Strategically speaking:
The current strategy that is most popular among the knife industry right now is to limb cut. The idea of bio-mechanical cutting; where one intends to severe ligaments and tendons of the attacker, rendering their attacking limbs useless. The have been many articles and commentary even lately on the subject, touting this principle, and discussing it in terms of stopping power. They make a compelling argument that because knives lack stopping power, cutting the limbs to render them useless is the quickest way to stop the attacker.
As much as I respect the argument and the individuals proposing it, I respectfully disagree with the limb cutting approach. Not that you wouldn't cut limbs, as you would if that was what was available. But the approach that we propose is that your strategy is to stab rather then slice center mass, preferably into the face and neck area high, and try to run through them to either escape or get behind them when attacker has stopped enough to allow it.
Our reasoning behind this approach is that limb cuts are not reliable, and have not proven to be reliable show stoppers in knife encounters. There is not very much evidence out there of people having their arm cut, a tendon severed cleanly, and the opponent dropping the weapon and not being able to continue. There is countless evidence available, however, of people having arms sliced repeatedly, and not stopping their attacks. In a fight, it is difficult to precisely target the tendon and cut it cleanly. One may only partially sever it, or miss it completely even if it seems like they sliced deeply in the right spot. People just aren't getting limbs cut, and dropping their weapons because of it. Usually when peoples limbs are cut, they don't even know it, and they continue to attack.
Knives lack stopping power. This is the unfortunate fact about them if you are forced to use one in self-defense. But by attacking with a stab center mass, particularly the eye, face, neck area, the attacker is more likely to pause, flinch, or stop from the impact of that stab, as well as the damage. Lower Body stabs are far less likely to cause stoppage, but stabs to the groin kidneys and lower abs, or even the legs like the thigh areas are likely to get the attackers attention, or hinder the attackers ability to chase you down.
Face or center mass attacks are more likely to enduce stoppage. There is NO proof of such reliability with limb attacks, and the evidence actually points to the contrary.
What I say goes completely against the grain of what is popular to train right now. But that is O.K.; if there weren't differences in ideas then no one would be thinking critically!
And remember, these things tend to fall into trends. So when the trend changes from a limb cutting strategy to a center mass stabing strategy, remember what I posted here!
artyon: Preach, brotha, preach!
