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Throwing Knives For Combat, Part 1 - Projectiles and the man.
The validity of the throwing knife is the subject of much debate in the world of combatives. Many of us have been involved with conversations regarding the decision to throw a knife at an adversary. What is the chance it will stick? Why risk throwing the only knife one has, is it not better to keep the knife in hand? Many questions arise. Is it not better to keep the distance between you and your foe? If you both have a knife, can you not just step back and throw, where you are safe, and the adversary is not? In this brief article we will explore this subject of projectile knives.
Lets think about this from the recipients point of view. From the time we were children we have been taught that it is best to react to incoming projectiles. In baseball, hockey, basketball we are taught to engage that which comes to us. Other activities such as water guns, paintball, and Dodge-ball have taught us to get out of the way, sometimes running for cover.
In actual combat involving the use of firearms, weve learnt the importance of concealment and cover. The first being deception, making us nearly invisible (hidden), whereas the second offers us real protection (hard cover). Both are better than being exposed in the open. Common sense tells us being open is not so good. Should we be in the open, we try and make ourselves smaller targets, or better yet seek concealment or cover. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but these are important basics.
Now, you dear reader may be thinking, Alrighty, but what about throwing knives for combat?
Answer: A shooting instructor of mine once said this to me; You have to consider combat in terms of what your adversary would WANT you to do. Now, what would your adversary NOT want you to do? Govern your self accordingly.
It is common knowledge that flight or flight symptoms occur. High adrenaline rushes are both good and bad. The ability to relax and calculate distances, and knife turn-rates etcetera are going to make throwing at a distance quite challenging.
So, it is with this in mind, that we must go forward we need a plan. We need something that works 100% of the time. The methods explain within this article are simple but effective. These are merely suggestions, simple steps, designed to build a base.
Method #1: stand at arms length to your target. Hold the knife with the handle (as if you were ready to slash and thrust in an instant). Now, cock you knife hand, and release the knife, so that it sails into the target without rotating. Vary your stance, and subtly vary your distance. Practice throwing from the four corners, meaning cock and release your knife hand from your right and left shoulder (overhand), as well as your right and left hip (underhand). Practice right and left hand until you achieve consistent success in all areas. This is a high percentage; combat applicable method of throwing knives. Seek soft target such as the belly and throat, but also the face.
Method #2: hold two knives, one in each hand. From the same distance as before, and same grip also. This is a two count drill, as we added an extra step. Lead with the throw and follow with an immediate thrust or slash.
The second method is one that will save your life. It is not fancy, but it does work. Substitute the throwing knife with pocket change, gravel, sand, spit you get the idea. The goal is to get out of a dangerous situation. You can do this by controlling the adversary. Set him up. Master-at-Arms James Keating taught me that much of knife fighting is trickery. We apply this logic now. The adversary will react to the projectile. All humans do. Its up to you then to close the gap, MOVE NOW! There may not be any second chances.
One should practice throwing the knife that is carried. If its a folding knife you carry, then pick a soft target and lay padding on the floor, if you are indoors. Some prefer to practice in the woods. Know this-the force exerted on your folding knife is harsh! Broken locks, scratched handles, chipped blades are all part of this chapter, so beware and take care.
Sincerely,
Noah Walt
Thrust Magazine
www.thrustmagazine.net
The validity of the throwing knife is the subject of much debate in the world of combatives. Many of us have been involved with conversations regarding the decision to throw a knife at an adversary. What is the chance it will stick? Why risk throwing the only knife one has, is it not better to keep the knife in hand? Many questions arise. Is it not better to keep the distance between you and your foe? If you both have a knife, can you not just step back and throw, where you are safe, and the adversary is not? In this brief article we will explore this subject of projectile knives.
Lets think about this from the recipients point of view. From the time we were children we have been taught that it is best to react to incoming projectiles. In baseball, hockey, basketball we are taught to engage that which comes to us. Other activities such as water guns, paintball, and Dodge-ball have taught us to get out of the way, sometimes running for cover.
In actual combat involving the use of firearms, weve learnt the importance of concealment and cover. The first being deception, making us nearly invisible (hidden), whereas the second offers us real protection (hard cover). Both are better than being exposed in the open. Common sense tells us being open is not so good. Should we be in the open, we try and make ourselves smaller targets, or better yet seek concealment or cover. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but these are important basics.
Now, you dear reader may be thinking, Alrighty, but what about throwing knives for combat?
Answer: A shooting instructor of mine once said this to me; You have to consider combat in terms of what your adversary would WANT you to do. Now, what would your adversary NOT want you to do? Govern your self accordingly.
It is common knowledge that flight or flight symptoms occur. High adrenaline rushes are both good and bad. The ability to relax and calculate distances, and knife turn-rates etcetera are going to make throwing at a distance quite challenging.
So, it is with this in mind, that we must go forward we need a plan. We need something that works 100% of the time. The methods explain within this article are simple but effective. These are merely suggestions, simple steps, designed to build a base.
Method #1: stand at arms length to your target. Hold the knife with the handle (as if you were ready to slash and thrust in an instant). Now, cock you knife hand, and release the knife, so that it sails into the target without rotating. Vary your stance, and subtly vary your distance. Practice throwing from the four corners, meaning cock and release your knife hand from your right and left shoulder (overhand), as well as your right and left hip (underhand). Practice right and left hand until you achieve consistent success in all areas. This is a high percentage; combat applicable method of throwing knives. Seek soft target such as the belly and throat, but also the face.
Method #2: hold two knives, one in each hand. From the same distance as before, and same grip also. This is a two count drill, as we added an extra step. Lead with the throw and follow with an immediate thrust or slash.
The second method is one that will save your life. It is not fancy, but it does work. Substitute the throwing knife with pocket change, gravel, sand, spit you get the idea. The goal is to get out of a dangerous situation. You can do this by controlling the adversary. Set him up. Master-at-Arms James Keating taught me that much of knife fighting is trickery. We apply this logic now. The adversary will react to the projectile. All humans do. Its up to you then to close the gap, MOVE NOW! There may not be any second chances.
One should practice throwing the knife that is carried. If its a folding knife you carry, then pick a soft target and lay padding on the floor, if you are indoors. Some prefer to practice in the woods. Know this-the force exerted on your folding knife is harsh! Broken locks, scratched handles, chipped blades are all part of this chapter, so beware and take care.
Sincerely,
Noah Walt
Thrust Magazine
www.thrustmagazine.net