Pressure Testing Knife Defense (With Doctor's Assessment of Cuts)

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Disclaimer: it is important to note that we haven't practiced some of the techniques for a long time. At the same time some of these techniques are taught to beginners in a weekend expecting for them to make it work, while we are all trained fighters with combat experience. Another disclaimer - we didn't use powerful strikes in order to avoid injury. Yet there's also the question of their effectiveness in case you miss or if the opponent does not feel the injury under adrenaline or substance use. Links to the tested techniques: #1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3-oi4aVrKd5qpo #2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ7CmWuqirhsj5I #3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYOmfaRrq9l2apY #4 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYmWZ6OgqcyEp9E #5 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmfGhqqsbM6WsKc #6 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4XTomyOnpeHgJo

[@fifedogg511]

Here's what I took from this video knife defense techniques don't really work it seemed you ended up just trying to defend the knife hand any way you could. After your first attempt to try the technique it divulged into more of wrestling over the knife than any kind of technique, just my opionion though

[@yang_yin]

Yeah you're right, practice could change the game, a little. You are doing good work with this videos, you are not for one or other side, you just show us your empiric notes. Thank you for your good videos 🙏.

[@Maodifi]

Thanks for being honest about it. I think the better way of thinking about knife defense is that it is virtually impossible to go unscathed while performing a knife defense, but it doesn't make all knife defense literally junk. The big issue is that (as you said) the way it's usually taught results in completely ineffective performance, especially when you combine the lackluster training methods with the inherent danger of a knife being used against you. I also find it interesting that you chose to use BJJ knife defenses in the video when the style isn't well-known for its knife defenses. This is definitely intriguing content!

[@1individeo]

You should check what these french guys do. They test it in the street with random people kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYPNqHWtodaWa8U

[@kaimbrx]

I am a krav maga greenbelt, from a tradicional “style”. Direct from IMI. You cant mesure “Strength” with the agressor. You Have to punch him first. IMI saw that on the streets. Defense the first attack the SAMETime that you punch him. Then you Try to control.

[@RamseyDewey]

The doctor’s response was a great addition to this test. A lot of people do the marker and white shirt thing, but don’t realize the seriousness of what those marks represent. A few years back, there was a psychopath with a knife here in China who stabbed and slashed 20 people in a row before anyone could stop him- and when they finally got him, it was about 6 guys armed with sticks and chairs that took him out. Hand to hand vs a knife is super low percentage to the point it’s almost a joke to train for it.

[@peezieforestem5078]

So, in the case of knife defense, don't get out there and train?

[@RamseyDewey]

@@peezieforestem5078 Get some friends and get some weapons of you’re serious about fighting a guy with a knife. If you want to indulge in a power fantasy, do otherwise.

[@dangvo271]

@@peezieforestem5078 I remember a KZbin vid a while back, on the ultimate knife defense: the guy do a 180 and Usain Bolted the f away, screaming for help at the top of his lung

[@MrMagnaniman]

@@dangvo271 I remember that. "Help! Help! There's a maniac with a knife!" Something like that.

[@RamseyDewey]

@bo xer only if everything happens in slow motion! Helicopter kicks must always be in slow motion. It’s the law.

[@somentity]

What I learned from this video: Never fight a nurse armed with a knife!

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Hahahah! 100% 🤣🤣

[@felipealday9503]

Nurse's passive: 50% increased crit chance

[@potatovine]

"It's him again, the nurse who knows how to kill." Yep good lesson

[@jatbatman]

Well... As a nurse I had to learn anatomy and physiology. If I have to defend myself, I will use that knowledge. However as a large man with a powerful voice, I am not forced into that often.

[@josephlane1614]

My mother could tell you that.

[@DixieNormas16]

Coming from someone who has actually been stabbed in an attack. What I feel kept me alive was using my outer forearms as shields to block my neck and face, while trying to close the distance and maintain control of the knife. Didn’t win the fight but kept me alive long enough for them to give up and run off

[@steveb8821]

I’d say that counts as winning lol

[@jatbatman]

Knives are a close range tool. You want to broaden the gap, not bridge it. You close the distance with things like baseball bats, that require a medium range or greater. Especially true with blunt force implements, that you can get inside the swing.

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

Ironically the safest move is risking non vital parts.

