Knives Out

​With Christmas just a short time away, let me start with a bit of a story that happened at least 8 years ago.  We were having our annual security Christmas party for the security team at my church.  Every year we do a white elephant gift exchange.  This particular year someone was trying to get a box open or get the ribbon off the box.  Either way, the person asked for a knife.  There was a slight chuckle in group as all you could hear was the click, click, click etc. of knives coming out of pockets and being flipped open.  It was one of those moments that you had to be there and every year since that time there is always someone that asks that nostalgic question again.  It wouldn’t be the same if someone didn’t ask it. 
 
I would venture to say that most of you may not be aware at how often a knife attack happens.  I am betting that most of you carry a knife of some sort on yourself.  We call it Colorado Bling here because it is an accessory that many men in this state carry.  If you do, do you train on how to deploy and effectively use it?  Do you know how to handle someone that would want to do harm with a knife?

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​If you think about the harm that could happen and how quickly it could happen before you even know or react.  I am fortunate to be able to train three days a week on dealing with a variety of hand to hand attack issues that may arise.  Again, as you should know by now that you are going to deal with a variety of other situations more often then you will have to deal with an active killer with a gun.  Knife attacks happen all the time in the news but they never make the national news unless there is a significant body count.
 
There are people in this country and others that train regularly on how to kill you with a knife.  The security team at my church has done some training in regard to knives, but honestly not nearly enough.  There are a few of us that do train regularly on tactics that do include a knife.  It is something that is part of the level 2 portion of our seminar.  Much of what is learned in the level 1 training leads well into many of the knife drills and that happen later. 
 
Fortunately, in this country we don’t have to get a permit to carry a knife yet.  So, if you are going to carry a weapon like a knife don’t you think you should train on how to use it and also how to defend yourself if you find yourself face to face with someone that is prepared to fight you with a knife.  All of us that carry a gun most of the time can easily make the joke that well we would just draw and shoot.  There is a very small percentage of people that would be able to get their gun out in time. 
 
There are so many different knife styles that are out there and just as many opinions as to the characteristics that are needed in a knife.  One thing to keep in mind is also the local law as to which kind of knives you can carry or not.  Many places around the country have a blade length that you want to make sure that you are in compliance with.  There are a lot of details that you need to be aware of when you are picking a knife to carry and far to many then what I can cover here especially without pictures. 
 
Let me deviate for a minute but not to take away from the topic of training with knives both defectively and offensively.  One of the best exercises that we did many years ago was to face one direction with our guns holstered and concealed as we normally carry them.  There were people behind us about 21 feet back.  They were to run at us as if they were going to attack us.  Once the “go” was given there was only a couple of times that I could clear my holster before getting touched by the person coming up behind me.  I never got a shot off.  It is a great exercise if you think that you will be able to draw before getting attacked by a knife.  Imagine if they were just a few feet in front of you.
 
I have some great friends that are very skilled in knife fighting and defense.  I would just encourage you to seek someone out that can both inform you on knives and be able to train you as well.  It is best not to carry a weapon that you are not trained to use.  We have enough people carrying guns with virtually no training that we don’t need people carrying knives that don’t know how to use them.  Just a bit of food for thought until next year.