The lethal nature of a knife attack precludes the use of fancy Hollywood style self-defense techniques, the author claims. Instead, you should shield your vitals, charge your assailant and strike without mercy. (Photo: Courtesy Black Belt Magazine)

In the April 2004 installment of this column, I discussed the extreme difficulties involved in surviving a real blade attack using conventional blocks, grabs, traps and takeaways. I painted a pretty bleak picture of knife defense, but I didn't mean to imply it's hopeless. Presented below is the best strategy I've come across. It may not be pretty, but it's all we have. Edged weapons are lightning-fast and cruelly deceptive. The best defense against them is avoidance. If you can escape by leaping overall car, wall or table, do it. Get out of there so you can fight another day. If you can't escape, try to level the playing field by accessing a weapon yourself. Pick up a chair and use it as a shield. Throw a rock, bottle or telephone at, the assailant and sprint in the opposite direction. One of the most effective defenses against a knife attack is a gun. Remember the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark in which Indiana Jones comes face to face with a man who's slicing and dicing the air with two scimitars? He pulls out his pistol and shoots the guy. Only a fool fights fair when his opponent possesses an overwhelming advantage because in the real world, there are no retakes.

If you end up empty-handed in a battle with an armed assailant, don't expect to tie him up in knots and leave him for the police. Even if he's the most incompetent attacker in the world, you probably won't escape injury. Instead, you should focus on escaping death. Once you've accepted that notion, you'll be psychologically prepared to deal with the situation and concentrate on doing whatever it takes to end it as quickly as possible. That's the only way to minimize damage to life and limb – by ending the fight as soon as possible.

Try to take him out before he gets a chance to organize his attack and overwhelm you. Get low and, small. Make your body compact to reduce the size of the target you present to him. Shield your vital areas as you move forward to strike. Once you're in the kill zone, execute rapid-fire blows with everything you've got, blasting over and over into his most sensitive targets until he no longer poses a threat. This advice runs against conventional wisdom, but in the real world, it's the only way. To survive, you have to take the fight to him and make him worry about his own safety instead of about cutting you.

One last tip: Unless you have a clear path to flee from your assailant, you have no reason to back up. Retreating only prolongs the fight and allows him to build momentum and courage before re-engaging you. Anytime you step backward, you risk paying a heavy price. Forge ahead. Stop the attack and stop the attacker. Then be thankful you're still alive and get to the emergency room.

About the author: Richard Ryan is the founder of Dynamic Combat™ and the designer of the Tactical Defense Training™ system for law enforcement. He has more than 30 years of experience in martial arts, combative firearms and weapons training. For more information, call (800) 945-4387.

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