INSTITUTE OF MILITARY OPERATIONS & STUDIES

COLLEGE OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS RESOURCES

School of Defensive Tactics
Defensive Techniques Against Weapons,
Parts 1 & 2
DEFT 104a-b Manual
Course & Materials prepared by:
Glen Diebold.

Course Credits:
Field Manual 21-150

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DEFENSIVE TECHNIQUES
A knife (or bayonet), properly employed, is a deadly weapon; however, using defensive
techniques, such as maintaining separation, will greatly enhance the soldier's ability to fight and
win.

DEFENSE AGAINST AN ARMED OPPONENT

An unarmed defender is always at a distinct disadvantage facing an armed opponent. It is
imperative therefore that the unarmed defenders understand and use the following principles to
survive:

a. Separation. Maintain a separation of at least 10 feet plus the length of the weapon from the
attacker. This distance gives the defender time to react to any attempt by the attacker to close the
gap and be upon the defender. The defender should also try to place stationary objects between
himself and the attacker.

b. Unarmed Defense. Unarmed defense against an armed opponent should be a last resort. If it
is necessary, the defender's course of action includes:
(1) Move the body out of the line of attack of the weapon. Step off the line of attack or
redirect the attack of the weapon so that it clears the body.
(2) Control the weapon. Maintain control of the attacking arm by securing the weapon,
hand, wrist, elbow, or arm by using joint locks, if possible.
(3) Stun the attacker with an effective counterattack. Counterattack should be swift and
devastating. Take the vigor out of the attacker with a low, unexpected kick, or break a
locked joint of the attacking arm. Strikes to motor nerve centers are effective stuns, as are
skin tearing, eye gouging, and attacking of the throat. The defender can also take away the
attacker's balance.
(4) Ground the attacker. Take the attacker to the ground where the defender can continue
to disarm or further disable him.
(5) Disarm the attacker. Break the attacker's locked joints. Use leverage or induce pain to
disarm the attacker and finish him or to maintain physical control.

c. Precaution. Do not focus full attention on the weapon because the attacker has other body
weapons to use. There may even be other attackers that you have not seen.

d. Expedient Aids. Anything available can become an expedient aid to defend against an armed
attack. The Kevlar helmet can be used as a shield; similarly, the LCE and shirt jacket can be used
to protect the defender against a weapon. The defender can also throw dirt in the attacker's eyes
as a distraction.

ANGLES OF ATTACK
Any attack, regardless of the type of weapon, can be directed along one of nine angles. The
defense must be oriented for each angle of attack.

a. No. 1 Angle of Attack. A downward diagonal slash, stab, or strike toward the left side of the
defender's head, neck, or torso.

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 b. No. 2 Angle of Attack. A downward
diagonal slash, stab, or strike toward the
right side of the defender's head, neck, or
torso.

c. No. 3 Angle of Attack. A horizontal

attack to the left side of the defender's
torso in the ribs, side, or hip region.

d. No. 4 Angle of Attack. The same as

No. 3 angle, but to the right side.

e. No. 5 Angle of Attack. A jabbing,

lunging, or punching attack directed
straight toward the defender's front.

f. No. 6 Angle of Attack. An attack

directed straight down upon the defender.

g. No. 7 Angle of Attack. An upward

diagonal attack toward the defender's
lower-left side.

h. No. 8 Angle of Attack. An upward diagonal attack toward the defender's lower-right side.

i. No. 9 Angle of Attack. An attack directed straight up--for example, to the defender's groin.

DEFENSE AGAINST A KNIFE

When an unarmed soldier is faced with an enemy armed with a knife, he must be mentally
prepared to be cut. The likelihood of being cut severely is less if the fighter is well trained in knife
defense and if the principles of weapon defense are followed. A slash wound is not usually lethal
or shock inducing; however, a stab wound risks injury to vital organs, arteries, and veins and may
also cause instant shock or unconsciousness.

a. Types of Knife Attacks. The first line of defense against an opponent armed with a knife is to
avoid close contact. The different types of knife attacks follow:
(1) Thrust. The thrust is the most common and most dangerous type of knife attack. It is a
strike directed straight into the target by jabbing or lunging.
(2) Slash. The slash is a sweeping surface cut or circular slash. The wound is usually a
long cut, varying from a slight surface cut to a deep gash.
(3) Flick. This attack is delivered by flicking the wrist and knife to extended limbs, inflicting
numerous cuts. The flick is very distractive to the defender since he is bleeding from
several cuts if the attacker is successful.
(4) Tear. The tear is a cut made by dragging the tip of the blade across the body to create a
ripping type cut.
(5) Hack. The hack is delivered by using the knife to block or chop with.
(6) Butt. The butt is a strike with the knife handle.

