To get an answer to the often discussed question if selfdefense against attacks with knifes respectively edged weapons or blunt objetcts as clubs etc. is possible, it is at first important to get rid of a misunderstanding.

In order to survive an armed assault it is not necessary to fight against the attacker, often this would be even fatal. The aim of a selfdefense situation should be always the flight – yet better a planned retreat.

Therefore of course it could be necessary to fight against the attacker, the overall aim again should be to get away – unscathed if possible. A victory is not essential.

A small difference? The appearances are deceptive, even if this sounds like hairsplitting. The influence of the overall aim “planned retreat”, at the way you act in a self defense situation is significant.

Put it that way:

If it is my aim to eliminate the opponent, I have to act completely different than as if I would have the only aim to survive a dangerous situation. The tools for both scenarios may be similar or even the same – that makes the situation even more confusing.

What does that mean regarding to our training?

At first you should be clear that the biggest problem is to recognise the attack in time. Even if there would be such a thing as a “perfect defense”, it would be of no use if you would recognise the attack to late. Against a surprise attack you are quite helpless. The chances of getting away unscathed is very low.

The best defence here is awareness, you should always watch peoples hands if there are approaching you. Even in normal live it would not do any harm to do that. In a tensed situation that could escalate to a violent situation this is even more important.

Also it is important to know specific body positions that can be used to prepare an assault. The earlier you spot one of these positions the better you can plan your retreat which is – again – your primal aim. The good point about this is: you can practise this.

If the assault allready started, the situation is worse. Some people will advise you to turn around and “just run”, but this may not so easy as it sounds in the first place – you need a plan beforehand.

You have to buy the time that you need to escape. This can be done for example by throwing something at your attackers face. This can be anything that you just happen to have in your hand when the attacks begins. The harder and heavier the better, but even a light object – thrown at the face of your attacker can distract him. This may be enough time to get out of the line of attack.

It seems to be very logical to run at this point but it can be necessary to throw your attacker of balance before you run. Everything that costs your attacker time to recover is to your advantage. A shoulder slam or a kick to the leg of the attacker may even send him flying.

As soon as the attacker is tumbling or even falling the time for running has come. Now it is very important not to get pannicked and run into the next corner of the room or into a room without an exit. Adequate training may help here to stay calm.

If you did not get the attacker unbalanced or if you don’t have something to throw at hand you have to fall back upon unarmed defenses against armed assaults – this is the worst case scenario.

In most situations you will just not have the time to get to your own weapon may it be knife, gun or tactical baton. As long as you don’t have something allready in your hand when the attack starts, your first reaction will have to be unarmed.

Also in this scenario the overall aim should be flight or retreat. If the attack starts at close quarters or the assailant does allready have a hold of me, my first target should be not to get hit that often. This can be done through blocks and parries. The idea here should be to control the weapon hand as possible this is done by getting into a better position – a so called “superior grip”.

From this position you should to anything to hurt the attacker, headbutts, fists, ellbows, kneestrikes, biting and eyegouching – everything is fair game to hurt the attacker.

This is not to incapacitate the opponent. You want to create a time slot. This is, as mentioned above, to give the opportunity to retreat.

I am writing this article in Germany where it is almost impossible for a normal citicen to legally carry a gun. Of course if you are allowed to carry a gun you can also use the created time slot to get out your firearm.

This short article is not to be misunderstood as an instruction sheet. It is just to give some general ideas to the selfdenfense from a different point of view.

Text: Christian von Praun

Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com

About the Author:

Christian von Praun is the founder of the Individual Combat System. He is into the Martial Arts since many years and specialises in Filipino, Chinese and European fighting arts. He is teaching Martial Arts at a club in Düsseldorf/Germany.

www.individual-combat-system.eu