The Hand You Were Dealt:

This post is about working left hand versus a right hand attacker. You can put away your pencils and notebooks because I am not going to layout any step by step techniques for you. Instead you will have to pick up your training knives and put on your thinking caps. Working with a skilled lefty opened up a whole new world for me. In addition to being left handed my student is also a lot taller than I am and his longer arms equals greater reach. This all adds up to a teacher’s nightmare where if your technique is not conceptually correct you will never be able to pull it off and your credibility goes down the tubes. I don’t have a photo of us training in knife class but here is one of us during an AGOGE™ tactical pistol class. I am the short guy with a beard. You can probably figure out which one is my lanky knife student. The man to the right as you look at the photo is the instructor and operator of Agoge Training.

At first he worked knife right-handed because that was how I was teaching him. Two things changed our approach to training. One, when I learned he was naturally a lefty I had him start working out that way. Two, a student emailed me a link to a video of a real knife attack where the attacker was left handed and the defender was empty-handed. They asked me to come up with a better solution than in the video where the unlucky defender was stabbed multiple times and quickly died. Sorry to say, there is no infallible empty-hand defense against an aggressive knife attacker. All you can do is move off-line and counter-attack immediately, and as violently and viciously as possible. Using your fists, knees, hands, and feet, keep pummeling the attacker until he is no longer moving. But, if you have a knife there are all sorts of options. Fighting left-handed versus a right-handed opponent reveals some unique possibilities. Why is this?

When one of you is fighting left-handed your knives end up on the same side. This might not seem like a big deal but it drastically alters the distance between the knives and therefore the timing. It suddenly becomes much easier to intercept an incoming attack and preempt it because you have “the time.” As the left-handed fighter this right-to-left relationship can also change the direction you rotate your hips and torso in response to an attack. So begin by picking one of your favorite counter-knife moves, both of you working right-handed as usual, against a simple knife attack. Once you are comfortable with it. Now, one of you maintain a right-handed grip, and the other one switch their knife to their left hand. Perform the same attack and see how radically things have changed. Basically you can respond in one of two ways.
Perform your usual knife block and/or “cut” using your now empty right hand. Then counter attack with your left knife-hand. OR
Use the knife, that is now in your left hand, to perform the block and/or cut. Consciously note the differences in timing, movement, and your ending position compared to your standard right handed counter attack.
Either way, keep your live-hand floating loosely near your solar plexus.

Pick another familiar defense-and-attack scenario and try the same thing again. First work it with both of you right handed and then one of you switch to left hand. You should begin thinking and training left-handed for two reasons. One, if your strong (right) hand becomes injured you may be forced to fight left-handed. Two, if you find yourself up against a right-handed fighter, which is statistically probable, shifting your knife to your left hand gives you a major tactical and mental edge. I cannot but help think of this scene from the movie Princess Bride.

Inigo Montoya: You are wonderful. Man in Black: Thank you; I've worked hard to become so. Inigo Montoya: I admit it, you are better than I am. Man in Black: Then why are you smiling? Inigo Montoya: Because I know something you don't know. Man in Black: And what is that? Inigo Montoya: I... am not left-handed. [Moves his sword to his right hand and gains an advantage] Man in Black: You are amazing. Inigo Montoya: I ought to be, after 20 years. Man in Black: Oh, there's something I ought to tell you. Inigo Montoya: Tell me. Man in Black: I'm not left-handed either. [Moves his sword to his right hand and regains his advantage]

The fighter who is capable of using either hand has an enormous advantage over the man who has only trained to use one hand. Maybe with sufficient practice you could become deadly with two knives, one in each hand, like the late Michael Echanis. I will leave you with one last thought. Is there a way to position your knife on the same side as your attacker’s and still fight right-handed, and if so, what are the advantages? Email me when you figure this one out, or with questions, at: ghdave2@hotmail.com I’ll post a photo in a couple days illustrating the answer.