Sifu,

I was wondering what you consider to be the best approach to knife defense? I know the ideal thing to do would be to run. However, what do you do if you have no choice but to go up against someone with a knife? Are there any specific drills for this? I feel this is one area I am currently lacking in.

Thanks in advance.

Andrew

Hello Andrew,

You might have to step outside of JKD for knife defense. I don't know of that ever being a part of what Bruce Lee taught. There are a few "photo sequences" of Bruce doing knife defense in on of the "Fighting Methods" books but that's it. Krav Maga's knife defense looks like something that might fit the JKD structure. They do a lot of simultaneous attack and defense. One difference is that they lean forward when they do it rather than standing erect.





Beyond that I would suggest getting a partner with a training knife to come at you. Try different things and find out what works.

Regards,

John M. Drake

The knife defenses that I train is JKD, nothing that isn't taught in the JKD curriculum to be specific.

Things like rezoning with longest weapon to nearest target: A lunge knife attack for the belly could be answered with, as an example:

Rezone with side kick to knee, low parry to protect from knife coming back into you (all done together), - could follow with lop & hit following with a figure four armlock to disarm/break, etc.

I know Lamar told me about a time that a guy lunged at him with a knife and he did a basic lin sil die dar (I believe, if I recall correctly, loy ha pak da).

So I don't think you need to look outside of JKD for knife defense.

You certainly can, and I'm not saying there are not better things than JKD for knife defense - but what I've been working with IN JKD has been very useful. Also, as way of limiting responses, I prefer to keep it that way. Since it is what I'm training already.

Just my thoughts!

Hi Guys!

It's funny, but all of the photos of the krav maga guys above are basically bil da or slight variations! I don't understand anyone feeling that they have to look outside of JKD structure for ANYTHING, unless they are wanting to get into the MMA competition stuff, in which case you probably need to work some ground tactics from jiu jitsu and wrestling.

When defending against a knife, look at it almost the same as you would the empty hand, considering of course that they have one hand that can now cut you! Be more aware of the angles, so that you limit their lines for slashing movements, and go to work! Keep in mind that everything that you do must be directed toward immediately ending the conflict. No time to play, as in "Well, let's see if this works!" This is the time to turn on that KILLER INSTINCT, thinking of nothing but DESTROYING that attacker in front of you! Take care of business and get out of there!

In Bruce Lee's own words:

REFLECTIONS ON COMBAT
by: Bruce Lee
As excerpted from Commentaries of the Martial Way


A man with a weapon is the one at a disadvantage
The man who pulls a knife on you is at the disadvantage. He will clearly lose the fight. The reason is very simple. Psychologically, he only has one weapon. His thinking is therefore limited to the use of that single weapon. You, on the other hand, are thinking about all your weapons: your hands, elbows, knees, feet, head. You're thinking 360 degrees around him. Maybe you're considering some form of escape, like running. He's only got a lousy knife. Now he might throw it at you. Let him. You still have a chance to avoid it, block it, or he may miss you. You've got all the advantages when you think about it.


As Bruce Lee noted, most of the time when someone has a knife, they forget about all of their natural body weapons. It was his opinion that when someone has a knife, you are at an advantage, as you are still focusing on using ALL of your natural body weapons. Of course, times have changed, and more are aware of "proper" knife fighting tactics, which is something else you should be aware of.

You should be focusing on not getting cut of course, and eliminating the threat at the earliest possible moment, using whatever means possible. From a psychological standpoint, you should be looking at it already that the possibility of being cut does exist, and that you probably will get cut. If you don't, and then you get cut, you will probably come apart at the seams! I have been in a few fights where my opponent had a knife. I have been cut a few times, but nothing ever serious. I was so focused on taking the guy out that I didn't know I was cut until after everything was over, one time driving for nearly fifteen minutes (night-time) before realizing that my left hand was almost stuck to the steering wheel (dried blood)! Never overlook the psychological aspects of combat!

Everything that you need is with you, just use it properly when the time comes and you will do just fine! Keep yourself under control mentally, and let your physical tools go to work! Take 'em out fast and hard, and GO HOME ALIVE!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
JKD@windstream.net
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"The REAL future of Jeet Kune Do belongs to US, the few, the proud, the HARDCORE! Now, what are we going to do with it?" _ Sifu Lamar M. Davis II

Hello Lamar,

I agree with your point about most of the KM pics look like bil da. That's why I think this fits in with JKD. I also agree with your assertion about the need to know about knife angles. But where is someone supposed to learn that if they are not taught knife angles? And how are they to be sure that it will work if they never pair up against someone holding a training knife and test what they're doing?

Anyway, I'm glad some people finally answered this question. I waited several days before posting anything.

Regards,

John M. Drake

Hello John!

I wasn't specifically referring to anything having to do with a knife when I said "angles". I was referring to the universal pattern that exists in all martial arts when it comes to the possible angles that an attack comes from. With or without a weapon, they are all the same! Sorry I wasn't more specific with that!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
JKD@windstream.net
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"The REAL future of Jeet Kune Do belongs to US, the few, the proud, the HARDCORE! Now, what are we going to do with it?" _ Sifu Lamar M. Davis II

Hello Will. If I'm reading you right you actually have someone coming at you with a training knife in some of your drills. That's good. That's how you find out what works. Maybe everything happens the same as normal, maybe it doesn't. You mentioned the side kick to the knee with a simultaneous "low parry"? In practice I've found that difficult to do and got "cut" with the training knife more times than I'd like. I might not be doing that right. If you could upload a clip to YouTube I'd love to see it.

While I'm sure you can use JKD tools to deal with weapons, it's the APPLICATION with regards to weapons that I think people have to be mindful of. Sticking with the "low side kick" for example, if I was using that against a jab I probably wouldn't have to worry about a parry, let alone a simultaneous one. The knife increases the range and lethality of your opponent. If someone "punches" my leg after I side kick him that probably won't hurt much. If someone "slices" my leg I could bleed to death.

That's what I meant by "get a training knife and see what works". I think someone should find out what works in the gym, not in the street. In the street you should already know what works.

Regards,

John M. Drake

Hi Andrew & everyone!

Lots of good posts here. JKD is definitely
a well rounded fighting art. I have heard
it called the most "elite" today. I agree.
I also think Krav Maga is very similar and
has some great weapons defenses. But, you
can see the JKD moves in it, as Sifu Davis
said.

Bruce Lee's Fighting Method Self Defense
is excellent. It only shows a few weapons
defenses, but they can be expanded into
others.

I have been waiting to see what some others
would say to your post. Good responses.
Thanks to all of you.

Dick

Hey John,

Yes, we train with plastic training knives.

The low parry is a bit modified, the elbow rides higher than normal and you kind of hollow out a bit. This is to make up for the fact of the blade. With the parry, I find that it is difficult for someone to slice at my leg (the "high elbow parry" stops the knife from coming into me or my leg).

Plus I'm angling off (rezoning) which makes it harder to bring the knife into me also.

That's just one example of course. We work vs. the main knife angles \ | / - . (Best I can do with ascii hehe).

Thanks for the responses. We trained knife defense in class tonight. Basically, we put all our sparring gear on and one guy attacked with a knife while the other defended. My partner was attacking me realistically which was nice because I found out what worked and did not work very fast. I found myself using a lot of footwork and stop kicks to the shin/knee. I made a lot of mistakes but it was a good experience.

Andrew