Exploring Modern Self Defence Techniques
In a recent video tutorial on YouTube, entitled ‘Self Defense Sparring During Edged Weapons Overview with Craig Douglas’, we get to witness some of the most relevant, and indeed, challenging aspects of modern self-defence. The channel hosting this tutorial, Hard2Hurt, is run by a genuine believer in practical combat, Icy Mike. He begins the video with a provocative question: why are we grappling? This enigmatic statement sets the tone for the remainder of the video. It barely seems relevant at first glance, but on closer observation, it serves as an indirect query, questioning the concretely defined boundaries of realistic versus unrealistic combat training. The core discourse of the video revolves around a practice session involving reverse grip knife sparring. As per Icy Mike’s explanation, this session was not about playacting a real fight, but rather isolating the aforementioned technique under realistic pressure. He underscores the crucial notion that combat isn’t a game of tit-for-tat, but a relentless struggle for survival hence the phrase, don’t take one to get one. A significant portion of the tutorial centers around a detailed Edge Weapons Overview course with Craig Douglas, also known as Southnark. This course exposes participants to numerous realistic facets of a knife encounter. The aspects examined include deescalation, body positioning, grappling, or clinching, and dealing with multiple adversaries. One of the remarkable lessons in this course, according to Icy Mike, is ‘how to land the first strike.’ As per his analysis, the crucial first strike has an overriding precedence over drawing the knife or any weapon. More importantly, this strike should follow from a good vantage point rather than a disadvantaged position. Icy Mike’s account places a great deal of emphasis on the necessity of making clean moves and not being unnecessarily rough during training. The high-quality training recommended here involves practicing real-world skills under pressure. This pressure is created via a controlled sparring environment where feedback, such as pain, escalates the desire to strike clean while avoiding being struck. In the video, further drills or what Douglas terms as ‘Evolutions’ are presented. They include a two-on-one challenge with specific problem-solving objectives and a soft touch sparring. The former gauges a person’s ability to disentangle themselves during a clinch with two attackers, whilst the latter assesses their capability to protect themselves against strikes. A key takeaway from the video is the importance of attending a tactical course such as Craig Douglas’s if you are serious about learning self-defense specifically involving edged weapons. While not viewed as a strict requirement, it is highly recommended given its practical focus on realistic combat scenarios. Icy Mike signs off rather emphatically by stating that self-defence training is challenging: physically, mentally, and emotionally. But like all worthwhile endeavours, the rewards are equally rich and rewarding, much like the content of this video. As self-defence becomes increasingly critical in our modern world, such learnings provided by channels like Hard2Hurt are incredibly vital. They offer a clear, realistic and practical insight into what defending oneself really entails. It is impressive, effective, and most importantly – it could potentially save your life one day.Blablabla
Hard2Hurt is a YouTube channel run by Icy Mike, a self-defense expert and ex-law enforcement officer. Mike combines practical, real-world fighting skills with physical fitness advice. His videos are engaging, filled with useful information on self-defense tactics, improvised weaponry, and physical conditioning. A unique blend of entertainment and education.
Self-Defence Block
Thats great training.
People who understand "realism" as a boolean variable (as opposed to a spectrum) are people who have not only never trained fighting, but have probably never actually trained anything (sports, shooting, music, etc.). Training has to steadily build upon itself from simple to complex, from low stress learning to high stress testing. If you go straight to "realistic" then whatever learning you do is at best trial and error. Its not the systematic building of capability.
When I explain my philosophy on training, I explain it as there being four variables that contribute to realism:
Scripting — Do you know what the opponent is going to do? Do you know what you have to do?
Compliance — Does the opponent allow you to do what you want to do (at any point)?
Restriction — Are the full range of techniques available to you?
Stress/Comfort/Risk — Will you suffer if you fail? (pain, fatigue, embarrassment, etc.)
