Using a Knife for Personal Protection

 

In his book All-In Fighting, W.E. Fairbairn wrote: "The knife in close-quarter fighting is the most deadly weapon to have to contend with. It is admitted by recognized authorities that for an entirely unarmed man there is no certain defense against a knife." The knife, in trained hands, can be a very effective and deadly means of personal protection. In the hands of a criminal it can also be a very deadly means of assault. While any knife may be used for personal protection, a knife specifically designed for fighting is the best choice for the person who chooses to carry a knife for protection. Rex Applegate wrote in Kill or Get Killed: "When a man has a weapon which he knows is designed for fighting alone and has been trained in its use, he immediately develops a sense of confidence in it that he will never feel toward the utility knife. His fighting knife takes on a definite personal characteristic. He carries it with him at all times, he sharpens it often, and he will regard it as a very necessary part of his personal equipment." If you need a knife for utility purposes then carry a utility knife or a multi-tool, but let your personal protection knife be a dedicated fighting knife.

You have a knife, but do you know how to use it most effectively? If you think you are going to stop an attacker with a stab or two to the abdomen, think again. Cutting large muscles is the most effective way to end a fight.

In this video, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq9TZXp8O9w&t) Mike Janich, of Martial Blade Concepts, shows the Master Technique — the three basic moves that lay the foundation for effectively using a knife for defense. Notice there is no mention of stabbing. Good knife fighting is about taking away the attacker’s ability to fight. That means cutting the muscle groups that allow your attacker to wield a weapon or move effectively. Take away the attacker’s ability to move and you have successfully stopped the attack.