Martial Edge special contributer Gene Roos examines the Ice Pick Defence. Gene has some 46 years experience and has published articles, manuals and dvds on Aikido and Jiu Jitsu. Gene has also been a featured writer on FightingArts.com and Akido Journal Online.
The two knife defences shown below are also useful against a downward strike with a club, batten, stick (short) or bottle, or a stab with a knife. Don’t think people won’t attack you this way … it happens more frequently than you would think especially with bottles or clubs.
It’s true that experts, or those well versed in knife techniques will probably not use this type of stab since it leaves the body open and is easily blocked compared to other type knife techniques. However, but people who are angry or emotionally upset or don’t know much about weapons do resort to this type downward strike.
Unfortunately so many of the knife defences I see demonstrated in the martial arts magazines, and even in the police publications, have what I think are important inherent faults.
For example, here are two downward knife strike (or ice pick) defences recently illustrated in a leading police publication (reproduced by two of my students).
In the first defence the defender blocks a downward knife stab with one hand while counter attacking with a strike, all in one movement. This is force against force. It might work, but you better strike hard and do not miss. If the attacker is significantly larger and stronger, or the defensive technique is off, the attack might just power through. Also, even if the attack is stopped, if the counter doesn’t stun or knock out the attacker, the attacker is also still right in front – with a knife. A strength-on-strength struggle can easily ensue, or worse, a second or third knife attack might occur.
In the second suggested police knife defence, the defender does a double hand strike to the attacking arm followed by an arm bar (wrapping the defending arm up and over). The good point is the defender does move out of the way of the direct path of the attack. The bad news is that the defender is so positioned that he could be punched in the face with the attacker’s other arm. A second problem is that there is no counter attack until after an arm bar is established, something that might be hard to do if the attacker is moving, or resists. Notice too, even if the arm bar is established, the attacker can still stab into the defender’s back (not critical if the attacking weapon is a bottle or batten). In short, this defence might work, but it has serious risks.
I teach that it is much better to “avoid the attack first.” In fact, any defence should avoid risk. Thus, never directly try to stop an attack, force against force. This is especially critical if the attack is with a knife. If you are trying to stop a punch you might just get knocked out if it doesn’t work. But, if it is a weapon, you could get killed.
This doesn’t mean that a direct force against force defence never works. It often does, but if you are smaller or significantly weaker you could be in serious trouble. Also, as you age both strength and speed wane. That’s why I teach my students that strategically it is wiser to “avoid the attack first and only then control the attacking weapon.”
A second principle of any defensive technique is to ”keep it simple.” I see a lot of teachers with great technique, but what they do is far too complicated.
In this article are two more possible alternatives to the downward knife attack – both illustrating avoidance. In the first article in this series the defender moved to the right and away from the attack. Here, the defences show how you can move to the outside (in the other direction).
There are other defences in which you can move inward too. You should practice to find defences with which you feel comfortable given your size, weight, physical capability and skill. But, don’t limit yourself to a single defences for any given situation: for in a real attack, the direction you practiced moving might just be blocked.
Techniques and Tutorials 
Martial Edge special contributer Gene Roos examines the Ice Pick Defence. Gene has some 46 years experience and has published articles, manuals and dvds on Aikido and 
movement. This is force against force. It might work, but you better strike hard and do not miss. If the attacker is significantly larger and stronger, or the defensive technique is off, the attack might just power through. Also, even if the attack is stopped, if the counter doesn’t stun or knock out the attacker, the attacker is also still right in front – with a knife. A strength-on-strength struggle can easily ensue, or worse, a second or third knife attack might occur. 
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