# Toronto Area Machete Attack

- Link: https://brianejohns.com/2022/09/14/blog-brampton-machete-attack/
- Published: 2022-09-14T11:30:00-04:00
- Author: Brian Johns

If you are not able to view this video, click [here](https://youtu.be/WwYZZXurIOo).

This machete attack occurred about a month ago in Brampton, a Toronto suburb. Joti
Singh Mann, the victim, is a media personality, and the speculation in the local
press is that he was attacked for views that he had expressed on his podcast.

I am most interested in the attack and what Mr. Mann could have done to protect 
himself. That said, I will not get into any cultural issue here and have no desire
to wade into it. This post is more about the mechanics of the attack.

The attack begins with the axe-wielder attacking the driver’s side window with a
right-handed grip. Then he switched to a double-handed grip to extricate the axe
from the car window. Once the car door opens, he reverts to a right-handed grip.
See below.

As Mr. Mann is pulled out of his vehicle, another attacker attacks him with a right-
handed [angle 12 attack](https://brianejohns.com/2015/08/10/blog-angles-of-attack-in-filipino-martial-arts/).
See below. For those unfamiliar with Filipino Martial Arts terms, angle 12 refers
to an overhead attack.

As the clip below shows, The mass attack then migrates to the back of Mr. Mann’s
vehicle. Every attacker is right-handed and hits the victim with repeated overhead
attacks.

Unbelievably, Mr. Mann survived this horrific attack with serious injuries. The 
police are treating this attack as attempted murder. Mr. Mann had received death
threats before this incident. It is not known what the death threats were for.

## In any case, I have watched several machete attack videos on YouTube over the past few years, although not in an organized way. Based on my disorganized, haphazard viewings, I have the following observations:

 * The vast majority of machete attacks are right-handed;
 * The attacks are almost always overhead. Sometimes, it will be somewhere between
   angles 1 and 12.
 * Most machete attacks involve a single attacker. The above video is somewhat unusual
   due to the nature of the attack.
 * I don’t recall any machete attacks involving thrusts.

Why does this all matter?

We can stack the odds in our favour by knowing what a machete attack is, in probability,
going to consist of. This will inform our self-defence options. Of course, the first
thing we want to do is to escape or run away. However, if we have no choice but 
to defend ourselves, knowing the likely angle and direction of an attack is very
useful.

I’ve been telling myself to watch machete videos on YouTube in an organized way 
and break them down into categories (single person, mass attack, right-handed or
left-handed etc.) on a spreadsheet.

## In light of this attack, it’s time for me to get cracking on this machete project. Stay tuned.

Back to the above machete attack. What could Mr. Mann have done to protect himself
under these terrifying circumstances? Some have pointed out that he should not have
opened his car door in response to the axe-wielder. I agree that Mr. Mann should
have stayed in the vehicle and drove away.

On the other hand, it’s tough to judge someone who went through a terrifying experience.
It’s nearly impossible to think clearly under these circumstances. It turns out 
he thought this was a carjacking, and he was getting out to let them take the vehicle.
I’m thankful that he survived this incident. As of now, the attackers have not been
apprehended.

## Last Week’s Video

If you are not able to view the video, click [here](https://youtu.be/c3j_E9xpJVk).

Last week’s video discussed “high palis palis,” a passing technique more appropriate
for overhead or high-line attacks. This concept is incorporated into Flow Drill 
15, a fun drill! Give it a try!

Once you get this down, you can mix it up with other concepts, as illustrated below.

Can this technique be used against a typical machete attack? Hell yes. One can theoretically
pass a machete swing if you have an improvised weapon such as a broomstick or something
similar. Emphasis on “_theoretically_.”

If you are not able to view this video, click [here](https://youtu.be/RPj52lwOwXA).

Anyway, play with the high palis palis, combine it with other Modern Arnis concepts,
and see what you come up with.

## Additional Reading

 * [Angles of Attack in Filipino Martial Arts](https://brianejohns.com/2015/08/10/blog-angles-of-attack-in-filipino-martial-arts/)
 * [Low High Palis Palis](https://brianejohns.com/2021/02/22/blog-low-high-palis-palis/)
 * [Amazing Palis Palis Drill!](https://brianejohns.com/2021/02/15/blog-amazing-palis-palis-drill/)
 * [Which Technique Is Best?](https://brianejohns.com/2020/01/20/blog-which-technique-is-best/)
 * [The Different Cobra Kai Dojos](https://brianejohns.com/2022/09/21/blog-the-different-cobra-kai-dojos/)

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