Killers in Kevlar
Author : Steve Hanafi (Silat Sharaf Practitioner, Malaysia)
Targeting against those who wear body armor.
The world is advancing, so too does the bad guys, gangsters, criminals, drug lords, kingpins, and body armor. The business has evolved as much as technology does. Firearms continue to be one of the most dangerous threats faced by both law enforcement and civilians. This observed increase in body armor wears by the law enforcement community. The trend, however, is also observed in civilians and criminals.
You’d be wondering “Isn’t it hard to get body armor?”. Armor, like guns, is easy to get, and bad guys are catching on. Nobody knows how many crooks, lunatics, gangs, and militias have acquired body armor. Registration or background check is not required for one to own body armor. In most of the incidents recorded, criminals that used vests weren’t always using it against cops. Often, they were worn during gunfights or other struggles between civilians.
There are different body armor levels from level II, level III, IIIa, and level IV. And then there’s the bulletproof vest and the stab-proof vest. A stab proof vest does not necessarily mean it is bulletproof and vice versa. Also, a vest that has been made to be stab-proof can still be penetrated using pointed instruments such as ice picks or long knives. The spike and thin profile gave these weapons the ability to slip through the fibers of the vest. The criminals. They’re evolving, getting smarter, more vicious and they’re protecting themselves with quality body armor. If you’re up against one of these people, what are the odds of you getting out alive?
Quick guide to ballistic armor levels by Pew Pew Tactical
Say, that one of these bastards decide to come for you, be it when you’re walking down the street when you’re at work, or at home when they decide to come into your house, how are you going to go up against them? How do you use a knife as a force multiplier now that they have a nullifier for the knife?
The answer is simple, you exploit their weak points – the areas that are not covered by their vest.
Knives are a favorite for vicious close quarters
Bank robber wearing body armor - North Hollywood shootout, 1997
Well-armed and protected, covering themselves from harm and taking out anyone who gets in their way
A few things to note:
1. The name implies “stab-proof vest”, however, they are not completely stab-proof. Just stab resistant. Which means, put in enough force and the sharp pointy end will penetrate deep. But that doesn’t mean you should do that, we want to make it hard for our adversaries and easy for us. So, comes no.2
2. We’ll be looking at where the areas where a lot of blood go through there, and if it gets cut open, a lot of blood will be coming out. We’re talking about the major arteries. HOWEVER, one might wear additional armor at the neck, or at the areas that we are targeting. That’s a minor problem because options are not limited to one. and…
3. The more armor one puts on, the bulkier it gets, and the less mobility they’ll have. Again, making it harder for them and easier for you.
4. Cutting these arteries can cause one to profusely bleed (yes, it can lead to death). Oh, this isn’t your normal accidentally-cut-your-fingers-while-cooking bleeding, the blood will be spurting. We’re talking a lot of blood, prepare to get nasty. As to such, we’ll look at both lethal and non-lethal options.
Example of covert body armor that can be worn underneath daily clothing
Or even worn at the outside, along with plate carrier
Vulnerable points for you to use against an adversary wearing body armor.
The major human artery, image by Medicalook
Lethal options
The goal is to take them out of the fight and to do it quick. No such thing as a 5-minute-long action movie fight scene, you’d be taking the room temperature challenge by then. You don’t know how many of them are coming, and how armed they are, so keep in mind that, the quicker, the better.
The Neck (Carotid artery)
- The quickest cut. Should the bleeding not be stopped, a clean-cut that severs the carotid can kill one in less than 3 minutes.
Above the clavicle (right and left Subclavian artery)
- One of the favorite spots that soldiers use to take out sentries, it worked well for them, will do wonders for you too. Note that somebody vest covers this area, if it does, go a little higher to target no.1, the carotid artery.
Armpit (Axillary artery)
- Both the arteries are at (almost) the same level as the heart is, pop it open, and you’ll see blood coming out as it does from fizzy drinks
The thigh (Femoral artery)
- The main artery of the leg, blood will come out with each pump of the heart, if left untreated, one can bleed to death in a matter of minutes.
When you’re being chased by many, a head on fight usually spells doom on your side
Non-lethal options
So, you have to play dirty. Destroy their mobility. Scare the others shitless, make them unable and unwilling to fight.
Forehead, above eye
Arms – elbow
- The tendon at the elbow is responsible for helping one to bend their arm, taking it away also means taking away their ability to use their fist.
Thigh
- Important tendons and ligaments that your legs use to walk and run are located here, yup, strike here.
Knee
- Taking out the ligament at the knee, well, will force them to sit down at stare at their misery of not being able to walk (temporarily/permanently)
Ankle
- Not being able to move the ankle means no runny-runny, cowboy
Butt
- Not only does it hurt like hell, but it will also scare others shitless once they see one of them get stabbed in the ass.
If you’re still confused, here’s a short video on the areas to strike.
Disclaimer: We at TotalUrbanSurvival are not giving any legal advice as to such we are not encouraging anyone to kill or harm another living person. Any knowledge or information given on this website is for the sake of knowledge of self-protection. We will not be liable for any of our reader's actions or irresponsibility. Practice at your own risk. Be sure to stay safe when training and use training tools.