Knife Sinawali

Our training focus is on self-defense applications, so only blocking techniques are listed.  As students develop their ability to understand and recognize the angles of attack, blocking is of paramount importance.  Once solid blocking ability is established students can explore a multitude of counter-strikes, trapping, locking, take-downs and pain compliance follow-ups.

Knife Blocking Concepts

There are 5 main knife blocking concepts:

  1. Cut the Hand
  2. Passing
  3. Attack the Attack
  4. C-Hand Checking: By extending the thumb of the blocking hand to form a “C” shape we can successfully stop a stabbing attack.
  5. Elbow Rolling: If our knife strike is checked (with a C-Hand) we can escape by using a rolling elbow movement.

Angles in Combination:  Standard & Reverse Grip

Angle Combination Sequences: Standard & Reverse Grip

Single Knife:  1 > 4 > 2 >3

  • Drill #1:  Cut the Hand Only
  • Drill #2:  Cut the Hand & Alive Hand Grab
  • Drill #3:  Passing
    • Angle 1 >4
    • Angle 2 >3
  • Drill #4:  Cover & Hit

Double Knife: 1 > 4 (right) + 1 > 4 (left)

  • Drill #1:  Cut/Stab Hand Only
  • Drill #2:  Double Sinawali Defenses
  • Drill #3:  Crossada
  • Drill #5:  Roof & Drop Cut Right, Crossada Left

Single Knife: Angles in Isolation:  Standard Grip

Techniques listed apply in 2 contexts:  Knife to Knife & Knife to Stick.

  • Angle 1
    • Cut the Hand
    • Passing  (Pass > Check > Stab – Over & Under)
    • Attack the Attack (Cover & Stab Inside)
  • Angle 4
    • Cut the Hand
    • Passing  (Pass > Check > Stab – Over & Under)
    • Attack the Attack (2-Hand Blocking:  Parallel & X-Block)
  • Angle 2
    • Cut the Hand
    • Passing Range (Wing Block) (Roof Block)
    • Attack the Attack (2-Hand Blocking:  Parallel) (Cover & Stab Outside – High & Low)
  • Angle 3
    • Cut the Hand
    • Passing  (Pass > Check > Stab – Over & Under)
    • Cover & Hit Inside

Single Knife:  Angles in Isolation:  Reverse Grip

Techniques listed apply in 2 contexts:  Knife to Knife & Knife to Stick.

  • Angle 1
    • Cut the Hand
    • Passing  (Pass > Check > Stab – Over & Under)
    • Attack the Attack (Cover & Stab Inside)
  • Angle 4
    • Cut/Stab the Hand
    • Passing  (Pass > Grab > Stab)
    • Attack the Attack (2-Hand Blocking:  Parallel & X-Block)
  • Angle 2
    • Cut/Stab the Hand
    • Passing (Wing Block) (Roof Block)
    • Attack the Attack (2 to 2 > Check > Stab) (2 to 2 > Pass > Slash)
  • Angle 3
    • Cut/Stab the Hand
    • Passing  (Pass > Check > Stab) (Over & Under)
    • Attack the Attack  (Cover & Stab Inside)

*Please note that only Passing range defenses require training in Angles in Isolation (one at a time, in our out of sequence).