[@nathanbateman4255]

@@jatbatman if you have no chance of escape it is better to close the gap and control the knife hand

[@Riot076]

@@jatbatman Guess what's an even closer range weapon - grappling. Broadening the gap,if you're commited to fight someone with a knife,'cause you can't escape for whatever reason is the single most stupid thing you can do. All the advantages from greater distance go to the knifebearer,'cause all he's gotta do to threaten you is point his weapon forward. And you have to pass his guard,if you wanna be able to do sth to him. You can think about it like fighting an opponent who uses long guard with the difference being,that each jab he lands is lethal or incapacitating,at least to some degree

[@bashlivingstonstampededojo882]

It's always good to see knife pressure testing videos there's never any easy answers to knife attacks or guarantees

[@Kthomasritchie]

Your best defence against a knife attack is distance. Find an object that you can use to keep your attacker at bay, or run. Of course, the most experienced knife fighters won't reveal they're carrying a knife until you're in the kill zone. By that time, they'd already inflicted fatal blows against you.

[@bashlivingstonstampededojo882]

@@Kthomasritchie I agree controlling the distance and situational awareness are super important if I can get behind a car use my footwork etc

[@TheOHIOsbest]

When we trained knife fights in the Marine Corps I only once really had any success. Keeping in mind we began in a neutral position with the knife between us and had to vie for position at first. My opponent got the knife first, I managed to isolate the wrist and keep his elbow extended, and secured one under-hook before sweeping the leg and using my height advantage to put him quickly onto his back. From there I secured the knife quickly and the drill ended, but I imagine my hands/forearm still would've been gashed up. My instructor always reiterated that if you fight with a blade, even if you're the one wielding it, you're probably going to get cut.

[@lollozen85]

Yes it is right. We have trained a 16 group “swat” in Milan about how to treat whit a knife. Very hard work and you are right: if you encounter a knife probably you were be cut.

[@sampokemppainen3041]

The doctor evaluating it is really interesting. Thanks for the video. Also very entertaining

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks Sampo! I was planning to add only snippets of the doctor's assessment, but found the conversation sooo interesting myself that I included more of it than I initially expected!

[@talaniel]

@@MartialArtsJourney Yeah, this was a great idea :-)

[@nr1NPC]

@@MartialArtsJourney Bro, I wanna be honest with you. I just saw the video of the Kudo visit and your MMA fight. I think your problem is that you are TOO NICE. With Kudo, he wouldn't get injured, yet you held back so much. If you hold back so much, you hold back your own development. Do you do any hard sparring sessions?

[@Raiden4019]

The weird part is that Master Wong's wasn't too terrible, as evidenced by how long you held a stalemate for. Obviously you couldn't be too violent with the headbutt piece, but in function it's basically another two-on-one wrestling transition like what Sharp did, just from a seated position. But what I noticed from even the ones that had a marginal amount of success, there wasn't much in the way of "what comes next", something Icy Mike harps on a lot. Great video, very educational!

[@nunninkav]

With wong's reversal what happens next is, the attacker bleeds out on the bench.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

The big question for me in Wong's technique is if you would react in time from a surprise attack. But of course that applies to all techniques

[@Cetok01]

The missing ingredient in the testing was (necessarily) the lack of shock delivered to the attacker. Perhaps a few hard palm strikes to the side of his head might distract him.

[@frenchef7]

One thing that would be interesting to test, but maybe hard to do, is to actually attack the knife holder. In all of the scenarios here the knife holder was free of danger and was able to concentrate on doing damage. For example Jesse showed a slap that wasn't really executed, and in other scenarios headbutts and elbows may have helped while wrestling

[@scottyg5403]

Good points!

[@pauldempsey5996]

Definitely, if your fighting for your life you need to fight with everything you have, every grain of knowledge and application, striking, trapping, wrestling, bjj and ground and pound, eat there face off if you need to

[@Erime]

And no mention of any of Nick Drossos' videos , where he uses his legs/low kicks to great effect, also - to maintain distance whilst looking for strategic strikes 🤷: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZjbdmR7rdCSq9k Nick's vids also point out the advantage of having shoes on, for kicking. That's the standard situation on the street when you'd get attacked by a knife, isn't it. Rokas et al were probably going for wrestling stuff because 1) they've all drunk the BJJ koolaid about self-defense, and 2) they're in MMA/grappling gear in an MMA sports environment. If Nick can do it with regular clothes on in parks and on the street, I'm sure these guys could too. And also perhaps think about using some low kicks like Nick does. Rokas needs to do this experiment again, for sure. Any traditional, proper martial artist knows grappling is probably the least wise move when needing to fight someone with a knife 😅. Keeping distance, intending to strike powerfully and strategically, whilst finding a weapon of equal potential brutality is a much better approach. And especially if you're taller than your opponent.

