Knife attacks increase in Britain

[Jay Vail]

The possibility of a knife attack is increasing in Britain, all the more reason to study Fiore's unarmed plays and those in the other manuals:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 12,00.html

[Gene Tausk]

The possibility of a knife attack is increasing in Britain, all the more reason to study Fiore's unarmed plays and those in the other manuals:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 12,00.html

Jay:

Absolutely no argument there. It is a shame that we modern inheritors of the Western world forgot the techniques of our forefathers in dealing with situations such as knife attacks which are not confined to one period of time.

A paragraph from the article reads:

"Ministers are planning to increase the maximum penalty for carrying a knife without good reason to four years, but the report also questioned whether this would reduce knife carrying. The proposal smacked of a knee-jerk legislative response that did not appear to be based on available evidence or research, it said. "

"Carrying a knife without good reason." The lawyer part of me wants to see the litigation that will ensue as civil lawsuits and criminal actions fly over such an asinine definition that screams out "void for vagueness."

The civil libertarian part of me is weeping.

But, Jay, look at the bright side. It is situations such as these that place your book in high demand! I'm glad I have my copy (for which I expect an autograph the next time I see you.)

[david welch]

A paragraph from the article reads:

"Ministers are planning to increase the maximum penalty for carrying a knife without good reason to four years, but the report also questioned whether this would reduce knife carrying. The proposal smacked of a knee-jerk legislative response that did not appear to be based on available evidence or research, it said. "

"Carrying a knife without good reason." The lawyer part of me wants to see the litigation that will ensue as civil lawsuits and criminal actions fly over such an asinine definition that screams out "void for vagueness."

The civil libertarian part of me is weeping.

I read not too long ago some group there was pushing to make kitchen knives illegal. Not for carrying, just illegal, period. Looks to me like they need somebody to write a historical manual on "how to defend yourself from the scum of society with sticks and rocks". Because before too long that is all these poor people are going to have access to.

[Eric Dohner]

“What evidence exists indicates that a significant minority of schoolchildren and young people carry knives and this problem may be growing,” the report says. “As long as there is unsliced bread, opportunities for knife crime will exist.”

Obviously, the solution for knife crime is to make the sale of unsliced bread illegal.

[Brian Hunt]

A group of English Doctors are the ones who are trying to make large kitchen knives illegal in Great Briton. They claim that no one needs a kitchen knife with a blade larger than 2 to 3 inchs in length and that all butcher style knifes need to be banned.

laters.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Martin_Wilkinson]

It was probably mainly MP's and everyone knows that MP's are stupid.

Personally, i don't know that much about how to defend against a knife attack, but, i'm still confident in my ability to overcome my assailant...

But, having said that it is something, i'm looking into.

Jay, any idea when you're book is gonna be available in the uk?

[Jay Vail]

It was probably mainly MP's and everyone knows that MP's are stupid.

Personally, i don't know that much about how to defend against a knife attack, but, i'm still confident in my ability to overcome my assailant...

But, having said that it is something, i'm looking into.

Jay, any idea when you're book is gonna be available in the uk?

Can't say if it will be available through a UK outlet. However, you can order it direct from Paladin. A guy in NZ posted that he had gotten a copy.

[JeanryChandler]

It was probably mainly MP's and everyone knows that MP's are stupid.

Personally, i don't know that much about how to defend against a knife attack, but, i'm still confident in my ability to overcome my assailant...

But, having said that it is something, i'm looking into.

Jay, any idea when you're book is gonna be available in the uk?

Can't say if it will be available through a UK outlet. However, you can order it direct from Paladin. A guy in NZ posted that he had gotten a copy.

Jay, your book is out? Post a link I want to buy a copy...

JR

[Mike Chidester]

Looks to me like they need somebody to write a historical manual on "how to defend yourself from the scum of society with sticks and rocks". Because before too long that is all these poor people are going to have access to.

