Be a Hero by John Geddes

Be a Hero by John Geddes

Author:John Geddes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2017-01-29T05:00:00+00:00


Chapter Six

KNIVES

So far, I’ve obviously concentrated on the outcomes and antidotes of bombings and active shooter events. However, it would be remiss of me to not offer some advice on the increasing danger of random knife attacks.

Knife attacks are most common in Europe where Islamists use knives and machetes in attempted and actual beheadings on the streets, in cafés, in subway stations, on trains, and even at the altars of churches. They have spread to the United States and there’s no reason to doubt they will increase in frequency. Neither is there any reason to shy away from the challenge.

You need to have some basic knowledge on how to best defend yourself from knife attacks and turn the tables on the attacker. Knives and machetes are vicious and dangerous weapons that can inflict serious hemorrhagic wounds on the victim. This short chapter should help you defend yourself from them.

The first thing I want to remind you about is that common item carried by millions of people in the streets—the book bag or computer bag. It’s heavy and can make a devastating weapon. When danger threatens, don’t forget it’s there on your shoulder ready to be deployed.

Use it to keep a knifeman at bay or, if you come from his Six or his flank, smash him on the head with it. A briefcase swung at the head of an attacker works, too.

The commonly accepted wisdom about defending yourself from a knife attack is to wrap a jacket around your arm to use it as a crude shield against lunges and slashes.

This is not a good idea. In a knife attack, your aim should be to keep distance between yourself and the blade. Wrapping your arm immediately puts you in a negative, defensive position. By definition, the attacker can get within your arm’s length because you are holding it across your body.

The closer he is, the more likely he will be able to get at your throat or chest cavity and heart, which could be fatal. If he slashes around the inside of the elbow, which you will be presenting unwrapped by the jacket, you are likely to suffer catastrophic bleeding from a major vessel.

The best tactic is to run away. But if you are cornered, hold a bag or a briefcase at arm’s length with both hands to parry thrusts and slashes. Move side to side as you counter the blows aimed at you. Avoid moving backwards because, sooner or later, you are going to fall over something, allowing the attacker to come above you and attack.

Another everyday item on hand that can be used as a very effective weapon against a knife attacker or a shooter is a coffee cup. As people go about their daily lives, millions hold their cups of coffee as they walk the streets. Hurled into the perpetrator’s face, a hot drink will scald and blind him. Follow with a violent attack until he is disarmed.

Several knife attacks have taken place at cafés and bistros. If everyone hurled hot drinks at the knifeman, it would be all over for him.



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