[@pauldempsey5996]

@@Erime Nick Drossos is a boss for sure and your right low kicks such as stop kicks and stomp kicks like oblique kicks with trainers on are very effective but at some point your probably going to have to grapple to control that limb or limbs, which is where your wrestling or bjj comes in. Again this all depends on how your attacked and where, how much space you have etc

[@kossonar2663]

@@Erime Yeah, striking and keeping the distance is much safer in a knife attack because it's gonna be harder to get sticked by the knife, you are very likely to get cut but you can easily survive that, and you just need a good punch in the jaw to stop the attacker

[@ultimatecomeback9645]

i think i heard something about some casual everyday clothing that comes with a stab vest built into the clothing but it's quite expensive it's like $200 for a standard black hoodie but I guess that could really help as then it's only really your head, neck, and limbs that you need to protect.

[@nightshade7240]

It is wonderful to see you putting so much of this to the test in as legitimate a way as possible. The other thing people fail to realise is that the knife is going to get bloody and slippery. It's probably one of the reasons a lot of people survive knife attacks, because the slipperier the knife gets, the harder it is to apply effective penetration. I'm not sure why we are still calling it "knife defense." You don't want to be on the defensive against someone attacking you with a knife. All these locks and shit are fun to practise but they are so often about responsive techniques, rather than techniques where you attack to create opening. If you are attacked with a knife you are going to get stabbed or you are going to get cut. The aim should be to limit the attackers effectiveness by attacking. I would also say one of your biggest issues is that you are "fighting on the line". People tend to want to be square on to the knife, it's instinctive. You don't want to fight a knife or weapon on its shortest line to your body. You want to create distance by moving to the offline and circling, forcing the longest distance on any stab or cut, which gives you more opportunity to fight the person, not the knife. I'd be interested to see how you'd engage with these techniques or a practitioner who uses the pikal style knives and the methodology associated with that style of weapon.

[@mattcat83]

One big problem which is unrealistic with your tests is that the attacker knows which defense you're attempting and is actively resisting its effectiveness. You should bring in third parties who don't know to be more realistic.

[@NigelLiottaMacDonald]

Good point, no technique will be very effective if it's all one is allowed to do and the opponent knows that.

[@geoffquartermainebastin9302]

Most knife attacks seem to usd the "sewingmavhine " approach - multiple frenzied stabs. 1. If you are surprised, no technique will work. 2. If you have a reaction gap, the idea is to disrupt the frenzy by a jab, punch, open palm. None of these techniques use strikes.

[@Ullish1989]

You're doing absolutely EXCELLENT work for the entire Martial Arts AND Self Defence community

[@scuffedjesus6527]

In my taekwondo knife defense years ago, we put on a show. My grandmaster told me the real defense is to get really good at running.

[@zeno_aratus]

nope. that depends on distance between you and your attacker and your attackers short distance acceleration capability. unless you have a good head start, you attacker can close that distance and still get you. running as a self defense method is a skill that must be trained. how to get some type of head start 1) throw something - chair, anything, 2) spit at him then run 3) run and as you do so grab anything to put as obstacles in his way. 4) if you have time are wearing a belt, take it off, and use it as part of a retreating reguard action

[@mrq6270]

I absolutely love what you have been doing these past few years. I never had the chance to study aikido, but I very much wanted to! Your journey has been so eye opening. In fact the internet has totally destroyed many martial art fantasies. I grew up on kungfu movies and I always believed that a practitioner could reach some transcendent level of...invincibilty I guess. I think that traditional Chinese martial arts may be the worst offenders when it comes to living in a fantasy world. Very flashy and showy. But when the rubber hits the road all those fancy moves with their fancy names don't mean a thing! I still love all that stuff. But now I take it more as a show. Like a nice ballet. The skill set is still totally amazing. But not so practical when it comes to real life.

[@themask3174]

Little advice : use plastic bottles at full power and speed when practising knife defense. It's safe and the sound and the feeling will make you know if it works, or not.

[@ForwardSynthesis]

Excellent. I've always been sceptical of knife defenses in martial arts. I've seen a few other demos where markers were used and the results were the same. I saw something once where I think helmets were worn and the defender was able to do limited punching, and that surprisingly seemed to work better than just purely focuses on controlling the knife. Something that makes it difficult to control the knife is that you can't easily grip somebody else's arm, because a hand will not wrap all the way around a forearm, and so the grip is weak. I feel like the defender might have a better time if the attacker was wearing loose street clothes/a jacket/etc and the defender was able to grab the clothes of the arm rather than trying to grab a naked arm.

[@OldBadger1]

Strikes, elbows to the face work, if timed correctly

[@SinistralEpoch]

I find it fascinating that all of ya'll went for wrist control by natural impulse when the technique failed, and it seemed to be the most effective to stop the attack when you focused on it from the start.

