karl tanswells stab video

[defenceunlimite]

Karl Tanswell S.T.A.B. Program Video

Review by Nathan Leverton

Most of the people on here probably already know of Karl Tanswell. A martial artist for over 20 years, he has qualified as a Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do instructor, a Filipino martial arts instructor, a Muay Thai instructor, is a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Royce Gracie and has trained extensively in numerous or other arts including Western Boxing. He was recently made UK Representative for Matt Thornton's prestigious Straight Blast Gym International group.

But it doesn't end there! Karl has a depth of real world experience having also worked the doors in Manchester and performed various security duties (including a long stint body guarding the band James).

"Karl Tanswell is truly a martial artist for the millennium. The 21st century martial artist". - Rick Faye

S.T.A.B. (Survival Tactics Against Blades) is Karl's new system for surviving an attack against an edged weapon.

Sometime a go Karl was involved in an incident where he was stabbed multiple times. He was lucky to have survived. Having witnessed the reality of a knife attack first hand he "chose to make the best of a bad situation" and used the experience to honestly evaluate the knife defence training he had done in the past. It was from this standpoint that he went about developing the STAB programme.

The STAB video begins with a cool little intro of training clips then fades in to the introduction section of the tape. Karl explains that the STAB Programme is formulated from the real world experiences of himself and people he knows to fill the gaps they that felt existed in current knife defence systems.

It is at this point that he emphasises that you NEVER want to engage in a knife fight, your first choice should always to be to avoid or escape and that if you can't do that then the next best option is to pick up an equaliser. He also addresses the issue of people who lose sight of their initial intentions. In particular, the guys who believe you must learn how to attack with a knife before you can defend against one (a valid point) but end up becoming obsessed with esoteric knife vs knife systems, amassing huge collection of blades and "having discussions on internet forums about where to conceal them in your combat trousers".

The STAB system is not just about knives, it's working against any type of edged weapons used in close and various examples are shown on screen (knife, screwdriver, scissors, glass etc).

Before the main technique section of the tape Karl stresses the importance of actually getting up an performing the drills against a resisting opponent. Watching the tape isn't enough.

So, what makes the physical side of STAB different from other programmes?

Well, the first thing is the range. STAB deals with an ultra close range attack. Many instructors will tell you something along the lines of "if the attacker really wants to hurt you, you won't even see the knife" but then demonstrate defences to an opponent waving a knife about some distance off. STAB is designed to address the situation where your attacker is already close enough to use his weapon and may already be stabbing you!

Secondly, it's damn simple. There are 3 key position, 3 things your opponent can do which you must address and 3 disarms.

Lastly, it's the base of the controlling techniques. For too long ineffective methods of grappling an armed opponent have been shown. If you're in close what's the best way to control someone? Wristlocks? Is it f**k, it's Greco Roman. Now, if someone has a weapon does he grow a new arm or something like that? No? If that's the case then wouldn't that make Greco techniques (with modifications of course) the best way to control someone in close, even with a weapon? Well, that seems to be the basic idea behind this system and it blew me away. It's a total innovation and unlike anything I'd seen before.

When I first saw the moves from STAB I was skeptical. I think this is because I'm wary of all knife defence. Then I saw them done "live" and they grew on me coz they worked. The more I try it the more I like it. It works, and you can't ask for more than that!

Ok, back to the tape.

The bulk of the tape is made up of the techniques and training methods:

Part 1 deals with the "Pick Up". Basically how to get hold of the arm when they are already in close. In line with the philosophy of the SBG group this is then done as an "alive" drill.

Part 2 covers the "Two On One" which is really the heart of the system. This position gives incredible control over the weapons arm and presents the best use of the disarms shown later. Details are given for dealing with the three risks - a) being hit with the free hand b) switching the weapon to the other hand c) pulling the knife hand free. Once again numerous "alive" drills are shown and the importance of actually doing the drills is reiterated. This was the best part of the tape for me, it gave me lots of ideas and I really liked the techniques.

Part 3 teaches the "Underhook" and once again the defences to the 3 risks, transitions and several drills.

Part 4 covers the "Rear Underhook" in the same way as the other positions.

Karl then discusses putting it all together and not surprisingly it's all trained in a live drill.

Part 5 details the "Disarms". This is great stuff, no fancy moves, just the headbutt, knee and/or arm break.

The tape ends with footage of students training the STAB Programme drills, some comments on using equipment, a marker pen drill and closing comments from Karl.

In conclusion, this is fascinating stuff and a truly innovative knife defence system. It's not the answer to all your knife defence worries but it's the best stuff I've seen for ultra close range. If you have any interest in knife defence you need to see this tape. I've already noticed instructors absorbing it in to their systems, don't get left behind.

"Karl Tanswell is the real deal, he has worked martial arts to the highest degree and is one of the foremost martial arts realists in Britain today. If you want it real it doesn't get any better than Karl Tanswell. I highly reccomend his seminars to anyone interested in making it out of a fight in one piece" - Geoff Thompson 2001

For more information on STAB, contact Karl at karltanswell@hotmail.com

To order the video email Rosi at rsexton@cs.man.ac.uk

Nathan