Non-Firearm Defensive Tools

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Edge of Reality: Knife Attacks Suck

Anyone who has spent much time with me knows that when it comes to interpersonal violence, I find knife attacks and threats the most frightening to deal with, and I... Read Article

Why the Knife for Self Defense?

I was recently asked why I’m so quick to recommend a knife, not a gun, as a primary personal-protection tool. For the purposes of this article, what I mean by... Read Article

Less-Lethal Defensive Tools: Exploring Non-Lethal Weapons

From time to time, I get a student who openly admits they would have a problem shooting someone. Read Article

Emotional Components of Knife Defense, Part 3

Now we are going to discuss some psychological concepts and principles that can help students diminish their innate reluctance to use violence. Read Article

EMOTIONAL COMPONENTS OF KNIFE DEFENSE AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM THROUGH TRAINING, PART 2

In the first part of this article, we explored some of the factors that help form our attitude toward knife use and knife defense and how they may negatively influence... Read Article

Emotional Components of Knife Defense, Part 1

When I teach my defensive knife courses, at least one student always says, “I’d rather defend against a handgun than a knife. Knives scare me more than guns!” Read Article

Conventional and Unconventional Knife Grips

Understanding and utilizing a final fighting grip for a knife in a personal protection situation may be dictated by the urgency of the situation or the advanced preparation of the... Read Article

Principles of the Clinch

Whether you’re a serious student of combative arts or just a casual fan of the combat sports, you’ve probably heard the term “clinch.” There seems to be an endless stream... Read Article

Pride and Glory, Life and Limb, Part II: Bridging the Gap Between Competition and Combat

In Part I of this series, we discussed some of the differences between training for sport MMA and training for real-world violence. Now that the differences, including some of the... Read Article

Pride and Glory, Life and Limb Part I: Differences Between Competition and Combat

Opinions on training for competition, such as sport Jujitsu or Mixed Martial Arts, versus training for real-world conflict fall over a wide spectrum. On one end is a crowd that... Read Article

Bare-Knuckle Striking: The Issue of Form

Throwing a good punch is a complex process that employs the entire body from the soles of the feet to the surface of the knuckles. From the earth to the... Read Article

Dirty Tactics and Grappling

With the meteoric rise in popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championships and similar events over the past 15 years, it has become impossible to debate the viability of grappling in... Read Article

Small Impact Tools: Options and Considerations

For years, I’ve carried one form or other of small impact tool as part of my everyday carry gear. A number of excellent, highly concealable handheld tools that can be... Read Article

Optimizing Self-Defense Knives For Personal Protection

The everyday carry (EDC) folding knife has become a staple both in society and the modern personal protection community. Each individual chooses such a tool based on a variety of... Read Article

Blade Carry Strategies for Warm Weather

As I write this, I am at the Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia. My annual pilgrimage to the world’s largest knife event not only reminds me that I still really... Read Article

The Closed-Fist Strike

There are as many theories on what is the best “technique” in the world of self-defense as there are experts. Unfortunately, personal agendas and bias all too often get in... Read Article

Understanding Physiological Potential: The More You Learn, the Less You Know

One of the most amazing things about the traditional martial arts—especially those that focus heavily on the practice of solo forms (kata, in Japanese)—is the idea that practitioners often debate... Read Article

Don’t Go to the Ground!

It’s difficult to spend any time researching self-preservation topics, especially on the internet, without stumbling over someone warning, “Don’t go to the ground in a street fight.” The implication seems... Read Article

Defensive Striking: The Best Self Defense Martial Art Movements

At the core of self defense is this basic concept: Get Out If You Can. It really is as simple as that. There are no bonus points for beating up... Read Article

Making the Thrust

In my previous article, Making the Cut, I discussed the mechanics of combative cutting with a knife. Based on that understanding, let’s take a look at the other side of... Read Article

Making the Cut: Understanding Combative Cutting Dynamics

Self-defense is all about stopping power. Regardless of the weapon you use, your ultimate goal is to efficiently and decisively stop your attacker from carrying out his attack. And the... Read Article

Knife Stopping Power

In a previous PDN article, I explained the logic of my Martial Blade Concepts (MBC) system of defensive knife tactics. A key element of that logic was the focus on... Read Article

Don’t Bring a Gun to a Knife Fight

The Other Side of the Close-Quarter Dilemma Since Sean Connery’s unforgettable scene in the movie The Untouchables, the concept of “Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight” has become almost... Read Article

Martial Blade Concepts: A Logical Approach to Protecting Your Life with a Knife

The Filipino martial arts have a long tradition of edged-weapon training. In fact, when it comes to skill with small knives, the fighting arts of the Philippines are widely regarded... Read Article