Knife Defense

What would you do if you found yourself facing a sudden threat from a desperate, knife-wielding criminal type? Here are some helpful tips you can use should you find yourself in just such a situation.

1. Stay Calm Easier said than done right? Keeping calm is a critical first step in any dangerous situation. Take a deep breath and do your level best to quickly assess the situation. Is this a legitimate threat of deadly force or is it just an intimidation tactic? How likely is it the person with the knife will actually use it, given the circumstances?

1. Think Safety Know that the only thing that is truly of value is your life. Your phone, jewelry, wallet or purse can all be recovered or replaced. Your ability to live cannot be.

1. Think Forward Constantly be planning ahead on what your next move will be. An easy escape will not always immediately present itself. Make each move accordingly when dealing with your attacker so that when and if an opportunity to evade and escape presents itself, you’ll be prepared to act.

1. Turn the Tables Do your best to be intimidating yourself. Make noise to alert passersby or assume a defensive fighting position. Showing someone you aren’t frightened can be enough to deter some attackers.

1. Fight or Flight Decide if you are going to stand your ground or flee the scene. If you make the first move on your attacker, you have the element of surprise. If you wait for the attacker to make the first move, the attacker will most likely not be prepared to defend against a counterattack.

1. Wrists Getting a hold on the attacker’s knife hand can quickly neutralize the threat from the blade, but be mindful of kicks and/or punches if the attacker is persistent.

1. Turn the Blade On Your Attacker If the opportunity to wrest control of the knife from your attacker presents itself, be sure that during struggles, to get the blade pointing in the direction of your attacker.

1. Educate yourself All the tips in the world can’t and won’t help you in a real-life situation without practical application training. Taking the initiative to learn techniques to protect yourself and your loved ones are always the best way to prepare yourself for unexpected dangerous situations.

Army Navy Outdoors is happy to present to you an opportunity to learn some life-saving techniques should you encounter the threat of a knife attack. Come to our store on Saturday August 8th and learn from a certified instructor that works for a local Sheriff’s department and trains members of the law enforcement communities on the ins and outs of self defense. The class will run from 10:00 AM to 12:30PM and is completely free to the public. Make plans to join us and learn some valuable self defense techniques.