Very informative videos Shawn. I don't want to discount the threat of a knife. As everyone else has noted, the attacker is doing a LOT of damage before the gun can be presented. However, my question would be how many potential attackers that we could possible encounter would have this mindset of getting in close and aggressively making multiple slashes and stabs? I would bet that the mill of the run punk would take more of a Hollywood stance and make a few jabs while also trying to keep their distance from you. While I think this is more likely, these videos definitely present a good scenario if attacked by a more brave and intent criminal.
Since you work closely with the police, do you have any insight into the knife attacks that occur? Are they more of the close quarter intimate nature or a standing thrust and perry?
Fly
Actually, if the criminal has already decided to attack you (in other words, he is just plain there to kill you), it tends to be a blitz attack with multiple stabs one right after another. If he
hasn't decided to attack you, it tends to be a threat posture. (What kind depends on if it is a robbery-type or territorial-type situation.)
If it started as a territorial situation then goes downhill, it tends to turn into repeated wild slashing. If it started as a robbery and goes downhill, then you tend to be back to committed multiple stabs, with the occasional slash.
Standing back and doing uncommitted single movements--not so much. (Which is why a lot of martial arts schools teach VERY bad knife defense techniques.)
The Hollywood knife duel just doesn't happen. (Because, among other things, criminals aren't interested in
fighting you. They either want to rob you or kill you, but fighting isn't anywhere on the list.)
For some thoughts on what actual knife situations are like, take a look at:
http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/knifefighting.htmlMore specifically:
http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/proamateurknifer.htm(When you go to read that, bring a cup of coffee, some snacks, and a pen and paper. There is a lot of information there, much of which should be thought about on a significant level.)
Note: Non-LEO occurrences and LEO occurrences tend to be different in this respect, by the way. LEOs also get a separation into "wild slashing" and "committed stabbing" but the background and lead-up before those points tends to be very different compared to non-LEOs.