[@nunninkav]

Wrist control from an outside position, would be superior to staying inside.

[@jamesludwig7822]

@@nunninkav Yes, and then striking with your free hand from the outside rather than fixating on trying to take the knife away!

[@thomass.4007]

@@jamesludwig7822 No dont ever strike. the moment you do some striking shit you get stabbed and die

[@annoyed707]

Make small motion strikes with head, body, shoulder, etc. Second nature and use them immediately when trying to grapple with the knife arm. Better yet, grapple with the whole attacker. That includes using or damaging the knife arm.

[@romantique254]

I think this is an inspiring video particularly for the practioners in need of discernment between practicality and 'organized instruction'. Thank you.

[@prophaniti1]

In Krav Maga not only do you block the knife, but you strike the opponent as well, multiple times while pressing the block on the attacking arm, limiting their ability to recoil the arm for counter strikes.

[@samnaghavi9775]

What I noticed is there are 2 parts in every knife defence: 1-Entry 2-Grappling What most Instructors focus on showing is the grappling part where the defender has a well adjusted grip on the attacker and no one talks about the Entry which is where most knife defence fails. The entry needs a lot of fast reflex and hand coordination and distance management which come from years of training not memorizing a technique and practising it a couple of times. What do you think about this?

[@talaniel]

Yeah, feels like the hardest part is to get a secure grip :-)

[@dylan.-6527]

Look at Flippino martial arts. It's all entry. If you can't get a hold. Just beat your fist or your weapon on the arm/hand of your enemy that holds the weapon (de fang the snake).

[@legin777]

When me and my buddy did this drill we found that basic strikes work best. Weapon focus is real and the guy holding the knife would get caught with hard strikes easily because he was too preoccupied with trying to get the blade in, and not grappled up.

[@solidonaso9763]

The video I always dreamed of, finally responding to old questions.

[@jaykpotter9149]

Excellent content, thank you Rokas, I love your enthusiasm for the subject so much. I would be interested to see the same test with and without Stabproof vest!

[@danielquest8644]

This was a fantastic video! It is exactly how we train in the Martial arts of the Philippines!

[@GBlues1]

One of the most profound things I’ve ever heard about knife defense was from Damian Ross and I quote, “There is a world of difference between being stabbed to death while someone is kicking the shit out of you, and kicking the shit out of someone while their trying to stab you to death.” Just some food for thought.

[@mortalkomment8028]

Beautiful. Rokas, you get more and more realistic. Love it.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks Mortal Komment!

[@lb3613]

Really liked the concept of the video, the idea of having the doctor to analyze reaally sets it apart

[@NotEvenMexicanBrahh]

Definitely great to see your testing of techniques and a reminder that when it comes to knife attacks, it is all about surviving and controlling the adrenaline and the fear of dying (which is what any victim faces). Thank you

[@johnny2hats329]

As someone who has practiced a bit of unarmed knife defence, I'd say if the attacker is slow and you know the attack is coming, you can grab the blade or their wrists like half the time, but if the attacker knows how to use the knife or comes from behind then you're in big, big trouble.

[@Raz0rking]

Or when someone just wants to stab the ever living fuck out of you. Then you're fucked too

[@josemarialaguinge]

Your videos have a lot of value, I love them. Keep going Rokas.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks!

[@maxsette80]

Thats they way i love to find out what really works. ...There is no secret moves and defenses. There are only a few techniques which have higher percentage and lower percentage, and also depends on the person who is executing them. Props. I love this video.....Telling the truth of knife attacks...

[@hwasansword]

Someone really had to do this. Thank you very much for this work.

[@copony23]

Best video on this subject so far what I have seen

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks!

[@johnjune2999]

i pressure tested so many knife defenses your chances of survival are very slim! Only by the grace of God you'll come out alive! I'm a martial arts instructor 37 yrs experience and you either survive or most likely you don't! None of them work the way they claim! wrestling a knife can go horribly wrong very quickly! I tell my students fight viciously like and animal better to have a lil chance than no chance!

[@dylan_krishna_777]

Keep them coming Rokas! Last thursday i had knife defend with my wado karate but i suggested that we do it next time with pressure testing because knife defend is very important these days ! 👍🙏🥋🔪

[@sammyli9456]

I have been in the test like this when I was training with the self defense against weapons in the real situation. At the first time of the test, I have got a lot of red marks at my white shirt and some of those were at the deadly points. After 1 year of the training with the weekly tests like this, there could be still marks, but sometimes they were at my arm. I think it is impossible to defeat a knife attacker by not sacrificing your pain, but the achievement of your skills should be measured by how well you can keep your life safe after the fight. By the way, the school I learn this thing is designed for a professional staff in an army unit. They taught us to sacrifice our pain to take the opponent's life. We first have to train our body to tolerate against the bleeding scenario; and the knife attack simulation seen from action films is never of my realization.

