Do you train weapon disarms?

Folks,

On of the most controversial issues in martial arts is the subject of weapon disarms. Most of us have seen super fantastic movies where the hero manages to take down the bad guys and girls, even when they are armed with knives, sticks, pool sticks, swords, staves, bats, crowbars and even guns. Many traditional stylists will tell you that it is feasible and possible. Many modern experts will tell you that disarming someone with a knife or gun is unlikely at best. Even less likely if that person has any experience in using a weapons. So with that in mind, what should we believe?

Well, as the survivor of a knife incident, I can tell you that a disarm is possible. Thankfully for me, the person with the knife did not have any skills, but I was just lucky if I am also being super honest. Surviving some thing like that takes a lot of thinking on your feet, being able to quickly move said feet, and a strong will not to be a stab victim. Accept that you are likely going to be cut. What I did was present my arm as a target, as slicing is a lot less injurious than stabbing. I was also able to get my hands on a folding chair which in fact made for an excellent crude, but effective medium range weapon of my own. But enough about me.

I can tell you that the best way to handle someone with a weapon is to have one of your own. Brilliant deduction right? Well remember that anything can be a weapon" knives, umbrellas, table legs, books, canes, and the list goes on. On top of that, for the most part, cowards rely on weaponry because of a lack of ability to subdue a person without one. If you can present a makeshift but harmful weapon, especially if it is a weapon in the classical sense of the word, I believe that you have MUCH higher chance of surviving that encounter. On a personal note, I believe that martial arts training should have curriculum that deals with the use of weapons on a conceptual basis. For example, if you can use an Escrima stick, you can use an umbrella. Ta-Da! Genius huh? Well not really.

Modern day folks will tell you that weapons disarms are not going to work if you don't have a weapon of your own. So in a lot of modern curriculums, they don't even address the issue. I think that is a BIG mistake. Granted, disarming techniques are NOT going to go as smoothly as they do in class. But if you don't even practice them, you won't even know what you should be trying to accomplish. You wont know how to measure distance or understand advantageous angles on a crisis situation. Do you attempt a disarm? When? How? Where? I think that you should at least ATTEMPT to learn the basics of knife disarms, or at least evasive movement that will facilitate an escape.

For the folks that are practicing disarms, good for you. For the people that don't let me tell you this: Disarming techniques are dangerous at best. If you think that practicing disarms is not a good idea and will get you hurt, consider the alternative. And FYI, I don't think that anyone on this planet is fast enough to stab me while I am running. I would rather be able to run like Usain Bolt than knife fight like a Navy Seal. Remember in real self defense, escape should be your favorite option.