Albo empty hands vs. knife

[Shaun]

Do Albo Kali Silat knife defense techniques rely on joint locking as the initial control technique(against an edged weapon) or would it be more a case of parry/passing the blade, then countering?

[KaliGman]

The answer is “Yes,” since everything mentioned is used in the system. Albo Kali Silat focuses on the reality of combat, and experience has indicated that a fighter can't always pick and choose a favorite technique. The absolute best outcome in an unarmed confrontation against a knife wielding opponent is that you disable the opponent and secure the knife (disarm with retrieval of the knife) so that it is now available for your use, if needed. The next best outcome is for the knife to be stripped from the attacker, but not in the possession of the defender, and with the attacker disabled from attacking with empty hands or any other weapon that he or she may possess. Leaving the attacker in possession of the knife, but controlling the arm/hand that wields the knife and disabling the attacker is the next best option. Dealing with the attacker and not securing the knife wielding limb is the second to worst option. The worst option is, of course, to not deal successfully with the situation at all and to be cut or stabbed and killed.

In general, Albo Kali Silat practitioners recognize the difficulty of disarming a knife wielding opponent. Many disarming techniques are, in a politically correct vernacular, “reality challenged” (as in they won’t work, are downright dangerous, or are complete “mall ninja” fantasy). In Albo Kali Silat, some disarms are taught, because they can prove useful in some situations. However, it is repeatedly emphasized that the best “disarm” is when “dis arm right here” doesn’t work anymore. As the opponent is trying to use a lethal tool (a knife), the preferred method for Albo Kali Silat is to respond with a limb destruction, if unarmed or “behind the power curve” and unable to access any weapons carried during the first assault (a frequent occurrence in real life assaults). The joints of the wrist, elbow, and/or shoulder are destroyed, and bones may be broken in addition to the destruction of tendons and ligaments. As this is not always possible, bridging the arm into a position of advantage, followed by a trap or pin, is also utilized, as is passing the blade and counterattacking. Counterattacking is the way to deal with an assault, as you cannot prevail in a life-or-death fight by continually defending. You must seize the initiative. The preferred counteract while empty handed against a knife wielder is an arm destruction, followed by other attacks as available. The thing to do when dealing with an attack from the blade is to gain a tactile connection with the arm wielding the knife (i.e. have an arm/hand in contact with it at all times), keep the knife from hitting you if at all possible, and attack the opponent. Multiple hits/locks/throws/breaks/balance disruptions/etc. should be utilized. If possible, compound movements are utilized. For instance, say the attacker comes in with a lateral (side-to-side) cut. The defender can do many things, but let us suppose that he steps diagonally to the rear and deflects the blade wielding arm (a pass) past his abdomen. When the arm is passed, the defender hooks his right hand over the attacker’s wrist, pulls ( a quick jerk or “jing”) the attacker’s arm forward, thus straightening and “locking” the attacker’s elbow, and then launches a straight left punch over the attacker’s arm to the attacker’s face. While the fist hits the attacker’s face, the forearm travels over and impacts on the attacker’s elbow joint, which is under tension, ripping the connective tissue and destroying the joint. This is a compound motion—two attacks for one hit.

The overall strategy in Albo Kali Silat when dealing with a knife wielding opponent while empty handed is “Control the knife and repeatedly counterattack the opponent.” If possible, when empty handed and faced with a blade, if there is no possibility of a safe retreat, attack the assailant prior to the initiation of any bladed attack. Hit first and hit often.

[gagimilo]

I guess that you are especially aware of the difficulty of disarming, being that you prefer training with small, folder-sized, knives, eh?

[KaliGman]

I guess that you are especially aware of the difficulty of disarming, being that you prefer training with small, folder-sized, knives, eh?

Disarms can be conducted, but, for a high percentage chance of doing a disarm, the best situation is a highly skilled person attempting the disarm against a very unskilled knife wielder. As the defender's skill level increases, the more chance there is of doing a disarm. As you indicated, small knives can be harder to disarm than larger knives, using many "standard" and many of the "flashy" disarm techniques. Albo Kali Silat works with karambits quite a bit, and a small knife with a retention ring is harder to take away with some of the "hey, look at my ultra-cool disarm technique number 13-Z" (i.e. the really complicated and flashy techniques) than "normal" small, folding blades. Dealing with modern realities, we work firearm disarms, and a small handgun can be a challenge to disarm as well. When my life is on the line, the arm destructions just start to look a whole lot more practical in most situations.

[Shaun]

Good explanations and great practical advice - based on hard won experience no doubt.