IDEAS FOR ENHANCING YOUR DEFENSIVE TACTICS TRAINING AGAINST EDGED WEAPONS FOR TACTICAL OPERATORS
Train for bladed encounters slowly
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast is most certainly a term many operators from the military and law enforcement community are familiar with, particularly with firearms training. The same concept can also be applied to your defensive tactics or hand to hand combat program especially when training for encounters against edged weapons.
Any regimented form of hand to hand combat or defensive tactics training I have ever experienced with the military (USMC L.I.N.E or MCMAP [beginning stages]) or a law enforcement academy (D.O.C) certainly does not apply this principle.
In such programs it is usually about being fast, encouraging aggression and overcoming fear to apply some form of gross motor skill tactic. It is not to say that this should not be developed in the trainee, but all too often critical components of the combative engagement are missed or simply ignored.
When training for an encounter against a combatant armed with a knife critical components are what a good defense/offense is all about. Aggression is good and overcoming your fear to engage the combatant is essential, but it will be the “critical” elements that will be needed beyond your decision to fight.
Elements that are “critical” to applying the technique correctly must be practiced at slow speeds in order to see the finer components of the techniques. This will also allow you the ability to see how one technique can flow from one to another.
NOTE: Never sell yourself on just one “end all” movement. In the combative engagement there are too many variables to not train for what may come next or at least put yourself in good position to continue your combative flow.
In order to truly "know" a technique one must break it down to the most basic element in regards to body position to generate maximum force, relaxation in the body as not to hinder speed and so on.
The only way to understand all these elements and examine each in the chain of events is to slow it down! Eventually speed will increase through the proper execution and you will be faster because the ingraining process makes it part of your hardwiring.
Scientific studies have proven that the brain can benefit just as much if not more from applying this principle to training. Ever time you go through the motions of a technique you are ingraining neuro-muscular pathways of that technique, hence the learning process.
When the technique is applied at significantly less than combat speeds you are giving your brain the time to break the technique into segments (chunking: part of the learning process) before putting it all together in the combative flow.
I have seen all too often poorly or untrained operators (against edged weapons) revert to gross motor skills out of fear when an edge weapon is introduced to the combative engagement due to the bodies own defense mechanism going into survival mode and thinking with the primitive brain.
This will happen in most persons who have not taken the time to "ingrain" the techniques properly to deal with the bladed attack. This can also occur if your training program does not account for attacks involving edged weapons at all.
Example: A
Operator is trained in techniques at very fast and aggressive pace against edged weapon attack. Training has also probably been with rubber knives wear no sensitivity has been developed to feel of real blade. The operator ends up “chasing” the attack line to apply the technique, technique misses. Operator gets cut and is now shutting down and psychologically overwhelmed. Operator is playing catch up to the follow-up cutting lines of attacker.
Example: B
Operator is not trained against edged weapons. Operator applies a technique that does not account for the “critical” elements of blade defense, technique is ineffective. Operator gets cut and is now shutting down and psychologically overwhelmed. Operator is playing catch up to the follow-up cutting lines of attacker.
“There are two types of people in this world, the trained and the untrained.”
The common response from most military and police operators in regards to edged weapons encounters is "I would just shoot the attacker." Let me just say I fully support this option, however once the attack has passed the plus pressure area of your firearm you will need more tools to get the job done.
I am very fond of the $0.99 resolution when dealing with deadly force encounters with bladed subjects if all elements are present to justify a use of force at that level. Bottom line if it is employable and warranted, use it.
My concern is for those who find themselves in situations where due to time and distance the option has been temporarily removed. In any thing I present I always suggest first that the operator looks at their defensive tactics techniques as a means of regaining time and distance to either re-employ the firearm option themselves or create an opening for their team mate to take the shot.
Communicate the threat level
When is the last time you went through DT and communicated the threat level aloud? Chances are you probably did not because the threat was just part of the stimulus to react to with the technique you were learning.
Try training sometime and communicating as you are employing your technique or wrestling with the attacker. Communication might be one of the only ways your team mate(s) know to elevate the level of force to neutralize the combatant.
Example: When entering a room you are attacked by a combatant with a knife that has passed the plus pressure area of your carbine. You have a lot of gear on and it may be hard for your counter-part or parts to see that it is more than a wrestling match. As the combatant is attempting to cut you, (not with wide swinging lines, but small close lines that may not be visible to your team-mate[s]) you must communicate the threat level. If not you could also just end up making the attack your buddies problem as he comes to help with less than lethal intent.
Train in your operating environment
I would also suggest that if your defensive tactics program separates itself from your CQB training or operating environment you may want to rethink this.
If you are doing DT in sterile matted DT rooms and not in a shoot house or some kind of structure building you are really missing out on some good training. The same goes for if you normally fight in rugged terrain.
Much of the point of training is to “desensitize” an operator to the conditions and reduce anxiety to maximize performance. By doing DT in such environments it helps to give the operator a sense of “I have seen this before” kind of thing. The “familiarity” allows the operator to relax more, heightening the awareness and performance levels.
