Knife Redirect

SubFamily

ナイフリダイレクト(Naifu Ridairekuto)

Transliteration

Translation: knife redirect

Overview

The Knife Redirect subfamily covers defensive techniques that redirect the trajectory of a knife attack without attempting an immediate disarm, using hand deflections and body movement to guide the blade past the body. ^[1] Knife redirects are based on the principle of deflection rather than direct blocking — the defender uses a parrying motion to change the blade's path rather than stopping its force head-on. ^[1],[2] Redirects are often the first defensive action in a knife defence sequence, followed by control of the weapon hand and either escape or disarm. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Blade Redirect^[1]Knife Deflection^[2]Edge Redirect^[3]

Used in

Krav Maga Eskrima Silat Hapkido

History & Origin

Knife redirect techniques are found in Filipino martial arts, Wing Chun, and various self-defence systems, where deflecting a blade's trajectory is preferred over attempting to block or catch it. ^[1] The concept of redirecting rather than blocking edged weapons has been a principle of weapons-based martial arts for centuries. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

Knife redirect techniques deflect the knife attack away from the body. ^[1]

Lineage

Knife redirection is taught in Krav Maga and Filipino martial arts. ^[1]

Competition Record

A self-defence technique. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Intercepting an incoming strike using a rigid arm, forearm, or shin structure to absorb or redirect force

Joints Involved — Forearm and elbow (primary blocking surface), shoulder (positioning), core (absorbing residual force)

Force Vector — Perpendicular to the incoming strike — meeting the attack at an angle dissipates force across the blocking surface

Defensive Mechanic — Hard blocks absorb impact directly; soft blocks redirect the strike's trajectory away from the target

Position & Entry

From fighting stance — Maintain guard position, raise the forearm or shin to intercept the incoming strike before it reaches the target

As reactive defence — When the attack is detected, move the blocking limb into the strike's path to absorb or deflect the force

Videos

Detroit Threat Management Center

Knife Defense Techniques

Knife Redirect·Detroit Threat Management Center

Expand your educational knowledge with these knife defense techniques that can Increase YOUR Survivability! 0:00 Intro…

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Extreme9/10

Weapon defence scenarios involve lethal threats; failure risk is catastrophic

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Expert

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— IBJJF — Legal

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— IJF — Legal defensive action

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

WBC/Boxing — Legal {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}

— WKF — Legal

WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF

— WT — Legal

WT Competition Rules 2024PDF

Training Notes

✓Knife redirect techniques deflect the attacking arm offline, moving the blade past your body while positioning you to control the weapon hand (Krav Maga Global, Knife Defence Curriculum, 2015)

✓The redirect does not stop the attack — it changes the line of the attack so the blade passes by your body instead of into it

✓Use the open-palm redirect: slap the inside of the attacking forearm to deflect the thrust or slash offline

✓The redirect must be combined with body movement — step offline (to the outside of the weapon arm) simultaneously with the hand redirect

✓Inside vs. outside redirect: redirect to the outside of the attacker's arm is safer because it moves you away from the free hand

✓After the redirect, immediately control the weapon wrist with both hands — the redirect alone is momentary

✓The redirect is the entry point for all subsequent defence: redirect → control → counter/disarm

✓Train redirects against full-speed thrusts with training markers — the timing must be developed against realistic speed

Common Mistakes

!Trying to catch or grab the knife on the initial attack — redirect first, then control; catching a fast thrust is nearly impossible

!Redirecting without moving the body offline — the hand redirect alone is insufficient; step off the line of attack

!Redirecting toward the inside of the attacker — this puts you in front of their free hand and body

!Using too much force on the redirect — the redirect should be a deflection, not a block; you're changing the angle, not stopping the force

!Redirecting and then hesitating — the window after a redirect is 1-2 seconds; you must immediately transition to control

!Training redirects at slow speed only — the speed of a real knife attack is the critical variable

!Not accounting for the attacker's free hand — the non-weapon hand can grab, punch, or push during the redirect

Related Techniques

Parry — complementary defensive technique redirecting rather than absorbing Counter-Attack — offensive follow-up that capitalizes on successful defence

Counter Techniques

Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover

Setup Chain

1Anticipate the Attack — read the opponent's intention through body cues

2Execute Defence — apply the specific defensive technique with proper timing

3Recover Stance — return to a balanced fighting position immediately

4Counter or Disengage — capitalize on the opening or create safe distance

Sources & References

Primary Source

Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Gichin Funakoshi, 1935)

