Re: EPAK Knife Defenses?
I agree that our knife defenses are a litte "optimistic." From what I've heard about, and in one case, personally seen; most knife wielding attackers are not going to lunge at you and be obliging enough to leave their arm there for you to parry/grab/trap/whatever. Most attacks will probably be either a rapid-fire prison-style "shanking" or someone who just slashes wildly at you (which is what happened to a co-worker of mine).
If I was faced with a knife I'd want something that would give me the ability to strike from farther away than he can (a gun would be nice)--a chair, pool-cue, whatever, just something to keep me from having to engage either knife vs. knife or empty-hand vs. knife.
As I mentioned in the other weapons thread, we recently added a basic knife defense to our yellow-belt list. For those who may not have seen that thread, the basic technique is to obtain a 2-on-1 hold on the attacker's knife hand/wrist and HANG ON! At this point, throw knees and kicks to the groin, knees, and shins until he drops the knife. I also like head-butts in this situation. From here, if you've softened him up or distracted him enough to give up the 2-on-1, you can throw some hand strikes or elbows or go to an arm-bar, armpit trap, or a takedown. Or, just run.
The test: "Will this work so that I can use it instinctively in vital combat against an opponent who is determined to prevent me from doing so, and who is striving to eliminate me by fair means or foul?" ~ Col. Rex Applegate
Matt K.