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b. Knife Defense Drills. Knife defense drills are used to familiarize soldiers with defense
movement techniques for various angles of attack. For training, the soldiers should be paired off;
one partner is named as the attacker and one is the defender. It is important that the attacker
make his attack realistic in terms of distance and angling during training. His strikes must be
accurate in hitting the defender at the intended target if the defender does not defend himself or
move off the line of attack. For safety, the attacks are delivered first at one-quarter and one-half
speed, and then at three-quarter speed as the defender becomes more skilled. Variations can be
added by changing grips, stances, and attacks.

(1) No. 1 angle of defense--check and lift.

The attacker delivers a slash along the No.
1 angle of attack. The defender meets and
checks the movement with his left forearm
bone, striking the inside forearm of the
attacker (Step 1). The defender's right hand
immediately follows behind the strike to lift,
redirect, and take control of the attacker's
knife arm (Step 2). The defender brings the
attacking arm around to his right side where
he can use an arm bar, wrist lock, and so
forth, to disarm the attacker (Step 3). He will
have better control by keeping the knife
hand as close to his body as possible (Step
4).

(2) No. 2 angle of defense--check and

ride. The attacker slashes with a No. 2
angle of attack. The defender meets the
attacking arm with a strike from both
forearms against the outside forearm, his
bone against the attacker's muscle tissue
(Step 1). The strike checks the forward
momentum of the attacking arm. The
defender's right hand is then used to ride
the attacking arm clear of his body (Step 2).
He redirects the attacker's energy with
strength starting from the right elbow (Step
3).

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 (3) No. 3 angle of defense--check and lift.
The attacker delivers a horizontal slash to the
defender's ribs, kidneys, or hip on the left
side (, Step 1). The defender meets and
checks the attacking arm on the left side of
his body with a downward circular motion
across the front of his own body. At the
same time, he moves his body off the line of
attack. He should meet the attacker's forearm
with a strike forceful enough to check its
momentum (Step 2). The defender then rides
the energy of the attacking arm by wiping
downward along the outside of his own left
forearm with his right hand. He then redirects
the knife hand around to his right side where
he can control or disarm the weapon (Step
3).

(4) No. 4 angle of defense--check. The

attacker slashes the defender with a
backhand slashing motion to the right side at
the ribs, kidneys, or hips. The defender
moves his right arm in a downward circular
motion and strikes the attacking arm on the
outside of the body (Step 1). At the same
time, he moves off the line of attack (Step 2).
The strike must be forceful enough to check
the attack. The left arm is held in a higher
guard position to protect from a redirected
attack or to assist in checking (Step 3). The
defender moves his body to a position where
he can choose a proper disarming maneuver
(Step 4).

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 (5) Low No. 5 angle of defense--parry. A
lunging thrust to the stomach is made by the
attacker along the No. 5 angle of attack (Step
1). The defender moves his body off the line of
attack and deflects the attacking arm by
parrying with his left hand (Step 2). He deflects
the attacking hand toward his right side by
redirecting it with his right hand. As he does
this, the defender can strike downward with the
left forearm or the wrist onto the forearm or wrist
of the attacker (Step 3). The defender ends up
in a position to lock the elbow of the attacking
arm across his body if he steps off the line of
attack properly (Step 4).

(6) High No. 5 angle of defense. The attacker

lunges with a thrust to the face, throat, or solar
plexus (Step 1). The defender moves his body off
the line of attack while parrying with either hand.
He redirects the attacking arm so that the knife
clears his body (Step 2). He maintains control of
the weapon hand or arm and gouges the eyes of
the attacker, driving him backward and off
balance (Step 3). If the attacker is much taller
than the defender, it may be a more natural
movement for the defender to raise his left hand
to strike and deflect the attacking arm. He can
then gouge his thumb or fingers into the jugular
notch of the attacker and force him to the ground.
Still another possibility for a high No. 5 angle of
attack is for the defender to move his body off
the line of attack while parrying. He can then turn
his body, rotate his shoulder under the elbow
joint of the attacker and lock it out (Step 4).

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 (7) No. 6 angle of defense. The attacker
strikes straight downward onto the
defender with a stab (Step 1). The
defender reacts by moving his body out of
the weapon's path and by parrying or
checking and redirecting the attacking arm,
as the movement in the high No. 5 angle of
defense (Step 2). The reactions may vary
as to what is natural for the defender.
The defender then takes control of the
weapon and disarms the attacker (Step 3).

c. Follow-Up Techniques. Once the soldiers are skilled in these basic reactions to attack, follow-
up techniques may be introduced and practiced. These drills make up the defense possibilities
against the various angles of attack. They also enable the soldier to apply the principles of
defense against weapons and allow him to feel the movements. Through repetition, the reactions
become natural, and the soldier instinctively reacts to a knife attack with the proper defense. It is
important not to associate specific movements or techniques with certain types of attack. The
knife fighter must rely on his knowledge of principles and his training experience in reacting to a
knife attack. No two attacks or reactions will be the same; thus, memorizing techniques will not
ensure a soldier's survival.
(1) Defend and clear. When the defender has performed a defensive maneuver and
avoided an attack, he can push the attacker away and move out of the attacker's reach.
(2) Defend and stun. After the defender performs his first defensive maneuver to a safer
position, he can deliver a stunning blow as an immediate counterattack. Strikes to motor
nerve points or attacker's limbs, low kicks, and elbow strikes are especially effective
stunning techniques.
(3) Defend and disarm. The defender also follows up his first defensive maneuver by
maintaining control of the attacker's weapon arm, executing a stunning technique, and
disarming the attacker. The stun distracts the attacker and also gives the defender some
time to gain possession of the weapon and to execute his disarming technique.