1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)

Alias sources — [1] The S.P.E.A.R. System (Blauer, 2003) [2] Complete Guide to Krav Maga (Killebrew, 2007) [3] The Filipino Martial Arts (Inosanto, 1980)

2BookKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault (Lichtenfeld & Yanilov, 2001)

3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

4CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)

Alias sources — [1] The S.P.E.A.R. System (Blauer, 2003) [2] Complete Guide to Krav Maga (Killebrew, 2007) [3] The Filipino Martial Arts (Inosanto, 1980)

5CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault (Lichtenfeld & Yanilov, 2001)

Community

Athletics

Requires

forearm conditioning, reaction speed, structural stability

Favours

dense bone structure, strong forearms

Key muscles

forearm flexors/extensors, deltoids, biceps, core (absorbing impact)

Sub-techniques

Standard Knife Redirect

Genus

The Standard Knife Redirect uses the open hand or forearm to deflect the knife attack's trajectory while simultaneously stepping offline, guiding the blade past the body and into empty space. [1] The redirect is performed with the palm or outer forearm contacting the attacker's weapon-arm (wrist or forearm, NOT the blade), pushing it to the side while the body moves in the opposite direction. [1,2] The standard redirect is followed immediately by controlling the weapon hand with both hands to prevent a secondary attack. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep my hand position safe when defending against a knife threat?

Keep your hand up to help protect yourself in case of a rapid attack, even when the attacker is initially just threatening with the knife.

What's the difference between forward grip and reverse grip for knife defense?

In forward grip, thumb placement gives you pitch and angle control. In reverse grip, you also control pitch and angle with your thumb, and this method keeps the blade more covert for defensive purposes.

Can I use a knife to defend without causing severe injury?

Yes—instead of cutting, you can press the bottom (spine) of the knife into an attacker's hand, which is very painful and can make them release you without causing catastrophic injury.

What should I know legally about using a knife in self-defense?

Do not continue to strike or attack an attacker unless they are still actively attacking you; once they stop attacking, you must stop as well.

How does the Knife Redirect work?

The Knife Redirect subfamily covers defensive techniques that redirect the trajectory of a knife attack without attempting an immediate disarm, using hand deflections and body movement to guide the blade past the body. Knife redirects are based on the principle of deflection rather than direct blocking — the defender uses a parrying motion to change the blade's path rather than stopping its force head-on.

Where does the Knife Redirect come from?

Knife redirect techniques are found in Filipino martial arts, Wing Chun, and various self-defence systems, where deflecting a blade's trajectory is preferred over attempting to block or catch it. The concept of redirecting rather than blocking edged weapons has been a principle of weapons-based martial arts for centuries.

Is the Knife Redirect legal in competition?

Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal defensive action; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal; WKF: legal — Legal; WT: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Knife Redirect?

Danger rating 9/10. Extreme — weapon defence scenarios involve lethal threats; failure risk is catastrophic

How do I set up the Knife Redirect?

The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.

How do I defend against the Knife Redirect?

Standard counters include: Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements / Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure / Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover.

What are the variants of the Knife Redirect?

Common variants: High block (forearm raised above the head to protect against overhead…); Low block (forearm driven downward to deflect kicks or body strikes); Cross block (forearm crosses the body to protect the opposite side); Double forearm block (both forearms together for maximum coverage).

How effective is the Knife Redirect in competition?

A self-defence technique.

What are common mistakes when doing the Knife Redirect?

Top errors to watch for: Trying to catch or grab the knife on the initial attack — redirect first, then control; catching a fast thrust is nea… / Redirecting without moving the body offline — the hand redirect alone is insufficient; step off the line of attack / Redirecting toward the inside of the attacker — this puts you in front of their free hand and body / Using too much force on the redirect — the redirect should be a deflection, not a block; you're changing the angle, n….

What are other names for the Knife Redirect?

The Knife Redirect is also known as Naifu Ridairekuto, Blade Redirect, Knife Deflection, Edge Redirect.

knife redirect naifu ridairekuto defence weapon defence knife defence krav maga eskrima silat hapkido systema mcmap blade redirect knife deflection edge redirect