One idea might be to set-up scenarios where your team has to make room entries and comes upon an attacker with an edged weapon in low light level conditions or immediate corner attacks with an edged weapon forcing them not to be able to employ their entry firearms if the attacker gets pass the plus pressure area.
Dress for the occasion
Since 2000 the United States Marines have been employing this type of training through the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) by having their Marines doing DT in their body armor and combat gear. (The US Army has also just adopted a service wide program similar to the Marines called Modern Army Combatives.)
You will soon start to realize that some techniques may not come as easily as when you were first shown them in your PT clothes or uniform.
NOTE: The restriction rating of some techniques must be “tested” in the gear that you would normally wear in operation before being used in operation.
Do DT with your firearms
You may also want to think about training with your chosen weapons that you normally bring to the fight. Now I know this may sound of common sense, but how often do you do your DT training with your firearms in hand. How often do you practice transitions to weapons of opportunity or using your weapon as a blunt force object to knife line attacks?
Have you ever passed or rolled a punch or thrusting blade line with the rifle when entering a room? Did you know that the most common knife attack line is the overhead ice pick downward thrust and that you can use your rifle to pass that attacking line and give a front sight hit to the head in response? It’s very effective; I still have a knot on the side of my head from teaching 3 weeks ago, at slow speeds!
NOTE: If the use of firearms is part of the enhancement to your edged weapons defense training be sure to visible and physically inspect all chambers of all firearms and then use a yellow flag or such to indicate that it is “unloaded and clear.”
Don’t fight for your weapon
Everyone has been taught weapons retention, but what about weapons release? Most operators use the M4 carbine and usually have it attached on some form of sling system that provides security to the body. When being attacked and struggling over the weapon this is a perfect time to let go and transition to your side arm, empty hands, a blade or some other form of weapon of opportunity.
The concept is pretty simple. If you have both hands struggling for the weapon and the attacker has one hand on the rifle and a knife in the other you can see how things can go bad real quick.
Don’t be afraid to let go to do your work, the rifle is not going anywhere.
Interrupt the OODA Loop
If you are not familiar with this it means Observation Orientation Decision Action. Interruption of the OODA Loop can be seen in many modern day CQB tactics from hitting the room at multiple angles to the use of distraction devices.
Let’s use the last suggestion to explain an example of interrupting the OODA Loop on the edged weapons level. If your combatant is wrestling you over that rifle and you basically just hand it to him it interrupts his perceived response from you. Then if you were to commence with an overwhelming attack he is now on his heels playing catch up, not just physically but mentally as well.
The combatant has had to observe the new scenario, orientate himself to it, decide what to do about it and then act to do it. Your response has created this within the brain looping cycle, not giving him a chance to react.
Your objective is to overwhelm your combatant with strikes and techniques at multiple and varied angles and even with different tempos as well.
NOTE: In keeping with the idea of “overwhelming” the combatant, do not give him any rest and quarter until the engagement is finished. Always move forward into the engagement once contact has been made, not allowing the engagement to reset.
Think of it this way; when you are attacked you are merely being asked a question that needs to be answered. When you provide an answer you also end up asking a question in return if the answer includes an “offensive” movement in response to the original question. This is the play of questions and answers, if asked a question, answer it very quickly and ask multiple questions in return.
NOTE: Interrupting the OODA Loop can be very effective in edged weapons encounters. An edged weapon combatant may feel very secure and confident with his decision to attack with the blade. When these attack lines are continuously defended against and countered it can psychologically weaken the intent of the combatant creating more openings for you to end the engagement.
Increasingly develop your “will to fight and train”
Have you ever sat down before your training time and prepared yourself for it mentally? Most often you just show up where and at what time you are supposed to be for the period of instruction.
Next time you have DT, a workout at the gym, a shoot, whatever, try putting yourself in what psychologist like to refer to as “state.” This is basically just a form of self hypnosis in some ways that can help to elevate your training.
The “will” to fight and train can be improved using mentally imagery of different scenarios in which you find yourself and your team feeling a good operational flow.
A highly effective way to place yourself in the combative mindset is through reading affirmations to positively reinforce your “will.”
Each and ever time before I train I read the following to myself as a means of inducing an “operational hypnosis” if you will that I feel accountable to.
I will never lose.
When I give my best I will never be ashamed.
I am only as good as I want to be.
My strength depends on my “will.”
My “will” carries my mind.
My mind will inform my senses; my senses will guide my body.
My body will give me victory.
I will never finish work less than my 100%, to do so I become less in the pyramid.
I will cultivate this ability until all my actions are true in meaning and deed.
I will show no fear to my enemy.
I will never quit.
I hope you have found some useful information here to help enhance your training against the edged weapon encounter. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst and remember that fortuitous outcomes can only sometimes serve to reinforce bad habits.
Thank you to everyone and all that you do to protect our way of life and keep me and my family and friends safe.
Respectfully,
Nate