VAHL CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER
Some Helpful Ideas on How to Survive a Knife Attack by Dr. Richard J. Vahl, MSc, DC, Ph.D. and Dr. James B. Vahl, BSc, DC, ART, ACE, ACSM, NASM. With over 50 years of Martial Arts Experience.
When faced with a knife attack, you can do one of those fancy spinning roundhouse kicks you see in the movies, but you will find that stuff mostly only works in the movies and not on the street.
Unless you are a real highly elite trained expert, if you try that in real life, you may find yourself stabbed in a vital place or even worse. When faced with a knife attack, reality sets in. Both you and your affacker have a adrenaline dump. You lose fine motor coordination and calm thinking ability.
The best advise is always to avoid an encounter. If you cannot try to avoid fighting and try to talk your way out of it, even if you have to apologize for something you never did. If you cannot then, when faced with reality you must act in a realistic manner with the correct mindset. This article will attempt to prepare you, so you possibly can survive and hopefully overcome a knife attack.
Tip 1: Create Distance
For a knife attacker to be of threat, they need to be fairly close to you. The best thing you can do is create distance from your attacker who now becomes your target or have an obstacle separating you from the attacker. If you are a fast runner, run like the wind. If you are in the street, run around a parked car and keep moving to keep your attacker away from you. If you are in a bar or restaurant, try to manuver between tables or have a table between you two.
This will allow you time to either attain a bigger weapon like a chair, poll, trash can or give time for someone to call the authorities and possibly for help to arrive.
Tip 2: You will get Cut
Simple as this, in a knife fight you will be cut. Just like in a fist fight, you must accept you will be hit. You are not only facing reality here, but you are also taking the fear out of being cut which will empower you even more. Remember that adrenaline dump….
You really have no control over this, this is not the movies where one fancy kick will clear the knife and the attacker at once.. However, you do have control on “where” your injuries occur.
Tip 3: Protect your vital organs and major arteries
You do not want to be injured anywhere near a vital organ or have any damage to your major arteries. To prepare yourself for this, when you’re faced with a knife attack, turn your arms inwards exposing the backsides of your arms to your attacker. This will protect the insides of your wrists by preventing them from possibly being cut while they are facing your body. It still can happen but at lease your are trying to prevent it from happining.
If you are right handed, turn your body and have your left shoulder facing your attacker. This will protect your body. Be sure to lift your left shoulder to protect your neck from being stabbed.
Tip 4: Turn your feet inwards
With your feet, you want to create a “T” form with some distance between them. This will protect the vital arteries located on the insides of your thighs. If you have your left shoulder forward, have your left foot form the top part of the “T”
Tip 5: Strike low and fast
If your attacker is coming at you and there is nowhere to run, you must strike low and fast. With your lead foot, kick at his knee as quickly as possible while protecting your body from a stab. Use quick feet and quick punches to let the knife man know if he attacks, he will be hurt as well. Also, use such action to keep the attacker at a distance.
Several years ago while on a trip, I witnessed an attack where one knifeman attached an unarmed man. The fight did not go well for the unarmed man. Instead of following the above five tips, he rushed the knifeman. Before my friends and I could get to the fight, the unarmed man was on the ground with four knife holes in his neck and body while the knifeman ran away.
If you come face to face with such a situation, follow these tips and you will be far better off than this unprepared poor soul was.
In HEALTH and WELLNESS
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