Krav Maga Weapon Defenses. David Kahn

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      A punch thrown at your head does not represent the same danger, as does an edged weapon slashing at your throat. Countering an open-handed strike to your head by deflecting-redirecting the attack and simultaneously collapsing your attacker’s windpipe may not be justified under these circumstances (although, of course, the totality of the circumstances must always be taken into consideration). However, when someone tries to slit your throat, you are justified in stopping the deadly force assault as quickly as possible using any means at your disposal. This particular defense against an edged-weapon attack to the head involves the defender stepping “off the line” of attack and simultaneously counterstriking the assailant in the face or throat as we will cover in Chapter 4.

      Defending against this same example of a face-to-face overhand edged-weapon attack (often called an icepick attack) also serves as a good example how krav maga incorporates open-handed defensive tactics with tactical positioning to put the defender in the most advantageous position. We will examine this particular defense in detail in Figures 3.01 and 4.01. As noted, whenever possible, krav maga utilizes both a deflection-redirection combined with a body defense that moves the defender off the line of attack, or in the case of firearm disarms, out of the “line of fire.” By deflecting-redirecting the incoming attack and simultaneously moving away from it combined with a counterattack, krav maga strives to create a fail-safe redundant defense. Not only is the attack thwarted by a deflection-redirection and simultaneous counterattacks, the defender is also not positioned where the assailant anticipated.

      Krav Maga Tactical Thinking When Confronting Weapons While on the Ground. One of the best ways to stop a weapon from being deployed in a ground struggle is exactly that: prevent the assailant from presenting the weapon. This requires astute recognition, especially in the heat of a vicious fight. Fight positioning determines your tactical advantage. Optimally, a kravist will move quickly to a superior and dominant position relative to his opponent, known in krav maga parlance as the deadside. With the exception of the initial defensive movements against some impact weapon attacks, krav maga weapons defenses strive, when possible, to take the defender to the assailant’s deadside which often provides a decisive tactical advantage. Once superior position and control of the weapon are achieved while simultaneously controlling the weapon to keep both you and bystanders safe, the assailant will have a minimal ability to defend or to counter your retzev counterattack. The defender’s control of the weapon also keeps bystanders safe. Retzev, using all parts of your body seamlessly in coordinated concert, provides an overwhelming counterattack including, when necessary, turning the weapon on the assailant.

      If both the defender and assailant are on the ground and the assailant decides in mid-fight to deploy a weapon, krav maga’s weapon defenses on the ground are similar to its standing defenses. Movement on the ground is obviously different than when standing. Accordingly, the defenses must be modified. The nature of groundfighting can allow one opponent superior control and positioning, while the other opponent cannot run or evade as he might while standing. Again, krav maga groundwork against weapons is best defined as “what we do up, we do down” with additional specific groundfighting capabilities. We employ many of our standing combatives on the ground, including groin, eye, and throat strikes in combination with joint breaks and dislocations designed, if necessary, to maim your opponent.

      Analyzing the overhand edged-weapon attack example starts to put you in the mind-frame of a kravist skilled in weapons defenses. Let’s go through this particular defense step-by-step (we will cover the technique in detail in Chapter 4). When facing deadly weapon assaults, such as an edged-weapon attack, krav maga provides the defender with the option of striking to vital areas such as the throat. Again, the immediate goal is to stop the assailant. This means neutralizing the assailant with soft tissue strikes and other combatives to then allow the defender to exert decisive control over the weapon.

      One of Imi’s more famous sayings was that you should be “so good that you do not have to kill.” Imi also had another saying that some krav maga techniques were only useful to commandos or criminals. Of course, criminals have no place in krav maga. Therefore, some of krav maga’s techniques are reserved for military and security teaching only.

      Krav maga is flexible; instructors do not provide set instructions but, rather, a comprehensive blueprint. Learning by rote would violate krav maga’s practicality and adaptability. However and wherever krav maga might be used, it must be used for the right reason—self-defense with the appropriate level of counter-force. An assailant armed with a weapon can clearly cause you serious bodily harm or kill you. Krav maga is both aggressive and decisive in countering weapon attacks. If you must physically engage the assailant, the goal is to deliver you from harm’s way and dominate the assailant.

      The law in most countries evaluates a person’s response according to a “reasonable person standard.” For self-defense, the operative language becomes “reasonable force.” In other words, what would the reasonable person do, or how would he or she react, under the totality of the circumstances? Among the myriad facts involving a violent confrontation, the law analyzes a disparity in size and strength when adjudicating liability and criminal charges. When completing a weapon disarm against an assailant, if you control the weapon and the assailant is no longer a threat, you must cease your defensive actions. The moment you are deemed safe, any additional defensive actions may, in fact, become offensive actions.

      If you continue to injure an assailant who is no longer a threat, you could face civil and criminal charges—especially if you deliberately turn the weapon on the assailant. For example, if you disarm a gunman and then shoot him repeatedly with his own weapon, you may be justified provided he kept coming at you. But, if you shoot him center mass and he goes down no longer presenting a threat, and you then walk up to him and shoot him point blank in the head—you have just executed someone and you will answer for it.

      In short, to defend yourself, only use the amount of force commensurate with the threat. As tempting as it might be, to severely hurt or kill your assailant, you must make a deliberate conscious decision when to cease your counterattack. Granted, in the heat of the confrontation there is precious little or no time to weigh your options especially when reacting instinctively. Just remember, if the initial violent confrontation ends and you have time to contemplate your next move, the situation is no longer life threatening; do not continue your counterattacks. Disengage and wait for law enforcement officials to arrive or flee if necessary and then contact the authorities.

      For armed law-enforcement personnel who have a sworn duty to protect the public, krav maga training teaches an officer to directly handle a threat coupled, importantly, with the ability to quickly de-escalate or escalate the appropriate level of force. Krav maga recognizes that when faced with a deadly threat, most officers will instinctively reach for a sidearm or, in a tactical situation, resort to a rifle/submachine gun (SMG). Therefore, krav maga teaches variations of the tactics incorporating streamlined weapon deployment and higher use-of-force options.

The Best Use of This Book

      This book is designed for the novice and expert alike who would like to improve his or her chances of not just surviving an armed attack, but increasing the odds of prevailing against an armed attack without serious injury. Many students marvel that they can come to one krav maga class and regardless of their prior self-defense training, they walk away proficient—with a lasting knowledge—in the specific weapon disarms they just learned. For example, you could walk away from a single class taught by a qualified Israeli krav maga instructor and decisively disarm someone pointing a handgun at you or attacking you with an iron pipe.

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      The weapon defenses covered in this book assume you have no choice but to physically engage and defend. To be sure, in any situation involving an adversary with a weapon, the optimum solution would be to recognize the threat СКАЧАТЬ