[@scottyg5403]

Pressure testing! Excellent video!Thanks

[@3nertia]

Thanks for the video! This is, without a doubt, the most in-depth discussion I've seen on this particular topic and I like to think that I've seen damned near every video on KZbin about it lol What I would like to know, in each of these cases, is if having medical gear like chest seals, tourniquets, etc. and applying them as soon as the danger is over, would that increase one's odd of surviving any? Also, were both people aware of the scenario *before* carrying out the tests?

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Yes, we did know the scenario :)

[@3nertia]

@@MartialArtsJourney Thank you for that info

[@pawnoir]

Seek: "Self-défense : GregMMA Vs RICHARD DOUIEB (Krav Maga)", 2 pros proves you can hardly escape from the blade.

[@dangerhotrod6941]

The Krav Maga knife defenses depend on counterattacking at the same time as the defense - so defending the attack from above would involve countering with punches to the face/throat. There's some followups after that immediate reaction too like grabbing the wrist holding the weapon with one hand while also grabbing across the shoulder with the other and then start with knees to the groin.

[@wrongthinkgeek1702]

All of these videos really drive home one of the major points about knife fighting that Kali practitioners always harp on. Never be the one on the unarmed side of this experience!

[@LilHoss4k]

I think the fact that it was trained fighters attacking you makes a big difference compared to a random person on the street. not to say that I think all of these would work

[@jetcitykitty]

I would love to comment more on this myself as I have been stabbed 14 times and I miraculously survived after being resuscitated at the hospital, of course it was 14 times all in one sitting just to clarify LOL my best friend did it what a hoot

[@retroFUNKINgroova]

Awesome video. 👌👌👌 Don't stop what you doing.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks Xavier!

[@sephyr1561]

There's this video of 2 dudes wearing helmets and gears and is probably the best knife defense demo ive seen in youtube.. my only issue for the demo you've shown, is that for some reason, the defender tries to overpower the attacker, instead of trying to maintain space and wait for a perfect timing to execute..

[@k1n752]

I hope you continue to do regular pressure testing until you come up a better solution that has better survivability..more power 👊

[@chewedsausage4176]

I think if you want to get good at knife defence, you need to train with knives and weapons regularly. Lots of fear responses here i.e reaching out for the blade, anticipation of the attack and locking only on the knife. As others have mentioned, headbutts, strikes, low kicks all help control the attacker. Control the attacker, control the fight. ( P.s run when you can ) 🙏

[@abumikail4046]

Love your work. There is nothing like it. Congratulations 👍👍👍

[@lastninjaitachi]

I think the only unrealistic thing about this is they are all fighters. They add grappling into the knife attacks and I feel like your average knife attacker would not be like this.

[@wolf3001]

From my experience getting control over the attacker's arm is your only chance if fighting is your only option and you have no better weapon. I have tried to do a few things and what has worked best for me is to use defensive arm techniques that cover large areas because trying to grab with a hand is difficult. I try to use both arms using Wing Chun techniques wrap the arm and keep it restrained while using an elbow or whatever I can to attack. It's worked fairly well for me. A lot of knife attacks are ambush attacks unfortunately your probably going to get stabbed. A guy I knew from high school was followed home from the bar he worked at doing security and was stabbed multiple times. He knocked the guy out with part of a lawnmower and lived to talk about it.

[@XxRAGE1xX]

You should try knife defense with strikes, kicks or take downs next time bro. Just have the attacker wear a full helmet and gear. I been following you ever since you started. The progression of your skills has been inspiring bro.

[@ARSLENE]

There is a good technique that I learned in Krav Maga last week and I think that it is really effective but I don't know the name of the technique or how to search it on KZbin.

[@Jamoni1]

Really good stuff. It was nice to see Paul on here. He's as legit as it gets. I would have liked to see Aaron Janetti, but I guess you can't have everything. :D

[@JaredB001]

Basic principle of any functional martial art l, is that for it to be of some degree of use. You have to practice it regularly and under regular sparring conditions. My BJJ instructor basically says, the best strategy for defending any weapons attack is to run as fast as you can, but if you can’t escape then accept that you will get cut and you will get badly wounded, and if you want to remotely get of there alive you will need to accept that you will have to do some pretty gruesome stuff. So practice it all at full impact on the regular just like you train to get good at anything or your wasting your time, which this also shows. On the flip side just putting yourself in those sparring situations starts to condition your brain and body for those situations reducing the adrenaline dump that makes people do silly things.

