Martial Myths.....

[Robertlk808]

Im sure most of you have already seen the video on Facebook but here it is if you havent.



Good to see people pressure testing as Guro Burton says and does. 

[Robertlk808]

I know Guro Burton also has this video demonstration:
I didn't post the video to say JKDU stuff wouldn't work, I just put it up here for discussion.

[James McRae]

Thanks for posting, Robert.  Please note that the tirade that follows is directed against the contents of the video, not against you (an excellent martial artist who posted said video for educational purposes)...

[Begin angry tirade: please make use of ear and eye protection at this time]

I agree with the video: grappling against a knife is suicide... if you grapple like a total #üç%ing $#!+head!  

Diving in for a double-leg takedown against a knife-wielding opponent is like trying to kick a gun out of somebody's hand.  It only works in movies and in the minds of delusional, 15-year-old Kung Fu practitioners.  I don't think that the deadly push-kick barrage depicted in the video as the "reasonable alternative" would work any better.  The knife-wielding feeder is hell on grapplers, but doesn't seem to think once about cutting the leg of the guy who is attacking him repeatedly.  I would use one low-line kick to inflict some damage at long range and bridge the gap to gain control of the weapon-bearing limb, but thinking you can just kick a competent knife-fighter into oblivion is insane.

[End angry tirade: safety equipment can be removed at this time]

[Garth Lynch]

The kicking made more sense in the specific confined environment depicted (where the kicker could brace against the wall, etc.), than it would in general, IMHO.

[Burton]

Thanks for posting that Robert!
Note that once they started demonstrating their preferable method (kicking) the attacker was more compliant instead of going all out like in the first scenario.

And yes, if you can't run, it is almost always a must to grapple, going for the 2 on 1, to secure the knife arm!

Jim, thanks for the Christmas color-themed warnings! Yes, abysmal "grappler".

[Kentao5]

One thing seems to be that the "defender' doesn't acknowledge the fact that they have been stabbed/slashed numerous times but yet they still keep grappling.  One reason to use something more sturdy than a paper knife that when felt, should cause a little discomfort.