'CLEAN' KNIFE DUELLING vs KNIFE ASSAULTS AND FIGHTS

SO MUCH OF KNIFE-BASED MARTIAL ARTS IS FOUNDED ON A DUELLING/SPARRING MENTALITY, WHICH HAS EXISTED HISTORICALLY (AND STILL DOES IN SOME PLACES), YET REALLY DOESN'T FIT THE GENERAL MODEL OF KNIFE USE (EITHER CRIMINAL OR FOR EMERGENCY SELF DEFENCE) IN A MODERN EUROPEAN (OR OTHER) CITY.

KNIVES CAN BE WIELDED EITHER TO DETER AN ATTACKER (IF YOU'RE A 'GOOD GUY'), OR TO THREATEN AND COERCE (IF YOU'RE THE 'BAD GUY' IN THAT SCENE);
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THEY ARE VERY LETHAL BUT LIMITED TOOLS.

I HAVE PERSONALLY KNOWN TWO PEOPLE WHO DIED OF STAB WOUNDS (AND HAVE KNOWN OTHERS WHO HAVE SURVIVED, AND EVEN SEEN ONE STABBING UP VERY CLOSE), AND IN BOTH FATALITIES, IT WAS A SINGLE STAB WOUND THAT DID IT.

IN BOTH CASES, TOO, THE VICTIM REMOVED THEMSELVES TO ANOTHER PLACE, WHERE THEY THEN DIED.

THE POINT IS, THAT EVEN A FATAL STAB WOUND CANNOT BE RELIED ON TO 'STOP' AN ATTACKER, IN THE WAY THAT HEAVY IMPACT TO THE HEAD MIGHT.


SO, THIS TELLS US THAT

1) IF WE NEED TO USE A KNIFE TO SAVE OUR LIVES, WE MUST ACCEPT THAT THE OTHER PERSON VERY POSSIBLY WILL DIE, BUT THAT THIS MAY NOT STOP THE IMMEDIATE ASSAULT.

2) IF SOMEONE STABS US, WE MAY OR MAY NOT DIE, BUT IT IS UNLIKELY TO INSTANTLY INCAPACITATE US.



ANYONE WHO HAD REFLECTED ON THE REALITY OF SUCH DESPERATE AND HORRIFIC SITUATIONS WOULD HAVE PROBABLY WORKED ALL THIS OUT, ALREADY.






AS WITH ALL COMBAT, ANYONE WHO EVEN VAGUELY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING WILL LOOK TO MAKE THE EVENT 'ASSYMETRICAL'; WITH SURPRISE, DECEPTION, PRE-EMPTION AND SUPERIOR FORCE (SIZE, NUMBERS, A WEAPON, ETC.).


A KNIFE ATTACK IS NOT DIFFERENT.
WHICHEVER 'SIDE' OF THE ASSYMETRIC EQUATION WE'RE ON, IF THERE IS NO AVOIDANCE OR ESCAPE, WE MUST LOOK TO 'WEIGH THE SCALES' IN OUR FAVOUR, WHATEVER WAY IS POSSIBLE.


I WON'T DETAIL WAYS OF DOING THIS, AS CREATIVITY, QUICK THINKING AND 'TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE' ARE THINGS THAT YOU (THE READER) MUST DEVELOP- AS WE ALL MUST- TO INCREASE OUR LONG-TERM SURVIVAL..... ;)




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ENOUGH SELF DEFENCE ADVICE (FOR NOW, ANYWAY! LOL), AND NOW JUST ON WITH SOME HISTORICAL IMAGES WHICH DETAIL THE LESS...........'ROMANTIC', SHALL WE SAY................LESS 'GLAMOROUS' SIDE OF L'ARME BLANCHE.



 


CAN'T CLEARLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON?
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT PEOPLE IN A FIGHT DON'T EVEN SEE THE KNIFE, OR KNOW THEY'VE BEEN STABBED TILL AFTERWARDS....


 










 





 


 


 


 



 


 


 


 


 




GOOD LUCK! :)