[@wagutoxD]

Super cool video! Very nice approach! If this is not a reality check... damn!

[@nagyzoli]

@Martial Arts Journey Yeah, Jesse was on the right track when he described the tehniques. Most of them originate, if you dig deep enough from a different era: when people were ARMORED. The krav guy is a former military. Kevlar and harness is decent protection against slashing, and even puncture/stab. If the knife is not top quality, it WILL tangle in the dense textile of most soldier vests. That is why most tehniques simply do not take into account sideways low speed stabs. And the japanese / jiu jitsu based defenses clear as day come from an era of sword + mail armor. Check out a video of Metatron about this. If you go into a rough neighourhood your best defense is a light mail armor under your jacket/blouse. That WILL make your chest immune to realistic knife glancing stabs (aka not super high quality dagger, sword, spear etc... but regular knifes/daggers)

[@81mooks]

Love you vids bud 👍👍👍

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks!

[@kamilpawlowski6576]

One observation about this test: When I’ve seen knife attacks taught, I’ve heard that you should attack to the stomach, as knives as often as not bounce off the bones of the rib cage. This is where the what got hit analysis falls a bit short I think.

[@BacatauMania]

Nice triceps in the thumbnail

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Linus (the attacker in the thumbnail) is a beast!

[@BacatauMania]

@@MartialArtsJourney I want to be like him in a few years haha still obese tho, so maybe a lot of years

[@Parker8752]

I find it interesting that you immediately started thinking about how your wrestling skills would help here, and it makes intuitive sense to me (though I don't know near enough to know if this is complete bollocks) because it seems to me like the most important aspect of knife defence is keeping the knife away from your most vulnerable parts, and wrestling teaches a great deal of limb control. Even so, people do seem to forget that knives are probably the most dangerous melee weapons in a fight because if they can get close, you're almost guaranteed to get hit. I would legit rather be unarmed against a sword than against a knife; the larger weapon is at least easier to see coming, and where a sword takes some skill to avoid going off balance, a knife only really needs common sense to do serious damage.

[@BlackDoorIL]

one of the most important things in knife defense in krav maga, is combining attack and defense, it's not about dissarming your attacker or protecting yourself, it's more about neutralizing the attacker as fast as possible. Itay Gil's techniques are perfect examples of it.

[@RundFyrkant]

Please do a follow up and revisit with Skålberg. Would be awesome to see how this will play out with a knife expert.👍🏻

[@justinw4447]

I will speak as someone who had been held at knifepoint (Ice Pick) with another guy standing by close. My only advice is to just pick your battles. If it's just money or your phone, just give it up. Not worth risking it. Also, most assailants don't come to you in the front as well as flash their weapon around. They will attack you when you least expect it. Don't take these people lightly. They don't practice fair fights. They will fight with every means they have, even if it has to be dirty and unfair. It's good to be brave, but it's always better to be smart.

[@fettaspalta3127]

Nice video idea! Maybe try out with a helmet for the attacker so that you can blast his head and create openings, the way you did it is very skewed towards the knife guy because he can attack without fearing any retaliation at all. Most knife disarms need an opening, like a slap or straight to the face while stepping outside of the knife attack.

[@santidu]

Amazing video, thanks!

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thank you!

[@thebobbytytesvarrietyhour4168]

Wonderful video. I wonder if you are familiar with Ryan Hoover as someone to talk to about knife/weapon defense?

[@m5a1stuart83]

Knife to intimidate vs knife want to kill is different. Only Gambeson can save life.

[@BMO_Creative]

That nurse is dangerous! LOL

[@jamesfrankiewicz5768]

My thoughts on knife defense, with a healthy dose that all of this is "easier said than done": 1. If possible, exiting the situation is better. If not possible (such as having to defend another person), you will probably get cut. Can you minimize the damage such that you survive, hopefully with only minor stitches or some other less significant medical care? 2. You need a variety of responses in your arsenal, and you need be able to flow between them. Being fixated on only one response in a grappling scenario is a mistake that will probably make you lose (or possibly much worse in an armed scenario). Even in Sumo, which is a rather prescriptive grappling scenario, having one excellent go-to technique might get you to the top division, but it won't keep you there once the others catch on. 3. Striking during the grapple is absolutely essential. Even a quarter-second daze of the opponent at the right time can change the outcome of the grapple. (It can be hard to find the right level of realism in training for this; nobody wants a broken nose in training) 4. The arm with the knife needs to be isolated such that the opponent cannot easily switch which hand is holding the knife. 5. Treat small wrist-action cuts as if they were thrusts. Don't forget you can follow the retracting motion of a thrust to catch the retraction instead of the thrust itself. 6. Control of the opponent's elbow is often more important than controlling the wrist. 6.a. For aikido's kotegaeshi technique that many are fond of, going directly for wrist control is usually a mistake. First, block-out the opponent's elbow motion via "tai no henko/tai no tenkan" before going for the wrist. Additionally, keep the opponent's wrist below height of his belly button while attempting the takedown. The "demonstration form" of the takedown throw that swings the wrist high to engage a high-fall looks spectacular, but has glaring escape and reversal opportunities when the opponent is uncooperative. 6.b. I personally prefer almost any other defense other than kotegaeshi for anything other than a lead-off belly stab. 7. All of this requires significant amounts of training. Then more training, then keep training.

