Spontaneous
Knife Defense
Course Description:
In most situations, an officer would be immediately justified to escalate to deadly force
when confronted with a knife attack. There are times when an officer is confronted by a
spontaneous knife assault and the ability to retrieve their weapon is not possible.
However, correctional officers face an even higher level of threat to knife assaults,
since they are rarely issued a firearm.
The PPCT Spontaneous Knife
Defense System has been designed to meet the needs of police and correctional officers.
The students training will begin with a comprehensive course on offensive knife systems.
The focus of this training is to raise the student's awareness to the sophistication of
strategies, yet the simplicity which an officer can fall victim to a moderately trained
subject with a knife. The second phase of training will focus on the PPCT Knife Defense
techniques, based upon a realistic , yet highly aggressive check and stun philosophy. This
system has evolved to the simplest form, where all of skills are gross motor skills that
are compatible to the affects of survival stress. This simplicity in design allows for
quicker learning and retention under the stress of a knife assault.
Course Goals:
1. To examine survival learning
research and design methods for spontaneous knife defense systems.
2. To identify the primary and secondary methods of offensive knife strategies.
3. To learn the PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense System and training methodologies.
Course Topics:
Survival Learning
Research: This unit
examines research from educational psychology, motor learning science and neurobiology,
and applies the research to the design of spontaneous knife defense systems. The units
explains why simple gross motor skills and systems with few techniques, are more
compatible to use of force training.
PPCT Control Principles: The foundation of the PPCT training
systems is based upon a series of training principles. This unit examines the PPCT Force
Continuum, PPCT Control Principles, survival reaction time and tactical positioning.
Psychology of Combat
Knife Systems: This
section examines various philosophies regarding the tactical use of a knife as a lethal
weapon. The research will explore the historical perspectives of the evolution of combat
knife systems beginning with the influence of the Sykes/Fairbairn World War I system, the
influence of Filipino knife training and the current view of military special operations
units.
Analysis of Target
Lethality: There is
considerable mythology surrounding the lethality of specific targets, as well as their
effectiveness. The purpose of this unit is to reveal facts about human incapacitation
resulting from a knife attack. This unit will examine the difference between fatal cuts
and cut which will immediately immobilize a subject. This unit will also provide a
foundation for the design methodology of the PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense System.
Analysis of Offensive
Knife Attack Strategies: The effectiveness of any knife defense system, is based on the officer's
knowledge of how a knife can be used offensively. This training block will teach the
students the six basic knife strokes, and common offensive strategies to quickly disable
an officer. This block will not only teach the officer how a trained knife practitioner
will attempt to disable an officer, but it will also increase the student's visual
reaction time and ability to recognize a threat quicker.
PPCT Spontaneous Knife
Defense System: The
PPCT Spontaneous Knife Defense System is based on a check, stun and control principle.
This system is comprised of two check, followed by either a low front kick or a stunning
technique. This combination allows an officer the option to disengage to cover or to
follow-up for restraint and control. This unit will also examine the use of impact weapons
to effectively control and disable a knife attack.