If you think of those four variables as sliders, then you can turn any of them up or down to increase/decrease realism according to what you're trying to get out of the training — learning vs practicing vs testing vs proving skills? work on single skill vs complex skill? work on coordination vs judgment vs endurance vs combination?
It seems pretty necessary to have SOME idea of what you're gonna do God forbid you're ever in a defense situation against a knife but let's all never forget the best defense from a knife fight (obviously a gun) but run….just be smart,get away. Cause as we see here,nobody is walking away from that without being seriously or fatally wounded. Looks like ALOT of fun though.
unrealistic simply because there are no kicking in the nuts. There were multiple opportunities to end the game, but not taken. SORRY THIS IS A FAIL
It's always interesting in these videos to see only the edge out unorthodox grip. I wonder if that's because it is a popular trope in media or if people just aren't familiar with the efficacy of holding it edge in. Another interesting variable would be to put a little oil on the handle of your knife, or fake blood that starts slippery and quickly becomes tacky, to simulate how things change when there is blood on the weapon. These videos are always educational and I think a lot of people who comment don't understand what realistic actually means in terms of training safely but efficiently.
The last sparring session in this video, the distance you guys have looks like you're in fencing range. I feel like a good fencer will be able to stab or reposte the knife hand at the range you guys are at.
I just feel like fencing footwork with Taekwondo/Savate style kicks at that range.
I'm thinking Jeet Kune Do type ranges in my head. What the best tools would be at that range you guys are at in this video.
People who are infatuated with those terms have no idea what "realism" is in combat. Realism in knife "fighting" means someone is likely dead. I love how you nailed it right off the bat. "Excuse to not train". "Foam training knives", sure but attached to clenched fists and large, strong martial artists lol. Your two-on-one was awesome.
Do this with oak wooden tantos, grappling does not happen dude, find an old traditional FMA instructor.
There is NO SPARRING in training with a knife… True Knifers know this. Drills and tactics yes. Sparring, NO. Also, if you’re wrestling with someone that has a knife more than likely you’re going to get cut up and about to go into shock due to blood loss. SMDH. 🥷🏽
Mike you died every time you came in in that 45 sec fight. Stand up and target the weapon hand of your attacker to then attack their vitals. You fought like you were the smaller fighter. That's why you lost. If the other guy did the same and you fought like him you would've killed him as much has he killed you. Your stances and foot work weren't effective at all. You better run if you ever get into a knife fight with someone skilled.
Why is it that I did not see any parrying of 'stabs' during this video?
What's with the underhand grip? You loose so much distance and are forced to "punch" your blows out in an awkward way.
The Vinny boot spin on the groin was nasty stuff!!! This new Timberland Jiu Jitsu is next generation urban warfare. The Vinny boot scrotal spin will be my go to from now on.
If I wasn't already subbed, I would be now. Realism, well shite, it's not like holywood portrays it?
In any fight, be prepared to get hurt and accept it will happen, if you engage, now you are talking about survival and using any means to kill your opponents, don't look for help, just keep going until you can 'leg it' away, keep running! (unless you are at home and protecting others, then just keep stomping on them until it's clear they are no longer a threat).
Sorry, should I say it's bad to assault another person? Of course it is.
Should a guy be physically able to learn how to defend himself, and do so? Sure.
I think the one thing that separates the men from the boys, it's not big muscles it's simply the will to do whatever it takes.
Pax dude.
Is that a FREAKING carrot? 0:47
xD
… okay I'll give it a second
Looked pretty realistic to me. By the way Mike I love the positioning , that is to say, moving to the rear before stabbing them up, look very effective.
When I first saw this, I thought it was a re-upload. Really like Craig and hope to train with him one day.
so Mike immediately attacks the ass…….
Man I'd love to have gone to this!
Can someone tell me why anyone would use the ice pick grip in 2022 when the toughest clothing that needs to be pierced is a leather jacket, but most likely its only a shirt and a sweater?
Cool training… Iv been watching your channel for a while.. Wondering when your getting to get to "Fighting Bowies" tools/training and methods.