[@BradYaeger]

I've done a lot of magic marker testing with my students and in various scenarios and it's just a losing situation every time. Just how much you lose is the question at that point . If the attacker has any training you aren't going to see the knife at all until you're getting hit by it. If they do show it , it's likely to be in a rear position with them using their free hand to grab and control you . Terrible situation to be in . They can use tons of feints , and small movements and slice the crap out of you , it doesn't take any strength or commitment . Still, you have to try SOMETHING if you can't run away , and this is a great way to see what may at least give you a chance . I have all my students carry some kind of safe training knife in every class so they can pull them at will during things like grappling etc because that instantly changes everything you do.

[@BacatauMania]

After watching it I think the doctor's comments are great (and I'd love to see them in the youtuber competition) but unfortunately I found this doctor to be very shy, don't know if he was insecure because of English isn't his first language (sorry if it is) or because of the camera

[@Tanuki-Ha]

I love critical thinking in martial arts ❣️ Very good video. One potential criticism could be, the you would have to practise more to successfully apply the technique. What would you recommend us martial artists to say in situations, when someone tries to sell us on such techniques?

[@Pesquisando0b1011]

Knife defense should be made with simultaneous attacks to the aggressor too. I would like to see this test with the attacker using some protective equipment so the defender could hit him while try to avoid been stabbed. That would be a really more realistic approach.

[@MrAramisbrown]

We use shock knives in live sparring to test our knife defense. Best thing to do is focus on wrist and elbow control. You might get cut but probability of survival is pretty high.

[@sabaffira]

Great content! Need to train sprints again

[@xFlow150]

Brilliant video!

[@kermit1211]

I swear Rokas used this title 3 times already

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Hahaha! You caught me 😊 Although I believe I used it only once a long time ago, for a video made by a guest creator. I just decided to make a brand new, improved version of my own :)

[@ugyennorbu7325]

Pressure testing is very important.

[@wattlebough]

Can I suggest you try the principles of Itay Gil’s Krav Maga knife defences and test them? I didn’t see any block/strike [throat/ nose] and run [to the non knife hand side] defences, which he recommends. He teaches to avoid attempting to trap the knife hand (which leads to an entangled fight) as much as possible and as a last resort ONLY if you’re cornered or unable to run away. I’d be happy to meet you to show you the techniques and even test them with you, but I’m all the way down in Australia. 🙂

[@The_Seeker_of_Truth]

The problem with most knife defense techniques you see online is that they're all focused on grabbing the knife arm but ignore the rest of the body. You have to both avoid a strike, block the knife hand/arm, and strike the attacker to at least stun/distract them before you have a chance to disarm or gain control of the knife. And the "Tests" I see people do when strikes are allowed always have full padding (hands and head) which both affects the defender's ability to grab hands/wrists and means the attacker doesn't react to strikes like they would in a real fight.

[@shifter1010]

I have done a lot of training like you show here and I see a few problems in the video: First off you can't back up and give room for more attacks. Meet the attacker and stop first strike (block+stike at the same time). Important to not let up pressure so you make it harder to withdraw the hand for follow up attacks. Then you try to get control of the arm. Which can be pretty hard. Have had most success with the one you describe as "Most promising knife defense technique" but instead of putting the arm on the chest you attack face or neck with the forearm, like an upwards block. This could hurt attacker plus gives you some control of their balance since you an sort of control the head. The control part most often ended up like for the MMA guy with were you have to wrestle for control of the knife.

[@wolkman2157]

I completely agree, you must continue applying pressure after the initial block. When the attacker withdraws you must move forward with the attackers arm, and maintain pressure to it, so that he cannot easily attempt a second strike . Otherwise you must continue to block every following strike and it is then only it is only a question of time before you get seriously injured as you could see in this video.

[@wolkman2157]

And even then there is not guarantee you’re not going to get hurt

[@shinomori69]

One thing to possibly try that I've seen very rarely is having the attacker not know the defense technique that will be used against them. It might but make a huge difference but it should make some.