UNARMED DEFENSE AGAINST A RIFLE WITH FIXED BAYONET

Defense against a rifle with a fixed bayonet involves the same principles as knife defense. The
soldier considers the same angles of attack and the proper response for any attack along each
angle.
a. Regardless of the type weapon used by the enemy, his attack will always be along one
of the nine angles of attack at any one time. The soldier must get his entire body off the line
of attack by moving to a safe position. A rifle with a fixed bayonet has two weapons: a knife
at one end and a butt stock at the other end. The soldier will be safe as long as he is not in
a position where he can be struck by either end during the attack.

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 b. Usually, he is in a more advantageous position if he moves inside the length of the
weapon. He can then counterattack to gain control of the situation as soon as possible. The
following counterattacks can be used as defenses against a rifle with a fixed bayonet; they
also provide a good basis for training.

(1) Unarmed defense against No. 1 angle of

attack. The attacker prepares to slash along the
No. 1 angle of attack (Step 1). The defender waits
until the last possible moment before moving so
he is certain of the angle along which the attack is
directed (, Step 2). This way, the attacker cannot
change his attack in response to movement by the
defender. When the defender is certain that the
attack is committed along a specific angle (No. 1,
in this case), he moves to the inside of the
attacker and gouges his eyes (Step 2) while the
other hand redirects and controls the weapon. He
maintains control of the weapon and lunges his
entire body weight into the eye gouge to drive the
attacker backward and off balance. The
defender now ends up with the weapon, and the
attacker is in a poor recovery position (20, Step
3).

(2) Unarmed defense against No. 2 angle of

attack. The attacker makes a diagonal slash
along the No. 2 angle of attack (Step 1). Again,
the defender waits until he is sure of the attack
before moving. The defender then moves to the
outside of the attacker and counterattacks with a
thumb jab into the right armpit (Step 2). He
receives the momentum of the attacking
weapon and controls it with his free hand. He
uses the attacker's momentum against him by
pulling the weapon in the direction it is going
with one hand and pushing with his thumb of the
other hand (, Step 3). The attacker is completely
off balance, and the defender can gain control of
the weapon.

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 (3) Unarmed defense against No. 3 angle
of attack. The attacker directs a horizontal
slash along the No. 3 angle of attack (Step
1). The defender turns and moves to the
inside of the attacker; he then strikes with
his thumb into the jugular notch (Step 2).
His entire body mass is behind the thumb
strike and, coupled with the incoming
momentum of the attacker, the strike drives
the attacker's head backward and takes his
balance (Step 3). The defender turns his
body with the momentum of the weapon's
attack to strip the weapon from the
attacker's grip (Step 4).

(4) Unarmed defense against No. 4 angle

of attack. The attack is a horizontal slash
along the No.4 angle of attack (Step 1). The
defender moves into the outside of the
attacker (Step 2). He then turns with the
attack, delivering an elbow strike to the
throat (Step 3). At the same time, the
defender's free hand controls the weapon
and pulls it from the attacker as he is
knocked off balance from the elbow strike.

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 (5) Unarmed defense against low No. 5
angle of attack. The attacker thrusts the
bayonet at the stomach of the defender
(Step 1). The defender shifts his body to the
side to avoid the attack and to gouge the
eyes of the attacker (Step 2). The defender's
free hand maintains control of and strips the
weapon from the attacker as he is driven
backward with the eye gouge (Step 3).

(6) Unarmed defense against high No. 5

angle of attack. The attacker delivers a
thrust to the throat of the defender (Step 1).
The defender then shifts to the side to avoid
the attack, parries the thrust, and controls
the weapon with his trail hand (, Step 2).
He then shifts his entire body mass forward
over the lead foot, slamming a forearm
strike into the attacker's throat (Step 3).

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 (7) Unarmed defense against No 6
angle of attack. The attacker delivers a
downward stroke along the No. 6 angle of
attack Step 1). The defender shifts to the
outside to get off the line of attack and he
grabs the weapon. Then, he pulls the
attacker off balance by causing him to
overextend himself (Step 2). The
defender shifts his weight backward and
causes the attacker to fall, as he strips
the weapon from him (, Step 3).

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