HurtingBombs...I don't have enough details, but here are a few thoughts. If possible I would run away, if I was facing multiple attackers or a weapon, or in this case both. If I could not escape or if I was with my family and escape was not possible, I would hopefully have time to draw my knife to even the odds. Increased awareness gives you a better chance of getting to your weapon, plus you need to practice drawing you knife if you are going to carry one for self defense. Most predators are looking for easy targets, so hopefully they would run when they saw the knife and that I knew how to use it. If not, I would terminate their attack as quickly as possible. I usually carry a rather large folder (Benchmade Skirmish 4.3" blade) as my main knife and I've done a lot of training, so hopefully I would prevail. There is a saying that when 2 people engage in a knife fight, one usually dies on the spot and one dies a few blocks away.
RichardC99...LOL, I'm hardly ever in Code White. The guy was either lucky and/or the guy with the knife didn't know what he was doing. I'm usually in a relaxed, but alert state of Code Yellow.
Sam Pie tried to raise a valid issue on self defense vs. sport training. He didn't say jiu jitsu was a poor choice (actually, he has advocated MMA more or less, with non-sport self-defense techniques for quite a while) for self defense. He didn't say the guy made a bad call. He simply raised an issue that occasionally, you need to truly train at full speed, probably with a dummy, on your techniques.
Also, LOL the understanding of what an armbar does to a persons arm. It doesn't break it in half with bones sticking out (unless it is a forearm break like Mir v. Sylvia). It usually pops the capsule in the elbow, hurts like a bitch, but doesn't cause the arm to be useless until swelling and the accompanying pain set in. Kimura will incapacitate the arm since it rips up quite a few things, but a straight armbar, unless you are able to take it to quite an angle, may not stop your opponent fully.
Many martial artists have finished a fight with a broken hand. Tim Sylvia was still on his feet saying he was OK after his arm snapped. An armbar will definitely fuck someone up. However, the point of pain and the point of loss of mobility are not even close.
To make sure you have the correct body mechanics to get a debilitating break, you need to practice occasionally. Thai fighters don't spar full force. However, they do occasionally work a heavy bag or pads with full force or close to it. That allows them to practice contact and power without running out of training partners.
Please everyone take your fucking blinders off and realize this isn't a TMA vs. MMA argument. There is no vs. here, just a comment on developing a full understanding of self defense practice vs. sport practice.
The majority of BJJ practitioners do not even compete in BJJ, let alone MMA. A soccer mom or executive assistant who is taking an effective martial art still needs to examine the mental aspects of self defense as well, regardless of the effectiveness of the art they study.
Just to add to the arm bar theory. You actually tear the tendons and ligaments from the muscle and bone witch DOES render it useless. I know this because I have done it in a fight, and he could not use the arm. You have to crank like you are trying to rip it off, cause if you stop after the pop you won't get quite the effect. This will also fuck the persons arm up for life. I made friends with this person I did this to afterwards, he said he still can't use the arm the same. And in the "streets" If you aren't fighting like your life depended on it then don't. Cause your gonna get f-cked up. I can't imagine people wanting to fight in the street by choice. If you have the option, then run like a bitch. way to many variables involved to have the ego that you have trained for them all. I have made plenty of bad desicions that have put me in "real street fight situations," (this includes the inside of institutions)that were all avoidable. Take your training and put it on the macro. What is the best way to get out of an arm bar? to not get into it in the first place. If you get jumped, and you are continuing to fight past the point of retreat than it just a matter of time. I say this from being on both ends. I have actually been jumped bye multiple people it was not cool. There was no smoothness to it. It was three guys hitting me and throwing me to the ground, and hitting me some more. I was able to get up in base and run. The killer technique I used was getting up in base!!! I could have gotten up, and after seeing what they looked like in court, fucked there ass up. But instead I choose to take my busted lip and run. Now I own those fuckers. Bottom line unless there is money involved why would you want to fight, there is so much more in life that could be taken away with one swing of a lock in a sock. Peace
That is a very intimidating photo of a "tactical folder." In fact, it was bigger, longer, and harder than most of the posts on here.
That said, if you really fear for the lives of yourself and your family, and you really think that a knife is your best bet, why a folder? All you are doing is increasing response time, and increasing the chance of a foul up. Heck, if you're really paranoid, at least carry a fixed blade.
John Frankl...I love my Skirmish and it is pretty big for a tactical folder. I carry it with me almost everywhere I go, along with a smaller knife for back up. If I'm wearing dress clothes, I will carry my Emerson CQC-7.
If you think that knife is intimidating you are right, but check out my other knife. The Cuda Maxx 7.0 has a 7 inch blade and is 15 inches long when opened. Unfortunately it is 8 inches long when it's closed and not very practical to carry. It has a wave feature, so it opens automatically when I draw it too. I've wrecked a few pairs of pants with it so I don't carry it that much anymore. It would be hard to explain to a jury, but I figure the intimidation factor would mean much less chance of actually having to use it. If I pulled out my folding sword, unless you have a gun, you are done and would probably run.
I'm not paranoid, I'm like a boy scout, I like to be prepared. When you are prepared, there is no reason not to be relaxed. With practice and I had a lot of it, you can be alert and relaxed at the same time. The folding knife is much more acceptable to wear in public, most people don't even notice it or know what it is. The Sheeple tend to get nervous around fixed blades. I can draw my folder pretty quickly, I don't see it being a disavantage. I only carry quality blades, I don't have any foul ups.
Karm...you are correct. However, you would have little chance of disarming someone who knows what he's doing and is armed with a knife. Most knife attacks are ambushes and the victims don't see the knife until they are already cut.
Atecexa...there are things you can do to better prepare yourself for combat, but I understand what you are saying.
Sam Pai the assumption of your post (that the safety aspects, IE tapping, ten count, etc. of "sport" training will get you hurt in a fight) is mostly false. I agree that one should integrate tactical real life aspects into training, but sport MMA training (which is a step closer to a real fight than sport BJJ or Sport MT/Kickboxing) along w/ weapons training (mainly guns, but some knives/sticks) in a live art is about 90% of self defense training.
The reason for spending hundreds of hours on the mat/in the ring is so that technique becomes reflexive, which is critical in a real life fight where your adreneline is sky high. The reality is that you will be so pumped that you will crank the hold and do massive damage. I know I will.
For example, I got into it on the street several years ago and ended up w/ a guy in a rear naked. I was so pumped that I held the choke while he flailed about (yes he "tapped me several times during the process). I was so into choking him that I didn't snap out of it until I smelled shit (he crapped his pants) and realizing that I was killing him I released the hold. Envisioning a lenthy prison stay I frantically rescucitated him (leaned him up against a tree) and was massively relieved when he finally came to.
Recently, here in Texas, a lightweight Golden Gloves boxer beat a man to death. Based upon your reasoning, He would have counted to 10 every time he dropped him. Of course he did not. Ironically, his coach was interviewed in the local newspaper and replied that "hmm, and he was never considered a hard puncher, he just had fast hands".
I have a CHL. I train w/ my Glock 23 (compact 40 Cal) about once per week and carry most of the time. Thus I consider a knife an unwise choice since it will result in getting shot.
My MMA/self defense training is for when my oponent is unarmed.
