with a little trial and error if necessary.