Knives and the problem on the streets... Take a min to read this please.

Lowe

Lowe

Lowe

Soldato
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Right then. Over the last month or so we've seen the media and Police raising the profile of people carrying blades, and the damage that's recently done with them.

Sadly these days it seems most trouble makers are carrying a blade and it's all too common for these lowlifes to pull them at the slightest provocation, or to indimidate people. Even worse, whereas in the past the blade was only generally used as a last resort and the purpose was intimidation, people these days are actually using them be it slashes or stabbings.

What's caused this I don't want to speculate on, but what I would like to get people thinking about is the realities of what can happen when you're faced with an assailant who's carrying something sharp. I personally don't think most people realise how dangerous a knife is. Only yesterday in Motors I read a thread where someone had their car taken off them at knife point. As shocking as this is, it didn't take long before the first keyboard warrior pipes up, 'I'd of taken him out with a baseball bat' or such like.

The reality is, when faced with a knife wielding opponent who means you harm - you do what they say, or if not RUN.

As a martial artist for nearly 10 years in various styles, I've been taught knife defense many times. Whilst I've always gone along with my Sensei, it's struck me how sometimes a lot is taken for granted with knife fighting and knife defense and how in the real world I could see it not working.

With this in mind, the first time I had a knife pulled on me in the street I did the best thing I could in the situation. I ran. I ran like my life depended on it, and in truth it probably did. I'm still here, I'm not bleeding and luckily no-one got hurt.

My question is, how many of you when faced with an equal sized opponent, alone in the street would actually have a go against someone who you think might be carrying a blade? Would you stand up to them? Run? Shoot him with your gun? :D

I've got some interesting videos to show you lot regarding knife fighting, but before I post them I'd rather get the 'general concencous' and see if people have enough respect for knives...
 
You wont catch me trying to fight a knife wielder unless i have a distinct upper hand. I.E. I somehow magically have a crack team of snipers trained on his brow.
In all seriousness though, unless I had no other option i'd be out of there. I used to think whilst walking around with the mrs in some of the rougher areas of brum that if it were to happen i'd have no choice but to fight untill she'd had a decent head start on the run, but now, i'm young free and footloose. And i'd be on my heel :).
 
Personally I agree with you. I'd hope to be able to run like the clappers, but if not they can take what they want. I'm not up for getting stabbed anytime soon.
 
Very valid point, a study in the USA found that a Police Officer would need to be well over 20 feet away from a knife carrying attacker to be able to draw and fire a shot before being stabbed. Even very small edged weapons can cause fatal injuries if the victim is unlucky enough to be cut/stabbed in the wrong place.

Unless armed and maintaining a suitable distance, I would not take on a person with a knife. The best course of action is to create distance, use cover (i.e. get something between you and them) and seek help.

There is a very fine line between assault and murder, especially when weapons are concerned.
 
I would either do what they asked or just run I think running is the best option because once you have done what they say they may just slash you anyways.

I have a family to think of and I don't want to leave them yet.
 
Lowe said:
how many of you when faced with an equal sized opponent, alone in the street would actually have a go against someone who you think might be carrying a blade? Would you stand up to them? Run? Shoot him with your gun? :D
Click to expand...

The idea of fighting someone else, regardless of weaponry, wouldn't even occur to me.

I'm fairly sure that my 'fight or flight' gene is turned fully clockwise to 'run like the wind like the yellow bellied coward that you are'.

I'm not a fighter.....I'm a lover. Yes ladies, I'm talking to YOU. ;)

:p
 
Ive had it happen to me twice

first time it was me and a friend and like 10/12 people they were round a corner :eek: ... i ran so fast i out ran somebody on a mountain bike

Second time they pulled a chisel out on us (wtf a chisel :confused: )...we had to fight then as they had cornered my friends brother,soon as he was free we went!
 
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Very good advice Lowe, I agree entirely.

No doubt there will be some ninja keyboard warriors with uber leet fighting skills who will disagree though.
 
I agree, Ive heard a lot of bravado from friends who do martial arts saying they could disarm somebody and turn the knife on them.

Is it worth it? Like everyone else I'd run, if not just give them what I want.
Id say running is better tho, just because you do what they want, they may still have a quick swipe or give you a cut as a "warning".
 
