I got my first knife demo

Standing still to draw from the holster against someone moving on you with an edged weapon in nigh suicidal. The best bet is to move aggressively at a 45 degree angle to his line of attack, preferably away from his strong side, while you're drawing. Bet the instructor didn't have his student try that, 'cause the knife guy loses every time. All too often we train as if our feet are rooted to the ground, when in reality we should be moving laterally, looking for cover and generally playing havoc with our opponent's focus while drawing a weapon. Evade, use your footwork, use angling and distancing. You can hit him from far outside contact distance, so you should have every advantage. Here's the trick: you'll only do this under pressure if you train this way a LOT...

The best way to do it is find yourself a fairly clear open space, say your garage or back yard, and have a buddy come at you with a fake knife. Within a very short time, you'll begin to see why a knife isn't preferred over a firearm for defensive purposes. The reason a knife scares people is because they aren't used to seeing one used in an attack. Practice this movement pattern with dry fire, and if you have a range that will allow it, against a target (safely) with live fire. Go slowly at first, but, doggone it, get out of the habit of just standing there while you draw. YMMV.

Our group of instructors have an event once a year were students come and play with us in the mountains of Oregon (right outside of Sisters OR) were one event is doing the Tuller drill were the person stands in a square marked on the ground and is told to wait, react as they deem fit. At this point from a pulley system between two trees a target is hung, behind the person is a man who runs the opposite direction which pulls the target towards the player, yep you guess it, 21 feet and the actual speed of a normal healthy mammal. 9 times out of 10 the player attempts to draw and engage the moving target and this is their only consideration meaning, they do not attempt to move laterally, backwards or for that matter in any direction. Ask them why afterwards, their body had gone to “flight flight/freeze”, they do not use this term but we know that is what they meant. The surprising part is one quarter of the players have been to some high level training at nationally known schools. Does this make a difference? May be, may be not. As the old adage goes something to the tune of, it’s only theory until you have been taught and then practiced it. Every single LEO moved when the target began moving, I expected this but would not drop my jaw if they didn’t.

In regards to cutting meat, Bram Frank inventor of the Spyderco Gunting cuts a hunk of beef while inside pant legs without any intent then goes on to hack at chicken legs making the point, “this could be your fingers.” Seeing this live is a wake up call to those who don’t realize how little it takes to “defang you.” I have trained with Bram and learned a great deal from him.

When thinking distance and reaction time, both Bram Frank and Ernest Emerson both teach (more so with Mr. Emerson) to close the distance and negate the “sweet zone” of the weapon directed at you. I agree with this but also have to disagree. It all comes down to a) your mental state b) training c) the environment d) what you perceive as your opponents abilities and mind set. What is unique about combat/attack is, they are immutable so as any good instructor will tell you, do not depend on they attacker doing step 3 and does step 6...what you going to do?

I surely do not have all the answers but truly believe that if you have not done the Tuller drill you need too and learn from it. Learn about the OODA loop and the color codes.

Expect to get cut. Expect it to feel unlike a cut but typically a punch. There was a study done and published in ASLET magazine (Novemeber/December 2002) were 85 LEO were told they would be attacked with a marking knife. Not having the magazine in front of me, my guess is that less then 5 officers may be 3 actually did more then back up away from the threat and either engaged or moved laterally. These are men and woman who are trained were the average citizen is not for the most part.

(okay I drank way to much coffee tonight :rant: I will stop now)

Great thread, something we should all think about.

Rocnerd said:

Even with the knowledge that the instructor was going to come at him it took him three tries to get the gun out

Click to expand...

This is an important point. He KNEW the instructor was going to rush him and he still took three tries (there are no "re-do's" when it's for real). If you DON'T know the attack is coming, it's going to take more time (therefore more distance required) to respond. And, as Betty pointed out, the average CCW'er is going to be at a disadvantage because their weapon is concealed. I know for me, it takes longer to draw from my IWB holster than it did to draw from a duty-rig. All these factors add to the time it takes to respond.

When was the last time anyone heard of an attack starting at 20-30 feet? They don't. More than likely, they're going to start at normal conversational range, or maybe out to 10 or 15 feet if we've seen the threat in time. I feel that it's so critical to have effective alternatives to your firearm (empty-hand or knife). I say "critical" because as we can see from these drills, you have virtually no chance of drawing and getting shots on target before the attacker closes with you.

+1 to the comments on moving off-line. If you remain stationary, you're going to be in trouble.

If you're interested in seeing exactly what your "response distance" is, here's a drill you can try the next time you're at the range with a friend. Set a target at about 1-3 yards (it doesn't have to be too far away, remember, the bad guy is running towards you). Have your friend face away from the firing line. When he says "Go," or "Now," or whatever, he will start running away, you will draw (from your normal concealment rig) and engage the target. When he hears the shot(s), he stops running. Turn around and measure the distance and you will have the distance you would have needed had someone been charging at you.

Couple of thoughts:

As stated, if you have warning, or as soon as you are able, MOVE. The scenario of someone charging you from more than 10 feet is more the realm of an escalating Domestic, or a traffic incident, both of these essentially where the other individual started to walk away.....and decides not to. Pretty unusual, all in all.

Layered options are your friends- if your artillery needs more time and space than you have, you need something closer to the "surface" to access. Houston PD/Harris Co SO was seeing a rash of "tackle-muggings, about 10 years ago, and they started a bait team. Essentially, the muggers would work in teams of 2-3, hide between cars, and dog-pile the intended victim. Point is this- there are two types of armed agressors: 1) those who, by presentation of the weapon in close range, intend to intimidate you into compliance, and 2) those who are out to TAKE YOU DOWN, and get what they want from your twitching carcass.

Type 1 is the type you can practice your akido, prison grab-n-shove, etc., and do your draw. Also most likely to run, if you up the ante on them.

Type 2 demands some basic level of physical fitness, and some basic, brutal H2H/shiv-style response.

The one you are most likely to encounter will depend greatly on the neighborhood you are in. Hammers aren't the only tools we need........