Knife Defence-Disarm

SubFamily

ナイフ防御・武器取り(Naifu Bōgyo / Buki-tori)

Hybrid

Translation: knife defence-disarm

Overview

The Knife Defence-Disarm subfamily covers techniques for defending against a knife attack and stripping the weapon from the attacker's hand. ^[1] Disarm techniques typically combine a parry or redirect of the attacking arm with a joint lock, wrist manipulation, or leveraged strip that forces the knife free. ^[1],[2] Filipino martial arts, Krav Maga, and Hapkido all include extensive knife-disarm curricula, though the tactical philosophies differ significantly between systems. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Knife Disarm^[1]Blade Defence^[2]Knife Takeaway^[3]

Used in

Kali Krav Maga Aikido Systema

History & Origin

Knife disarm techniques appear in Filipino martial arts as a core training component (often called 'disarms' or 'strips'), in Japanese jujutsu as tantō-dori (knife-taking), and in modern military close-quarters combat programs. ^[1] Krav Maga formalised a set of knife defences for the Israel Defense Forces in the 1960s that remain among the most widely taught civilian self-defence knife techniques today. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

Knife defence and disarming techniques use redirection, joint locks, and striking to neutralise a knife-wielding attacker, though all knife defences carry significant risk. ^[1]

Lineage

Knife disarming is a specialty of FMA, which developed the most comprehensive disarming curriculum of any martial art. ^[1]

Competition Record

Knife disarming is demonstrated at FMA events and self-defence seminars worldwide. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Cutting, thrusting, or striking with a bladed weapon — edge alignment and trajectory determine cutting effectiveness

Joints Involved — Wrists (edge alignment and rotation), elbows (extension for thrusts, chambering for cuts), shoulders (arc of the cut), hips (power generation)

Force Vector — Varies — downward diagonal cut (kesa-giri), horizontal cut (yoko-giri), thrust (tsuki), or rising cut (kiri-age)

Weapon Mechanic — Edge alignment (hasuji) is critical — the blade must travel along its cutting plane for effective cuts

Position & Entry

From ready stance (chudan-no-kamae or equivalent) — Assume guard position, establish distance (ma-ai), execute the cut or thrust when an opening appears

From engagement distance — Use footwork to close to striking range, execute the technique with proper edge alignment (hasuji)

As counter — Wait for the opponent's attack, deflect or avoid, and counter-cut to the exposed target

Videos

Rantoni

You Can't Disarm a Knife Like That!

Knife Defence-Disarm·Rantoni

Missed the stream? Click the link below to watch the next one! 🔴 TWITCH ►► SUNDAY, MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY 10pm CET…

DynamicFightingArts

Knife Disarm 1

Knife Defence-Disarm·DynamicFightingArts

From a knife workshop http://www.dynamicfightingart.com

2 videos

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

Knives and short blades are the most common weapon in real-world assaults; high lethality

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Intermediate

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

— FIE — Legal fencing technique — governed by FIE rules for...

FIE Rules of CompetitionPDF

HEMA — Legal in historical fencing competition {src— various organizations

Training Notes

✓Knife defence and disarming techniques focus on surviving an edged weapon encounter — the first priority is always to not get cut (Amberger, The Secret History of the Sword, 1999)

✓The hierarchy of knife defence: evade first, redirect the weapon arm second, control the weapon arm third, disarm only when control is established

✓Effective knife defence controls the weapon arm, not the weapon — grabbing the blade is dangerous and unreliable

✓Two-hand control on the attacking arm is the standard: one hand on the wrist, one on the elbow — creating the leverage needed to overcome adrenaline-fuelled grip strength

✓Knife disarms use joint locks, wrist manipulation, or impact to the hand — forcing the attacker to release the weapon involuntarily

✓The reactionary gap (minimum safe distance) is approximately 21 feet against a knife-wielding attacker — the Tueller Drill demonstrates this reality

✓Realistic knife defence training acknowledges that getting cut is likely — the goal is to minimise damage while establishing control

Common Mistakes

!Assuming you won't get cut — in most knife encounters, even successful defenders receive cuts; train with this reality

!Grabbing for the blade — control the arm, not the weapon; grabbing the blade causes severe hand injuries

!Using fine motor techniques under stress — adrenaline degrades fine motor control; use gross motor movements for defence

!Not training at realistic speed — slow, cooperative knife defence creates false confidence

!Focusing only on disarms — escaping the encounter is always preferable to engaging the knife

!Practising against only one type of attack — knife attacks come from many angles and grips; train against all variations

!Not training the psychological stress of knife encounters — the fear response must be managed through stress inoculation training

Related Techniques

Guard Position — the ready stance from which this technique is initiated

Counter Techniques

Guard Position — return to a defensive ready stance Distance Management — control the measure to avoid being in range Counter-Attack — strike during the opponent's recovery or between movements