[@brandonlee0071]

Not a bad takeaway. One of my issues however is the attacker has a range to attack from multiple directions while the defender is one dimensional and linear. The ineffective displayed therein would lie in the defenders literal take of only using the technique as displayed which of course if the technique being implemented was pressure tested with the originator, more than likely they too would react within more dimensions as well. Like their were times you could've headbutt to debilitate the attacker but in the example the defender is only doing a one dimension approach of the technique. So does that make for an accurate dissection of the topic?

[@Knut92]

I once hearsay of knife defence that sounded relatively realistic: you have to accept that your'e going to get cut, so see that you get cut into the least dangerous place when you defend. Like the outside of your arms

[@John-ee8wm]

Studied with a knife instructor to the special forces... One of the first things you're taught is your going to get cut and most knife fights will be over in a few seconds... Put something between you and the knife...

[@tomthom9456]

The best way to win against knife attacks are long ranged kicks. Push and front kicks are your only hope. Obviously if you can't run away

[@w8ngr]

Ok after seeing the next one it seems like the bjj one is the same as the one I talk about except he wants to get in close after I’d prefer to back away push away each time to create space for more awareness of where the knife is I’ll keep busting until I feel safe to properly engage but if I can just keeping on bursting allows me to find time to find ways of escaping rather than if I’m constantly being engaged

[@sergendestroy]

Quick question: with the chest "stabs" are we assuming the knife just cuts and pierces through bone with ease? Is the average knife that sharp so as to cut through bone so effortlessly?

[@SalsaBailaProductions]

Interesting to see that isolating the arm with both hands to give better results… also theres no way your not getting cut at least a couple of times…i wonder under panic mode what people do trained or not…

[@rodvan-zeller6360]

"Defense" is the key word that sets you up to fail, action beats reaction and you cannot read a criminal assailants mind. If you predicate your move on the assailants move, you cannot possibly win. Accepting and understanding that there is no 100% guarantee of succeeding, there are methods that will give you a better chance.

[@donaldadamson8414]

And that was just one marker what if you get an attacker with 2 knives,ty for the insight I'm glad your making martial artists aware of the reality of a knife attack.Noones untouchable.Keep up the awesome videos sir.

[@clayongunzelle9555]

This reminds me of a scene in burn notice.. when it's one knife control the knife arm and stroke as hard as you can and if it's two knives run

[@gunterdapenguin5896]

He should try kalah defense, I've seen a bit of it and practiced some, but it would be great to see it really tested

[@lollozen85]

Very interesting video… really a lot of things to think. So, try something about Kali or Silat? What do you think about it. I’m sorry for my English, really rusty. 😅

[@bubblewhip382]

I found in my own light testing is actually striking with left hand hooks, and especially left leg head kicks are extremely effective vs. grappling. The tendency with knife wielders is to have the knife in their right hand and lower their hands to waist level to attempt to stab you in the chest. This opens up the right side of their head to being head kicked especially easily.

[@annoyed707]

When you fall on your ass you will get stabbed.

[@ImXamm1474]

Did muay thai teep (push kick) and run work or not ?

[@SoldierOfChrist1124]

Avoidance, distance, having a blade on you, and striking first are your best defense against a knife. It’s an eye opening and scary video to anyone thinking they have a chance unarmed against a blade.

[@nunninkav]

Have a longer knife. The guy from Cold Steel can help you, watch his blade show pocket check on Zak in the wild and lol.

[@SoldierOfChrist1124]

@@nunninkav There are laws in certain places prohibiting the carrying of large knives. Besides physically defending yourself, there may be the legal aspect you have to deal with as well.

[@thomass.4007]

That’s extremely wrong.

[@SoldierOfChrist1124]

@@thomass.4007 what is extremely wrong?

[@nunninkav]

@@SoldierOfChrist1124 infringing upon the 2nd ammendment, is wrong.

[@leviefrauim1425]

Interesting- thank you!

[@t.7049]

What is completely missing here is dealing damage. Like the Krav Maga techniques (360 defense) are for blocking the first stab at best, but they always deal damage (hard strikes to the face or throat) at the same time. When you are close/wrestling these could be headbutts. All fighters I have talked to IRL that survived knife attacks, when asked what they did, they all said something along the lines of "i knocked the fker out". They were not even noticing the blade in some instances, because they were focused on the main objective: turning off the computer (brain) of the attacker...

[@paulworgan6599]

I think that's what you have to do it's to easy to get overly focused on the weapon.

[@TonyqTNT]

What about the people who live in Indonesia 🇮🇩 who have the indigenous arts of Silat and Kuntao???