I don't think kidney shots deserved their own post, BTW, but I do think reifying self-defense concepts into different categories such as sentry-removal, or only-bad-guys-can-do-that, can be a big mistake.
One concept that's often overlooked in "knife-fighting", and I credit some of Southnarc's affiliates for cluing (that looks like it needs to be spelled "clueing", doesn't it?) me in to this, is that punching and striking is a valid concept unto itself for self-defense, and that is NOT changed by having a knife in one's hand.
I did some striking drills with a partner today on focus pads, just a quick refresher for the basic motor movements.
Boxing (empty-hand) incorporating basic strikes; forward-grip knife (right-hand); reverse-grip knife (left-hand - same knife, held in different grip); tac-pen (left and right hand, and it's interchangeable with how I use a 2-cell flashlight); and sap (right-hand only).
What is interesting is that, aside from the sap, judging from my partner's feedback and the obvious impact on the pad (just a relatively cheap pad similar to
this one) the back-handed left-hand reverse-grip "jab" type strikes seemed to be as powerful or more powerful from a pure striking perspective as any of the punches.
I was going for pure form rather than generating additional power past using crisp, tight technique and staying loose; and I found that the angle of incidence to the flat surface was more controllable with an object in my hand, allowing for a more direct impact, with no loss of ability to generate striking power.
Conversely the forward-grip methods did not allow for this same level of control nor power generation (mostly due to the wrist articulation required for a forehand, forward-grip jab with an implement - this is why I don't bother with forward-grip pen or flashlight techniques).
What am I getting at? Well, again, striking is valid all by itself. Adding a knife or other object,
particularly a small knife, does not lessen the ability to transmit power similarly to a strike. (Yes, I know people frequently say good knife technique doesn't rely on power - but what is the outcome-based definition of "good?" - this is like shot placement vs power; I want both for an optimal outcome!).
Kidney shots in particular, that are striking based, are known in boxing as fight-enders.
From:
http://coxscorner.tripod.com/louis.html
Emmanuel Steward after studying film of Louis-Schemling 2 concurred about Louis paralyzing power, making the following observation, (Pacheco, 45), "Louis body punches were unbelievable. After Max had been immobolized by a right to the kidney, he took a left hook to the solar plexus which paralyzed him. Even though Max was hurt and wanted to fall down, he couldn't even fall."
The June 23, 1938 NY Times quoted Schmeling as saying he was hit with a kidney punch, a devastating right, which so shocked his nervous system, that he was "dazed" and his "vision was blurred." He was hit so hard to the body he lost his sight for a few seconds.
There are lots of other documented effects of body-shots, both anecdotal and reasonably well-documented in boxing fights.
Here is a review from Sportsci.org:
http://www.docspal.com/viewer?id=syppfwq-2005866
It mostly covers the aspects related to chronic low-grade kidney impact, but does have some interesting tidbits, such as the fact that the kidneys are closer to the surface in a typical "crouch" fight stance, and may be displaced by the diaphragm (pushed outward) due to exertion.
Anyway, in summary, in case I wasn't clear:
1) The kidneys and some other regions that may or may not be super-deadly (liver, solar plexus) are valid boxing/striking targets as demonstrated and witnessed in boxing fights - they CAN end a fight
2) I doubt having a knife in the hand will reduce the viability of these targets!
3) Caveat regarding #2 - some styles of holding and using the knife would let one deliver massively more impact to a region - in general, reverse grip allows greater transmission of force, but as range decreases, forward-grip edge-up (FGEU) becomes more viable - at the extreme end of the spectrum (being crushed physically against something by another body), FGEU is probably more effective since angle of incidence is going to be improved (more perpendicular) when you are reaching around someone's back out of necessity while being bear-hugged
Be opportunistic! If your fighting style changes massively due to having a small sharp object in your hand, maybe that's an issue. Kidneys are viable before the small sharp object appears, whether it appears or not, and I don't think you want to run a massive Windows Update to your Operating System just because of a small hardware improvement during a fight. Do you? The concept of "shoot to stop" is better expressed until "shoot to stop UNTIL stoppage occurs," and I believe fighting is no different. There's no harm striking a particular region if you don't have the mindset of "wait and see what happens next."
), "expedient target" starts to make a lot of sense, and since a solid bear-hug will make elbow and shoulder articulation difficult, getting to the upper thoracic region is an iffy bet.
