10/7/18: Knife flow focus - 12 count knife flow and knife defence principles

Tonight's session was based on Knife flows and the principles of knife defence. However, to make this clear the session was NOT about knife fighting. It was NOT about managing the fear of being attacked with a knife, or fighting for your life.

The session was based very much on technique, application of body mechanics and movement. If is these attributes (speed power timing distance and rhythm) which, when trained properly, allow you to enhance your "survival instinct" when the intent of the attacker is raised (which again also needs to be practiced and experienced).

That being said the training has to be effective. The feeder must be in range - they should be trying to touch you with the knife and the defender must be switched onto the whole person, not just the knife, in order to react/act fast enough. The defender must have the attitude of a hunter... not waiting to be attacked. Also it's a knife not a sword... once you have the movement down a bit make the cuts smaller!

When using any weapon it is also really important to hide behind the weapon... using it as a barrier your opponent has to get through... and the weapon is always pointing at them.

12 count flow: (in right lead)

Al
A4 (horizontal backhand)
A3 (horizontal forehand) (step back)
A2
Stab (step forward)
Upward diagonal backhand (low line)
Upward diagonal forehand (step back)
Back hand stab to side of head
Fore hand stab to side of head (step forward)
Redondo motion slicing straight down the middle of head (hand ending outside your leg)
A1 low line (Step back)
A2 low line

We then added footwork (which I have added above)

We then did this with left hand!!!!!

We then tried to do this with right hand and add any footwork to it (moving around)

Next, We did the 12 count with a partner as a target for high and low line hits We also played with grips using standard/hammer grip for cutting and ice pick grip for stabbing motions with the 12 count. We also used the ice pick grip to sash with.

12 Count numerada flow:

Partner A feeds 12 count. Partner B defangs (meeting the force) and inserts a stab. foot work to get off line, Triangular footwork to move your body back etc was also needed to stay out of range and close the range for return stab. (when defending the straight down the head hit use a dagger pass!)

We practiced this with standard/hammer grip and Ice pick grips for defanging

Then we added an X cut after the defang and stab

Palasut cycle (broken down)

Previous blogs explain this in detail (please feel free to go back through blogs to look at this) - key parts we focus on were correct application of foot work to help you get out of range/avoid stands and slashes, jamming attacking arm with your knife arm, keeping knife pointing at opponent and keeping movement tight.