Knife Attacks and Knife Defences – Part 1

Size
Strength of the blade
Skeleton and shape
Process and materials used to produce the blade
Weight

These features are mainly important for knife collectors, but not for criminals (in most cases) or terrorists.

The blade, which is the most important part of the knife (at least when we talking about attacking) may be ceramic or made of different combinations of metals. These are actually a very important feature, because the strength of the blade and its production process may predict the possible number of attacks performed before it brakes, angle and depth of the penetration and even rhythm of attacking.

Common Knife Attacks

Many of us are familiar with different systems dealing with both offensive and defensive techniques using the knife (Filipino Escrima and Arnis, Siok, Gurkha knife fighting, Russian Systema and many others).

Some knife fighting techniques are being taught in different military units in order to teach soldiers to use the knives on the battlefield. On the other hand, these people represent a relatively small proportion of attackers in real life (either as criminals or terrorists).

The majority of attackers do not have the previously mentioned skills. But, just to make it clear, it is very possible that they already have experience of using the weapons, so we should not expect hesitation and be ready that our opponent can be very determined.

Due to its availability the knife is used in crimes of passion, criminal acts and of course terrorist attacks. Most common types of attacks therefore are not the ones being taught on the courses and trainings of martial arts, but relatively “simple” and “non – complicated” if it is possible to call knife attacks in such way.

The most common attacks include:

Circular attacks
Straight attacks
Stabbing actions
Slashing actions

Of course all these may be performed to different body parts and from different directions

Circular attacks

Are the strongest attacks due to the significant use of the body weight. This is especially true in the case of attacks from above or below where there are many major muscle groups participating in developing the force (shoulder muscles, chest, leg core and the large back muscles …).

Regular stabs

Usually performed downwards or in an angle, is basically universal, because it can be performed from standing, lying, sitting or kneeling positions. These are mainly pointed to the upper body (neck, face, torso), at least by the standing attacker. Sometimes this attack is done horizontally inward or outward like a hammer punch sideways.

Oriental attacks

These attacks are supported by the back, gluts, hip and leg muscles therefore also providing significant force. The main problem with this type of attack is that it can be equally dangerous if performed from long or short distance. These are mainly pointed to the lower body (abdomen, kidneys, in some cases upper thighs). One of the most horrible attacks is to the left upper quadrant of the body. This is due to the angle of penetration that may cause perforation of the stomach and result in leakage of the acid into intra-abdominal cavity … Painful death within 15min if urgent volume and respiratory support is not provided.

Straight stabbing attacks

Mainly carry horizontal transmission of body weight, therefore not as strong as the previous two. It allows higher frequency of attacks compared to the other two. In most cases this type of attack is used by a standing opponent. Attacks can be pointed practically to any part of the body. A single attack can be deadly if it hits between ribs 2-3 or 3-4 deeper than 7cm (in the average man) due to possible penetration of the heart muscles and resulting hemo-peritoneum or hemo-thorax. As well as injury to the lungs where parenchyma or collapsing of the lung can begin and can be deadly and shocking (paralyzing the victim) if urgent therapy is not provided

Slashes

Are rare compared to the other attacks. In many cases these attacks are used to neutralize the defensive abilities of the defender (cutting the hands, legs, tendons …), in other cases used to attack specific parts of the body with high vascularization (neck, face).

All of these attacks are dangerous. Statistic shows that averagely 7-8 attacks killed a person. This is not always true due to multiple reasons (just to mention few … depth, point and accuracy of penetration, level of impact, determination of the attacker, mental state of the attacker, type of the knife / blade and its structural skeleton… as well as the time that passed until help and medical attention arrived). Thus it is not uncommon to hear that a person was killed or severely injured by a single knife attack.

by Dr. Tal Kvores Expert level 4 KMG Global Team of Instructors