The knife is the standard threat in the post-modern matrix. No survival course is complete—even functional—if it does not address this threat.
Stick-based mobility and hand-checking is the best counter to this threat. Just as fighting with a knife in a dueling context helps the stick-fighter stay “tight” within his own wheelhouse, the extended mobility learned in competitive stick-fighting enables the unarmed man to deal with edged-weapon threats and adapt his empty hand work to the cause of not getting shanked and sliced.
While no apparently empty-hand encounter with a clothed individual may be assumed to be empty hand, one must be able to deal with that portion of the violent universe that is unarmed, being about six of ten encounters in Urban America today.
Below is a sparring set I use for training law officers and others to survive an edged weapon escalation. First, be mindful that any unseen right hand is likely to be armed with a blade or shank and fight accordingly.
The coach puts on a fencing mask, a pair of boxing gloves and a pair of baseball or hockey shin guards.
The fighter puts on a set of head gear and a pair of welding gloves and fights from a right hand lead, to keep vitals away from what could be a knife.
The coach tries to punch and clinch the fighter as the fighter uses foot checks and the checking hand to maintain distance.
The stoppage strike that the fighter wants to score on the fencing mask—which might be helpfully colored with eyes—is a finger jab, finger-peck, or spear-hand strike to the left eye, over the coach’s left lead.
The checking hand should work primarily to the shoulder.
If the coach is able to work the fighter against the wall, then the fighter should practice moving side-to-side against the wall behind a checking hand and a supinated jab. The supinated jab rides over the coach’s forearm for best effect.
Advance this drill by giving the fighter a small dull knife of the size he could legally carry and have him practice slashing the inside of the coach’s wrist while doing a pass-check.
Advance this further drill by giving the coach a knife instead of a glove in his right hand.
