That Doesn’t Work, Except When It Does

Recently I was re-watching an old Filipino martial arts instructional video from the 1990s.  The instructor was highly qualified and clearly knowledgeable and skilled.  He made a number of salient points about how many martial arts deal with knives using unrealistic methods.  But then he made a statement to the effect of: “no one stabs anyone, because a “real” knife attack by a skilled fighter involves slashing.  All the defenses against a big, committed stab are leftover from armored combat and are therefore antiquated at best.”

The problem is, both of those last true sentences are PATENTLY untrue.  My evidence?  Well, aside from the easy availability of criminal knife assault videos on the internet, I have also been fortunate enough the train under and alongside a number of individuals with diverse professional backgrounds who have DIRECT experience with knife attacks.  Guess what?  All of those men, as well as any number of videos (because in the age of YouTube it seems only video evidence is definitive; someone tell Bigfoot that) testify to the ubiquity and danger of a stabbing attack.

Now, before I “rip into” another instructor, especially one who is undoubtedly the “real deal” I want to point out that what he was showing was all valid material. And his point about the exaggerated nature of the stabbing attacks used for training in a lot of systems is spot on.  The problem was that he was so skilled in his “type” of fighting, that he forgot other people don’t do things “right.”  And those “incorrect” attacks will still kill you.

We are all the products of our environment and experiences.  As I have written at length before, context is everything.  Remember that prior to 1994, very few American martial artists ever considered grappling as important or effective.  The advent of the UFC and the introduction of Brazilian Jiu Jutsu to the wider world was a rude awakening for a lot of point fighters and kick boxers who were absolute animals in their comfort zone but had no idea that they had ignored an entire aspect of physical conflict.  Now, we seem to be entering a reverse phase where the masses are realizing that grappling on the ground is not the panacea either, and in certain contexts is in fact a very bad idea (and I say this as a lapsed Jūdōka who always loved playing newaza).

Well, the FMA teacher in question was so used to people attacking “correctly” according to his style that he no longer considered “unskilled” attacks to be a viable threat (never mind that plenty of FMA and Silat I’ve seen all feature stabbing attacks in their basic numbering).

In learning from people who have experience on both sides of the law, I’ve been shown that very rarely do both parties in a knife encounter know there is a knife present until it has been used.  Many of those uses involve blindsiding the victim, grabbing with one hand, and pistoning the knife in and out of the victim like a sewing machine needle with the other.

The “square off” between two or more parties with knives is a dueling scenario, and is extremely unlikely to occur unless you actively seek it out.  The skilled slashes and withdraws of a great eskrimador are no doubt lethal, but how many eskrimadors are attacking you in the parking lot or alley to get your wallet?  It is inarguably true that these arts have merit.  The issue in todays example is teaching students that since your method is the best, there is no sense in understanding or preparing for another.

Oh, and as for the statement about armor: what do you think a bulletproof vest or Kevlar covers are?  What about a simple heavy winter coat?  Or leather jacket?  Slashes lose efficacy as layers are added.

From this example, let us learn the lesson that no matter how good we become at our chosen system, it is always a piece of the pie, and not the whole pie.  We are lucky in KunTao Silat in that so many of our number come into training with proficiency in any number of other martial arts.  While it speaks to the efficacy of KTS that these talented men and women are inspired to build on their existing knowledge with our art, we should also respect their existing knowledge base and take the opportunity to draw from it.  How can you use your Djurus to respond to karate kicks?  To wrestling takedowns?  Or to the slashes and parries of FMA?

Never let the reputation of your style or lineage take the place of your own hard work.  And never take for granted that someone out there is practicing just as hard as you do…at something that doesn’ work…until it does.

Dr Jon