Can You Really Defend Yourself Against A Knife Or A Gun? Probably Not

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Centereach, New York, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) January 3, 2011 -- "If there is one thing that I need to do as a martial arts instructor, it's to give my students the facts when it comes to weapons self defense", says Universal Street Combat Systems founder John Annunziata. "Self defense techniques that focus on an attacker that comes at you with a knife or a gun, and you have to disarm them empty handed, is completely bogus and irresponsible".

Mr. Annunziata, an 8th degree Kenpo black belt with over 28 years in the martial arts, has seen many instructors through out his martial arts career teach their students how to disarm an opponent who has a knife or a gun either aimed at them or pressed up against them, empty handed. He is amazed at how much importance the instructor places on these defense skills, yet the instructor doesn't tell them the reality of what could happen if you were to try one of these techniques on the street. "It's sad because these students can get hurt or even killed if they were to try these self defense techniques in the streets, it's just completely impractical and very dangerous". Mr. Annunziata goes on to say that "if you are teaching unarmed take aways or defense against weapons as part of the art, then that is fine as long as the instructor tells the student that in no way should these techniques be tried in the street".

Mr. Annunziata suggests trying the "marker" drill if people don't believe him. "The marker drill is something that everyone in the martial arts either knows about, or should know about. One person takes a magic marker and tries to attack the other person as if that magic marker were a knife. The person who is defending can use any of the knife self defense techniques that they have learned. At the end of the lesson, the 'defender' usually has magic marker lines drawn all over him. Those marker lines are where the blade would be cutting him, and that is why prearranged techniques against that type of weapon is useless".

Against gun techniques, Mr. Annunziata believes self defense techniques shouldn't be taught at all. "You can get cut by a knife and live. Getting shot, especially at point blank range, is a completely different story. Teaching gun self defense techniques are a sure way to get your students hurt, or even worse". Mr. Annunziata believes that there are ways to effectively teach self defense against weapons, and it usually implies that both parties have a weapon. "If you are going up against someone who is trying to attack you with a knife, and you have a knife as well, there are ways to disarm your attacker. Even if you have a pipe or a club, you still have a much better chance then you would if you were empty handed". The way he suggests to disarm your attacker, as long as you have one of those weapons, is to "behead the serpent". "Beheading the serpent is a technique that we use in Universal Street Combat Systems to attack the attackers weapon hand. Many people over look this effective way to disarm your opponent by trying to go for the body. The attacker is going to protect himself making it harder to get to his body, however if you attack the hand that is holding the weapon, he won't be able to use that hand, or the weapon effectively, if at all". When it comes to guns though, Mr. Annunziata believes that you should comply with what the attacker wants. "It's better to live and fight another day then it is to try to be Superman. If the attacker wants your wallet and he pulls out a gun, give it to him. Those items can be replaced". Even when it comes to defending your loved ones, Mr. Annunziata believes that it is still best to comply. He doesn't feel it's worth having someone shot over because your "self defense" technique failed, or because you slipped, or for any reason for that matter.

In the end, the student needs to determine the correct course of action. If the student doesn't feel like the weapons self defense techniques that they learned are going to get them out of the situation that they are in, then it's best to comply and be on the safe side. "I understand that there are times when a person may have no other choice but to fight, but in those times I would strongly suggest reverting back to your basics by parrying and evading your attacker instead of trying to preform a complicated prearranged set of movements". It could mean the difference between life and death. For more information on Universal Street Combat Systems or for seminars, contact Mr. Annunziata at advancingdragons@gmail.com

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