Impact weapon attacks can come in many forms. For example, someone can try to smash you with a baton, hammer, crow-bar, impact weapon-like object, bottle, chair and anything onsite an assailant can pick up to hit you. The three fundamental principals are either (1) to close the distance between you and the assailant while deflecting-redirecting the attack; (2) disengage until you recognize the correct timing to then close the distance or (3) retreat straight away. Attacks can come from a myriad of directions, heights, and angles in single swing attacks or multiple salvoes. Impact weapons (along with edged weapons) are often referred to in krav maga parlance as “cold weapons.”
Recognize that a person with any type of blunt object in his hand could potentially use it as impact or jettison it as a weapon or means of distraction. The end of the impact weapon generates the most force as the assailant’s wrist is used as a fulcrum. Therefore, the most dangerous range of the attack is to be struck with the end of the weapon. In other words, the ballistic object’s momentum decreases the closer you come to the assailant’s swinging wrist. As noted, impact weapon defenses require the defender to stymie the attack by closing the distance to simultaneously deflect-redirect or absorb the swinging arm’s (not the weapon) impact. As with all krav maga defenses, the hand always leads the body to deflect-redirect in conjunction with simultaneous multiple counterattacks. Notably, impact weapons defense – unlike edged and firearm defenses – move directly along the line of intended attack rather than “off the line”.
We will focus on four common types of impact weapon attacks: overhead, overhead “off angle”, sideswing and lower quadrant attacks. The danger, as with all weapon attacks, is that the assailant can change the angle of attack to counter your initial defense. This is remedied by performing the same defense regardless of the impact weapon’s trajectory.
Practice Suggestions:
For each technique presented, we suggest that you practice a minimum of 20 repetitions against a partner attacking using both his left and right limbs. In other words, you are defending against a minimum of 40 repetitions (20 from a right limb attack and 20 from a left limb attack).
Defend from a passive stance, a left-outlet fighting stance, and a right-outlet fighting stance.
In addition, when defending against weapon threats and attacks, practice a minimum of 20 repetitions with your partner attacking with both the right and left.
Be sure, though, to keep in mind that 85% or more of the world’s population is right side dominant. Therefore, it stands to reason that the majority of attacks will be launched with a right arm or leg.
Practicing at least 10-15 minutes per technique is recommended (with, as noted above, a minimum of 20 repetitions per side). Therefore, you should begin to both understand and embed approximately 4-6 techniques per practice hour. (Note, though, for our group classes we generally teach 3-4 techniques per cumulative one hour lesson plan.)
Observe and help your partner other analyze his/her movements.
It may be helpful to film each other in action to further evaluate the fluidity and execution of each technique, if your timing is correct, if your footwork and fighting stance is solid, and how well you can adopt to slight angle changes and heights of various attacks.
Additionally, you may wish to refer the book Krav Maga Weapon Defenses, Chapter 7, for specific weapon defense drill recommendations and suggestions.