Overlooked Training Tactics – Blade Deployment | JTT

The covert draw - one element of knife fighting and using blades for defense.
August 21, 2018  
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Categories: Knives and Axes

Concealed knife defense. It’s something you don’t see practiced often except for Instagram theatrics. Bringing a knife to a gunfight is no laughing matter. Today we’ll be talking skills, not specific self-defense blades. As with anything you might stake your life on, we urge you to seek good training.

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During traditional edged weapon training, a large amount of time is spent on the actual edged weapon application onto another human being, and a relatively small amount of time is spent training on how to get the blade out to use, or deployment methods.

Let’s talk about that, and why it shouldn’t be ignored- keeping in mind we should be asking ourselves realistically and pragmatically, how good is good enough?

Devin Crinklaw, Senior Instructor 88 Tactical (@devin.crinklaw)

Blade deployment is perhaps the most difficult aspect of the using a blade under the duress of close quarters combat. Especially depending on the type of knife you carry and how you are carrying it. There are pros and cons to nearly everything, and that definitely applies to edged weapons.

Most would agree that a fixed blade knife is the easiest to deploy under duress over the folder, however, most people aren’t going to be able to conceal a fixed blade knife due to body types and legal restrictions. The folder becomes the most viable option for legal means of carrying a blade and meets the comfort and convenience factors as well.

(Note: It is your responsibility to know your local and state carry laws and legal concealable blade length)

Draw Types for Use of an EDC Knife 

At 88 Tactical, we feel that our combative methodology should provide a broad framework for any weapon system we may have to employ. Our blade draw methods stick with the same philosophy as our gun draws, which are broken down into the covert draw, the overt draw, and the combative draw.

Concealed Defensive Knife | Covert Draw

Folding knife in front strong side pocket for draw - some tips how to use a self defense knife.

Folder knife in strong side front pocket (preferred position).

It has often been said the fastest draw is the one that is already in your hand. I couldn’t agree more. The Covert Draw is just that, hidden or concealed. The Covert Draw is used when there is the anticipation of an assault occurring to you or a third party. If it is a folder knife in the front strong side pocket, for example, this lends itself well to simply palming over the scales of the knife and slipping the thumb behind it to grip the knife before concealing the draw.

Example of covering the clip - knife defense requires training, like any other skill.

Cover clip with fingers and place thumb behind scales inside pocket.

Example of the jackknife position - sometimes a concealed blade may be the only option. Knowing how to use a defensive knife is important.

Be careful not to show the “jackknife position,” where the articulation of the elbow elevates into a nearly ninety-degree angle behind one’s back.

Methods of concealing the draw are shielding oneself behind a person, people or the environment you are in.The “jackknife position” is a well-known indicator of accessing a weapon by trained individuals and street savvy criminals. Once the blade is out of the pocket, the knife can be opened behind the strong side thigh, slowly and silently.

Example of palming concealment position - a concealed carry knife is useless if you do not know how to use it.

Draw folder carefully and surreptitiously from pocket to “Palming” concealment position.

 

Example of concealing knife behind your leg - a fighting knife is no good to you unless you can deploy it under stress.

Conceal folder behind the leg and slowly use thumb stud to deploy blade quietly.

 

Use the thumb stud to deploy the blade.

Conceal a defensive folding knife behind the leg and slowly use thumb stud to deploy blade quietly.

Cover garment

If concealed; expose access to the folder by using a “crush grip” on the cover garment and pulling it upward.

Concealed Blades for Defense | Overt Draw

The Overt Draw is not unlike a concealed pistol draw—this time with a fixed blade, carried “Felony style” (front belt line or Appendix IWB). The key factor here is clearing the cover garment. I am not a huge fan of the pinky or thumb garment hook. Great in theory and under high brain drilling, yet completely unreliable when being pressure tested with the closing of an “oriented threat.” Instead, the one or two hands gross motor “crush” garment grip is recommended, followed by the upward ripping high to mid-chest to completely clear the garment and expose the blade.

Gross Motor slap

Use gross motor slap onto the folder to “find it.” Place thumb behind scales to secure grip.

This renders the best chance of not getting a handful of clothing in between your palm and the handle of your blade as you trying to access your knife.

Immediate Action

Index Folder in hand to deploy blade via thumb stud or Gravity Feed (Immediate Action).

Blade deployment - knife fighting and bladed weapon defense.

Upon Blade Deployment, orient and establish grip.

Reverse Guard Position

Index Folder onto strong side hip or “Reverse Guard Position.”

Ready Position

Relaxed Ready Position.

Alternatively, here’s an example of an overt draw with a fixed blade.

Crush Grip - knife fighting and bladed weapon defense.

Garment “Crush Grip” and expose blade handle.

Handgun Draw - knife fighting and bladed weapon defense.

Establish grip on scales while the blade is in the sheath (similar to handgun draw).

 

Reverse Guard Position

Draw aggressively to Reverse Guard Position.

Reverse Guard Position - knife fighting and bladed defense with 88 Tactical.

Reverse Guard Position. Note: the tip of the blade is oriented toward opponent for better concealment.

The Defensive Knife | Combative Draw

88 Tactical Class

Keep your hands up to protect your head. Consider a preemptive strike if you feel an assault is imminent, especially if you haven’t controlled the distance.

This is the most difficult draw to train as you need to simulate the act of dealing with an attack of some kind, either empty hand or against some sort of weapon while trying to access a blade for defensive purposes. Priorities of action are the biggest factors in successfully executing this draw, which may use the same mechanics you just trained previously, via the covert or overt draw. However, your orientation in the combative engagement has now changed. The most important consideration is dealing with the immediate assault. If your priority is trying to access your weapon first, you may not survive the initial ambush to be able to get to your blade. So first, survive the initial attack. This could range from covering up your head, neck, and vitals from a physical assault or grabbing a firearm or other held weapon from being used on you.

88 Tactical Class

Don’t make the mistake of trying to beat (react to) a draw with a draw after the fact. Interrupt, foil, or fend the draw and his attack with empty hands. This buys you time to draw your weapon. In this case; a folding knife.

In the case of a firearm or knife, the general rule is to create space and minimize the attacker’s ability to orient the gun muzzle at you. Against a knife, isolate and stabilize the arm holding the blade so that the attacker cannot slash or stab you with it.

88 Tactical Class

While controlling the “weapon hand” of your opponent while striking the vulnerable areas of the head and neck (palm smash/eye gouge).

88 Tactical Class

Forearm strike to the neck/throat area.

88 Tactical Class

While the opponent is trying to recover from strike(s), draw blade and index to engage if necessary.

88 Tactical Class on knife fighting and using a blade for defense. Folding knives for fighting and other type.

The blade is drawn and chambered to thrust, bio-mechanically cut, etc.

If you see an attacker is armed with a blade (instead of a gun), create space and run away if you can. We call that the “Nike Defense,” and it doesn’t matter which brand of shoes you are wearing. Just do it. If confronted with an impending attack by one or more assailants, use pain-inducing pathways to create space with gross motor strikes to large areas of the head and neck, low line kicks to groin etc., creating a small window of opportunity for you to combatively draw your blade.

Elements of edge weapon defense and knife fighting at an 88 Tactical class.

Learn more — or take a class — at 88 Tactical.

88 Tactical Group offers tactical and defensive training to citizens and armed professionals alike.

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