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Knife Attack Survival Seminar at Lumpini Gym

This article highlights the recent Knife Attack Survival seminar conducted by Combat Survival Tactics for a large martial arts gym in the south of England. The seminar was organized by the gym’s owner and chief instructor, John Jarvis, a renowned Muay Thai boxing coach, who wanted to teach these life-saving skills to his students.

The Seminar:
We arrived and set up as usual, and although things seemed quiet initially, participants started arriving close to the start time. We expected around 20 attendees but were surprised when 34 signed in for the seminar.

After a brief introduction of myself and my coaching team, we began with the usual health and safety briefing, followed by a presentation and training session.

Topics Covered:

1. Edged Weapons & Hierarchy of Defence:
   • Emphasized that engaging an attacker up close is the last resort.
   • Highlighted the realities of knife encounters and avoided overpromising unrealistic outcomes.
2. Presentation & Awareness:
   • Covered UK knife statistics, edged weapon definitions, carry laws, and threat awareness.
   • Introduced the NLB (No Lie Blades) Training Knife for practice.
3. Initial Training:
   • Warm-up drills, basic angles of attack, and blade use.
   • Conducted a timed pressure test to identify pre-training weaknesses.
4. Skill Development:
   • Focused on tactical positioning and footwork.
   • Engaged students in training drills to instill the basic principles needed in knife defence scenarios.
5. Understanding the Threat:
   • Analyzed graphic photos of knife attack victims to understand the devastating effects of edged weapons.
   • Highlighted how victims survived despite severe injuries, reinforcing the mindset to never give up.
6. Advanced Training:
   • Introduced the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act).
   • Taught combatives, targeting high-value areas, and methods to fight back brutally or escape.
   • Addressed scenarios involving multiple attackers or restricted escape options.

Results:
The seminar attracted talented boxers, Muay Thai fighters, and BJJ practitioners who worked hard throughout the session. Many were surprised by the ferocity of knife attacks, the distance a blade can cover in an instant, and the mental challenges posed.

Post-Training Evaluation:
A second pressure test revealed significant improvement. While the natural fear factor remained, attendees were better equipped with the confidence and mindset to face an attack.

Feedback:
The seminar concluded with insightful questions, video testimonials, and participant feedback.

Acknowledgments:
A big thank you to all participants and to my team, Coaches Paul Warwick and Steve Jenkinson, for ensuring the seminar ran smoothly. A special mention to No Lie Blades for their excellent training tools. As a qualified NLB instructor, I’ve integrated many aspects of their system into our program, ensuring consistent training quality.

Our hope is that these lessons can help keep someone safe and possibly save a life.

Keith Collyer – Chief Coach, Combat Survival Tactics