Well, there is that "two sticks and a dagger" play in Fiore (did that one make it into your book, Jay?).

There's probably something in Mair, too (he included everything else, after all).

[Jeffrey Hull]

Matt Easton predicted at his forum that this would (hopefully) be just another reactionary cycle by various MPs etc, and that nothing would likely come of it.

As I have supposed before, the logical extreme would be to simply legislate that any man who weighs in excess of 100 pounds and can walk under his own power shall be required by law to encase his hands in kevlar beach-balls while out in public, so that he can in no way utilise them to grasp weap0nry.


By the way, if those doctors and MPs get their way, then those sods shall have guys like Chef Ramsey (of "Boiling Point" and "Hell's Kitchen") to contend with. He has got that fighting spirit, so they had better watch out.

[S. Hord]

Deleted

[JeanryChandler]

The possibility of a knife attack is increasing in Britain, all the more reason to study Fiore's unarmed plays and those in the other manuals:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 12,00.html

To be honest I get a funny feeling the attacks have not increased but it's the publicity of them that has. Seems like the politicians are trying to look like they're doing something about crime and this is an easy way to do it. Make a big stink about knife attacks; make sure it's reported more on the BBC and then do some silly "hand over your knife" campaign that protects no one.

The best thing people can do is learn to defend themselves & to be aware of the dangers.

The bobbies will clearly have to start ransacking ('tossing') peoples homes like they do in prison to make sure they have no 'shanks' or other sharp objects with which could hurt police or each other. The plastic spfork can become the national eating utensil of England. They can come up with a whole new cuisine even better than their current one, based on foods which can be prepared without bothersome, unsafe kitchen knives.

When are they going to learn that the problem with violence is a cultural one that cannot be legislated away. Switzerland and Norway have more liberal gun-laws than the USA but they have less violent crime combined than the average big city in the USA or UK.

JR

P.S. the Doctors who were advocating large Kitchen knives be taken away should have their scalpels confiscated since they are clearly capable of causing serious trauma, particularly in trained hands.

[JeanryChandler]

The possibility of a knife attack is increasing in Britain, all the more reason to study Fiore's unarmed plays and those in the other manuals:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 12,00.html

I actually think it's on the rise in the USA too. It's a scary, scary feeling when somebody is coming at you with a knife. I have had it happen a couple of times, I get a cold feeling in my stomach just thinking about it. Usually I've dealt with it by fast talking, one time in combination with running backward faster than I ever thought I could, for quite a long way across this parking lot. The few techniques I learned from Jay at Southern Knights in 2004 I have never forgotten, (they helped me understand a lot of WMA sword disarms later as well). I am really looking forward to reading the new book. I hope if I'm ever unfortunate enough to see somebody clicking that knife into place again with that dead look in their eyes I'll be better prepared.

JR

[Martin_Wilkinson]

P.S. the Doctors who were advocating large Kitchen knives be taken away should have their scalpels confiscated since they are clearly capable of causing serious trauma, particularly in trained hands.

I thought that, if they're saying kitchen knives should be banned, they might as well ban everything, seeing as everything can be used to kill someone.

And trained hands such as a doctors should not be trusted with sharp implements. (except maybe in the Operating Room.)

[Jay Vail]

[quote="JeanryChandler] I actually think it's on the rise in the USA too. It's a scary, scary feeling when somebody is coming at you with a knife. I have had it happen a couple of times, I get a cold feeling in my stomach just thinking about it. [/quote]

According to the FBI statistics I have obtained (covering only up to 2001), 13.1 percent of murders in the US were committed with edged weapons. The number of murders, including the number involving edged weapons, has been dropping, as has violent crime in all major categories. However, the possibility of attack remains everpresent. And it comes from the most surprising sources at the most surprising times. I'm doing a study of knife attacks in my home town based on police reports and I hope to have more on this when I complete the study.

I've had knives pulled on me several times and I was stabbed seriously once. I know that cold feeling. It's very very scary.