Defending Armed Attacks

Defending Armed Attacks: Introduction - A Word From Eyal...

In this section of the system, we are dealing with different attacks. Blunt objects, edged weapons, gun and rifle threats are covered in this section …

Video transcript

I welcome you. Dealing with blunt objects is the next section. In this section of the system, we are dealing with different attacks. When the attacker has in his hand either something like a stone or relatively small heavy object, or a stick. An attacker strikes with a stick, for example, different types of swings or straight attack like a stab. In the Israeli Defense Forces, everything started defending violent attacks. And now in reality, in the streets of this world, not in the battlefield, we’re talking about different types of swings with the stick. The stick, it means can be different types of bars and baseball bat or any type of stick or broomstick, that one can find in his vicinity. Some umbrella even can be a dangerous weapon. This is one sector.

Then the other sector is, of course, a stone. This object relatively easy to identify. You can change the responses of that 360 into responses of stabbing defenses, and some other defenses you will see in this sector. Look at techniques, understand them, follow the instruction. Naturally the best if you’ll be able to be monitored by a certified instructor. Invest time in training. You’ll get much, much better. All the best. Be safe.

This is our edged weapons program. In this section, we are presenting the different types of attacks and how to deal with them, meaning if an attacker has a sharp-edged weapon, a knife usually, a broken bottle, and he is attacking, now we are talking about what type of attack he is doing, from which distance. How to prevent, eventually how to prevail. How to deal with it from the longer, the medium, and the shorter range. What happens if the attacker come from the front, what happens if the attacker comes from the side. And naturally the attacker, as I said, can come with different types of stabs, different types of cut or slash. So this program is dealing with the basics, the variations, and naturally also the training methods and the way to progress in this subject. Train well, train safe. Think, follow, do, practice, and get better.

Welcome to the subject of dealing with gun threats, rifle threats. Meaning, dealing with firearms. Of course, this is a serious subject. There’s a threat of a gun, of a barrel towards you, how to deal with it? So in this subject we are talking about attacks that are coming from the front, from the sides, from the rear. The attacker is at different distances, sometimes he’s using some control techniques, and it can be from a very basic threat, for a robbery, to the higher level threats of the hostage situations. Much has been covered in this section. Naturally, one needs to understand the type of defenses that we do, the active defense, which is the hand defense, the dynamic defense, the body defense. How to control the weapon, how to counterattack, how to prevent reuse of the weapon, how to disarm, what to do after disarming, so all this and much more in this sector. Train well, think, practice. Try to get feedback from instructors. Invest your time in it, you’ll get better. You’ll get excellent. All the best.

Using Common Objects as Self Defense Weapons

  1. Identifying and categorizing the use of common objects for self-defense, such as: shields, clubs, stones, sharp-edge weapons, small objects, rope and liquids.
  2. Using common objects of the shield type - such as a chair or bag

Training - Watching, Awareness, Prevention

  1. Observing attacks being initiated, from a realistic distance
  2. Same as above, but also foreseeing and imagining possible reactions

Use of Common Objects - Stick Type

  1. Basic attacks – swings and stabs; five major directions
  2. Basic defenses - 360º with the stick held in two hands; counter with leg or stick

Against Stick Attacks - Defending Overhead and Side Swings

  1. Against one hand overhead attack - Stabbing defense to the live side
  2. Against two hands overhead attack (or attacker is off center)
  3. Horizontal (baseball) Swings –
    1. From passive stance - Front hand down and the back hand up.
    2. From ready stance – Defend with two forearms, positioned high

Defending Horizontal (Swing) Stick Attack to the Legs

  1. Burst forward
  2. Defend with the shin
  3. Defend with a stop kick to the stick/hands

Defending Against a Straight Stab or Thrust with a Stick

  1. Inside defense against a low stab - to either side, grab and counterattack
  2. Inside defense, moving to the live side, send both forearms toward the weapon.
  3. Defense against stabbing motion with a stick held in a high hold – high inside defense.
  4. Defense against a horizontal straight thrust – stick held horizontally with both hands.

Defending Stick Attacks

  1. Against a swing from below (cricket, golf) – stabbing defense
  2. Against an overhead swing coming from the side – turn and step.
  3. Against a horizontal swing from the side – 2 forearms (one high, the other high or low)

Defenses Against Attacks With a Stone

  1. Against an overhead or diagonally downward attack - use stabbing defense.
  2. Against an attack from the front (straight) - inside sweeping defense.

Defense Against a Handgun Threat from the Front

  1. Defense against a pistol threat from the front.
  2. Variations - gun held at various heights, angles and distances, in either or both hands.

Defense Against Handgun Threats

  1. Gun at the side held against defender's side (ribs), behind arm
    1. Deflect, turn and wrap.
    2. Deflect turn and grab with back hand
  2. Handgun held against defender's side (ribs), in front of arm.
  3. Gun threat from behind, held against the back - train defense for various heights (from lower back up to head level).
    1. Turn to either side – wrap of arm.
    2. Turn to dead side – grab with back hand.

Defense Against a Rifle / Long Gun Threat

  1. Rifle threat from the front – inside defense, grabs and lift weapon - to live and dead side.
  2. Rifle threat from behind - trap with both hands - to the live and dead side.
  3. Rifle threat from the side, high/low – outside defenses and trap with both hands.

