Held up with a knife at your throat

[Daisho]

also I would probably count myself VERY lucky that osoto gari is one of my most proficient throws, as it's something I often train from close in positions during kenjutsu.

[Bushido-Ruach]

One important technique to remember, no matter what you physically do (scenario #1), is to kai as loudly and as sharply as you can an instant before you make your move...directly into the face of your attacker.

 

If you have never experienced this before, try it out in class one night. Most people, even when they know it's coming, are taken back by the sudden influx of auditory information suddenly shocking their senses, it momentarily short curcuits the person, even causing them to jump upon the impact of the sound upon their eardrums...they freeze.

 

That second of temporary emobilization can mean the difference between success...and a body bag.

 

Scenario #2 isn't hopeless in the way it is given here...but if your attacker knows what he's doing and pulls you back off balance against his knee, leaning you backward...you are pretty much toast.

[Empty Hand]

I can't really speak on scenario #1, but my istructor has lectured on #2. He said that the key is controling the knife at all cost. If you just grab the wrist or arm, then the blade could still slash your neck as you pull it away. He advocates grabbing the blade itself with one hand and the wrist with the other. With control of both points, it is possible to take the knife and get out of a very bad situation. Odds are very high that someone in this postion will be cut. Better the hand than the neck or torso.

[tallgeese]

I'd never actually grab the blade on purpose. Yes, it's better to take a cut there than a more signifigant area. But a cut early will compromise your ability to grab the knife hand and control it.

knife control is key, but I feel there are better ways to get this done.

As to the kia, i've never been a big advocate. First off, if he dons't freeze, you tip your hand and give up the tactical advantage of suprise. If he does react, it could be a startle response to the sound, making him move the knife unexpectedly even to him. Better to make sure that you are the one instigating any movement from here.

Just my thoughts.

[Empty Hand]

Thanks for the opinion tallgeese. The system of Karate that I study is very limited on grappling and what we do in that area is pulled from other disciplines. I will ask my instructor where he obtained that particular idea.

[bushido_man96]

Yeah, I’m not sure I would yell, either. If they do get startled, it could send that knife into you, as opposed to away from you. Yelling as you gain control might be a better idea.

I wouldn’t want to grab the blade, either. If your hand gets cut deep enough, then you can forget about grabbing anything else with it for a while. Then you take away one of your own tools to defend yourself with.