This is legit training! I really like this channel.
gae
"Realistic" knife training should always result in serious injury or death!
Of course training is unrealistic that's why you can get up from being "stabbed" in the heart and learn from the training 🙄.
Excellent video as usual.
Blade Awareness 💪❤️😎🎥👍
You always run. No point in having some prolonged fight. Also you should be carrying a pistol. I mean….Why wouldn't you be packing? Why would you live in a state where you cant? Anyways just run. Oh and as far as learning to fight, find a decent MMA gym and spar as much as possible. Not sure what that crazy head gear is and this kind of wonky weird training. Most of this seems like a larp. Also can't beat REAL Boxing training either.
Great video. Just my 2 cents, I would highly recommend not try to take the back when your opponent has a lazy over hook. In judo there are quite a few nasty counters you will usually run into, even if your opponent isn't very skilled. I know this is more a wrestling style but still. I've never spared with a knife but in fencing we don't keep the blade centered but guarding only one side of your body so shots (usually) can't come from the outside. I think you would have more success sparing if you shifted your guard just a little more to the outside.
Shut up
i would be leg kicking like a mf or teep kicking
I highly recommend that you check Armed Combat & Tactics or this channel I’m commenting from. Seriously and academically.
Do you know if Craig Douglas has ever or will ever come to Arizona? Also, I tried to find the price on his website but it said that it all depends on the facility. Could I possibly get an estimate?
What in the proud boys breeding camp is this ? Lol nah this was dope. Buddy’s head movement was good, needs to work on the feet though. That dick stomp shit would have made me beat the dog piss out of him if I didn’t have a cup on. That was dirty for training
I wanna do this.
Your hypothetical questions have answers. You crave the stimulation. You have content to create. It's not exactly a mystery to anyone with an IQ over 85, say.
Those helmets look pretty good! Nice job.
Ever wonder why the people that talk when the instructor is talking bother to sign up and take a class? I always wondered that when I was in a class.
How can u have a realistic knife fight spar…without someone interjecting to say it’s way too unrealistic?
Hey Mike, watched this video and was wondering, have you ever heard of Tim Wait and his PTK stuff? Definitely give it a look sometime. My trainer hooked up with Tim a few years back and absolutely loves the stuff. Great footwork and knowledge with bladed weapons.
Flipping love this. Totally totally cool.
I really wanna see a video of Craig talking about how he carries knives like wair, why, and how he might set those up
Excellent!!! I wish I could do it in my country (Uruguay)
I’m still trying to figure out if stabbing or if biomechanical cutting is more effective in knifefighting. Do you have any thoughts on this matter?
"Got me on the ground and I start giving him the business up the gooch" 😂😂😂
Love Craig and how the training looks. Watching the knife vs knife stuff (specifically the stuff with distance between you), I would just paraphrase what Bruce Lee said about fighting: use your longest weapon on the nearest target (like a kick to the knee or groin in a weaponless fight or fight where your leg isn't a vital target for their weapon). When it comes to knives (really with any melee weapon), I'd make that your blade (in forward grip, which gives you a longer reach and more maneuverability than reverse grip) on their hand, wrist, or arm instead of trying to get in close, pass their weapon and stab or slash their face, neck, stomach etc, which leaves you way open to their blade or whatever melee weapon they have. If you hit the right target, you can easily take away their ability to use or even hold their weapon. Lynn Thompson, former owner of Cold Steel, has some great videos on knife work on youtube that emphasize that method. There is also a JKD teacher named Jason Korol on youtube who also teaches that way, emphasizing JKD's incorporation of western fencing ideas and translating it to knife work, which he was told to do by one of Lee's original students, Ted Wong. And of course I'm not talking about a grappling situation, but when you have the distance allowing for you to target their hand or arm. Other considerations would come into play with very close quarters fighting, though disabling or neutralizing their weapon would still be a goal.