Advanced Defenses Against Pistol Threats

  1. Pistol aimed at back or side -- assailant at a distance
  2. Pistol aimed at back or side -- assailant very close
    1. Turn and grab elbow (if pistol at back)
    2. Turn and grab wrist (if pistol at side)

Outside Defenses

  1. 360° outside defenses - with simultaneous counter-attack from a passive stance (against slaps and later against defined punches)
  2. 360° defenses as above, with finishing mode - multiple counter-attacks; move away; get equipped
  3. Defending against knife attacks - underhand hold (upwards / oriental) or overhand hold (downwards / regular / ice-pick) holds; simultaneous defense and counter-attack/s, then fast retreat

Returning Attacker (defend -- attack -- defend)

  1. Following the defender's initial defense (a choke release; 360 defenses) and counter-attack, the opponent is still able to return and attack again, launch a circular attack (360)

Defenses Against a Knife Threat (including Distance Timeline)

  1. From the front - at long range - deflect and kick, while leaning away from the knife
  2. From the side or back - attacker is at long range - deflect and kick
  3. From the front - at close range - deflect with a C grip.

Outside "Stabbing" Defenses(from relevant stances, ready or passive)

  1. Outside stabbing defenses numbers 1, 2, and 3.

Common Knife Holds and Uses (recognition and basic practice)

  1. Overhand stab - regular / ice pick grip
  2. Underhand - upward / Oriental grip
  3. Straight stab
  4. Slashing attack

General Kick Defenses - Against All 4 Knife Attacks/Holds; Attacker Charging

  1. Regular kick to solar plexus or chin
  2. Sidekick to lower ribs or solar plexus
  3. Bailing out and roundhouse kick to solar plexus (or groin)

Note: Attacker starts from a long-range position (over 2 meters).

Fighting Games, 4 Against 1

  1. Attacking 1 Vs. 4 - as moving targets (opponents holding pads, try to close distance)
  2. Using 360° attacks when the group of attackers have 2-3 knives (two attacks every 2 seconds)
  3. Same as no. 2, unarmed attackers can strike straight.

Defending Against Impending Knife Threat

  1. From the front at mid-range – with a grip on opponents wrist
  2. Same with variations on position of the knife and attitude of attacker.

Defenses Against Overhand (Regular) Stab

  1. Kick defenses, as in previous levels.
  2. 360° defense - hook and catch the attacking arm to prevent further stabs. Option also to end with disarming assailant.
  3. When attacked from the side (left/right)
    1. Defend (block) and counterattack, control (grab) as early as possible or move away
    2. Defend lean away and kick

Defenses Against Underhand (Oriental) Stab

  1. For medium range attacks - defend with diagonal forearm, end with disarm
  2. For close range attacks - use 360° defense with multiple counterattacks. Deal with: strong upwards attack; repeated attacks; retreating attacker and groggy (wrap attacker's forearm)
  3. Against attacks from the side (in-front of the arm) – defend with the closest forearm while moving to the live side; switch hands and counterattack - against attack with same hand.
  4. Against attacks from the side (behind the arm) – defend with the closest forearm and switch hands, while moving to the blind (dead) side - against attack with same hand.

Defenses Against Previously Unknown Attacks from a Variety of Angles

  1. Defend against an attack previously unknown to the defender. The trainee is encouraged to use a technique as close as possible to what has been practiced.

Defending Against Knife Attacks - Straight Stabs

  1. General solutions using the three types of kicks.
  2. Inside (diagonal) forearm defense - from the outside.
  3. Inside (sweeping) defense - to the inside.
  4. Instinctive / reflexive defenses – at close range
    1. Against a low stab - scooping outside defense, counterattack with leg and/or hand
    2. Against stabs at varying heights - inside palm defense, counterattack as possible.

Note: Practice techniques 1 and 4 from a passive stance. Start practicing techniques 2 and 3 from an appropriate ready stance. In the later stages, practice from a minimized ready stance. All without returning to the initial channel of attack

Defense Against Slashing Knife Attacks

  1. Inside defense against a low stab - to either side, grab and counterattack
  2. Inside defense, moving to the live side, send both forearms toward the weapon.
  3. Defense against stabbing motion with a stick held in a high hold – high inside defense.
  4. Defense against a horizontal straight thrust – stick held horizontally with both hands.

Defense Against Knife Attacks from Various Angles

  1. Defense against an attack from the rear – move, defend and counter so as not to get stabbed by the second attack.
  2. Defense against straight knife attack from the side – turn to the dead side.
    1. Against a high straight stab (neck)
    2. Against a low straight stab (ribs)
  3. Defense against an assailant attacking from various angles (including from behind) – with elements of surprise.

Defenses Against Circular or Straight Knife Attacks - In a Seated Position

  1. From long range, attacker starts in front of the defender or at his side – use the chair or kick (supported lifting body) - attacker can approach from all directions.
  2. Hand defenses - attacker can approach from all directions.

Defense Against Knife Attacks on the Ground - Lying Down (Face-Up)

Standing op

  1. Standing opponent, coming from the side, with a downward stab.
  2. Opponent sitting on defender, attempting a downward stab.

Dealing with a Continuous Attacker – Whilst Executing Previously learnt Knife Defenses
Attacker launches attack during counteraction that the defender is doing against the first one.

Simulations of Real-Life Situations/Scenarios

  1. After falling or being thrown or taken to the ground, dealing with a standing or a tight (controlling) attacker.
  2. Two attackers approach a Seated Defender. Dealing with Kicks and Knife Attacks.

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