Setup Chain

1En Garde — assume the fencing ready position with proper blade presentation

2Advance/Lunge Preparation — close distance with footwork

3Attack — execute the touch with right-of-way (if applicable) and proper point/edge

4Recovery — return to en garde after the action

Sources & References

Primary Source

Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat (Patrick McCarthy, 2008)

1BookFilipino Martial Arts (Inosanto, 1980)

Alias sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [2] Hoplology (Burton, 1884) [3] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)

2BookThe Complete Book of Knife Fighting (Cassidy, 1997)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1997)

3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology

Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords

4CitationFilipino Martial Arts (Inosanto, 1980)

Alias sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [2] Hoplology (Burton, 1884) [3] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)

5CitationThe Complete Book of Knife Fighting (Cassidy, 1997)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1997)

Community

Athletics

Requires

wrist control for edge alignment, grip endurance, footwork precision

Favours

quick wrists, strong forearms, good posture

Key muscles

forearm extensors/flexors, deltoids, core, calves

Sub-techniques

Standard Knife Disarm

Genus

The Standard Knife Disarm is a technique that intercepts an incoming knife attack, controls the weapon arm through a joint lock or wrist manipulation, and strips the knife from the attacker's grip. [1] The most common method involves redirecting the attack offline, securing a two-hand grip on the weapon wrist, and applying a rotational force against the thumb to break the attacker's hold. [1,2] Training emphasises the importance of simultaneous body movement (getting off the line of attack) and weapon-arm control. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I prioritize if I'm facing someone with a knife and can't run away?

The most important thing is to get a hold of the knife itself. Knife attacks are chaotic situations where both you and the attacker are likely to get hurt, so controlling the weapon is critical.

Should I use kicks to defend against a knife attack?

No, kicks are never recommended in real self-defense knife situations. They are very risky because you can slip and fall, and falling during a serious fight is extremely dangerous. Stick to punches and throws instead.

Does the disarm technique work on all types of knives?

The disarm works best on larger fixed blades or machetes, but you would never be able to use this technique on a pocket knife. The key is to control the hand by targeting where the fingers bend and meet the hand to force them open.

How does the Knife Defence-Disarm work?

The Knife Defence-Disarm subfamily covers techniques for defending against a knife attack and stripping the weapon from the attacker's hand. Disarm techniques typically combine a parry or redirect of the attacking arm with a joint lock, wrist manipulation, or leveraged strip that forces the knife free.

Where does the Knife Defence-Disarm come from?

Knife disarm techniques appear in Filipino martial arts as a core training component (often called 'disarms' or 'strips'), in Japanese jujutsu as tantō-dori (knife-taking), and in modern military close-quarters combat programs. Krav Maga formalised a set of knife defences for the Israel Defense Forces in the 1960s that remain among the most widely taught civilian self-defence knife techniques today.

Is the Knife Defence-Disarm legal in competition?

FIE: legal — Legal fencing technique — governed by FIE rules for foil, épée, and sabre; HEMA: legal — Legal in historical fencing competition

How dangerous is the Knife Defence-Disarm?

Danger rating 9/10. Extreme — knives and short blades are the most common weapon in real-world assaults; high lethality

How do I set up the Knife Defence-Disarm?

The standard setup chain: En Garde → Advance/Lunge Preparation → Attack → Recovery.

How do I defend against the Knife Defence-Disarm?

Standard counters include: Guard Position — return to a defensive ready stance / Distance Management — control the measure to avoid being in range / Counter-Attack — strike during the opponent's recovery or between movements.

What are the variants of the Knife Defence-Disarm?

Common variants: Standard cut (primary cutting angle from the ready stance); Thrust (tsuki) (straight thrust targeting the throat, chest, or face); Rising cut (kiri-age) (upward diagonal cut from low to high); Diagonal cut (kesa-giri) (downward diagonal cut following the kimono line).

How effective is the Knife Defence-Disarm in competition?

Knife disarming is demonstrated at FMA events and self-defence seminars worldwide.

What are common mistakes when doing the Knife Defence-Disarm?

Top errors to watch for: Assuming you won't get cut — in most knife encounters, even successful defenders receive cuts; train with this reality / Grabbing for the blade — control the arm, not the weapon; grabbing the blade causes severe hand injuries / Using fine motor techniques under stress — adrenaline degrades fine motor control; use gross motor movements for defence / Not training at realistic speed — slow, cooperative knife defence creates false confidence.

What are other names for the Knife Defence-Disarm?

The Knife Defence-Disarm is also known as Naifu Bōgyo / Buki-tori, Knife Disarm, Blade Defence, Knife Takeaway.

knife defence disarm naifu b gyo buki tori weapon short blade knife fighting kali krav maga aikido systema knife disarm blade defence knife takeaway