Apparently, say the knifeman comes up to you and is like:

"Gimme your wallet" or summit and you just look at him and scream, its meant to confuse the attacker and you use this couple of seconds of confusion to run.

Although the other scenario could be for him to just "silence" you, but i think the attacker would be more confused than anything.

Anyway, i wouldn't bother attacking the attacker, why bother? You could end up with a knife in you.... it just doesn't make sense unless you have:

-a gun
-a baseball bat
-SAS snipers with a laser sights on him.
 
I say

"Thats not a knife, now this is a knife"

Crocodile Dundee style.

Ive had a knife pulled on me when some idiot tried to mug me at 6:30am when i was jogging in the winter :rolleyes: Like im going to have anything valuable on me!!

Anyway, i told him to go take a flying jump. He lunged at me with a 2-3" knife in his right hand towards my right side. I stepped to the left, grabbed the back of his top with my left hand and pulled him downwards towards the right while bringing my right fist squarly into contact with his nose. He fell backwards slicing my right leg just above the knee and fell into a heap on the ground.

I went home, stitched it up myself and now ive a nice 3 inch scar. I take happiness in the fact that when i went back there was about 1/2 pint a blood on the floor where his head was.

Ive done some kick-boxing but will be looking at rejoing a martial arts class when im feeling a bit more fit and flexible. Daft as it sounds, if its just me ill fight or run depending on the circumstances, if i run, i think i would have to go back and do something about the criminal, couldnt have him pulling a knife on someone else. If i was with someone else, i would fight so they could get away.

Id risk my life to save someone elses! I think in the circumstances, if it was you and your g/f etc you would do what you could for her to get away.

And no, im not a keyboard warrior as has been said, some of us just dont like running away. The thought of running away and then someone else getting hurt by the same guy would haunt me for all my days.
 
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Dolph said:
Very good advice Lowe, I agree entirely.

No doubt there will be some ninja keyboard warriors with uber leet fighting skills who will disagree though.
Click to expand...

These are the people I'm hoping to 'reach'. There's one definate rule when defending against an assailant with a sharp should it actually kick off.

You will get cut.

My Sensei used to say to me, the trick is not getting cut anywhere important. I think to myself, everywhere's important! A sharp knife will cut through skin and bone with no problem at all. After all, we only have to think about cooking and we see with little force at all we can chop up a joint without too much problem. Put some real destructive force behind it and well.. I'd rather not think about it too much.

Thrash - I have a link to a video showing exactly what you said. I'll post it later.
 
The thread from the motor forum concerned me as well, long after I finished reading that thread i was still thinking about it (not a lot forum stuff causes that tbh).

I have often considered having a proper sword near my bed and it got me thinking how much use would it really be in that situation. As much as I might want to have the skills I know I am not Jet Li and the best scenario I could come up with is to point the sword at them, tell them where the car keys are and to get the **** out.

After all its why I pay my insurance.
 
Oblivious said:
I agree, Ive heard a lot of bravado from friends who do martial arts saying they could disarm somebody and turn the knife on them.

Is it worth it? Like everyone else I'd run, if not just give them what I want.
Id say running is better tho, just because you do what they want, they may still have a quick swipe or give you a cut as a "warning".
Click to expand...

These are the people who need 'educating'

I bring you video number one:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3314413849946719103&q=knife+defense
 
It's ok I've found out what a chizzle is:

chizzle.jpg
 
Gaygle said:
Anyway, i wouldn't bother attacking the attacker, why bother? You could end up with a knife in you.... it just doesn't make sense unless you have:

-a gun
-a baseball bat
-SAS snipers with a laser sights on him.
Click to expand...

A gun won't help you in close combat, it has a very narrow dangerous range that's easy to avoid (that being directly in front of the barrel) up close. Unless you're planning to use the butt of the gun to pistol whip someone. I've said many times that in close combat, I'd much rather face someone with a gun than a large knife or a sword, and I stick by that.

As Lowe has said, if you take on someone with a knife, it's always assumed you're going to get cut with it, the question is where. (it is possible to disarm someone without getting cut, but you should never assume you'll get it right, no matter how good you are). You may also end up doing something you'll regret later on to the other person, you do have to ask yourself is it worth it...
 
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