Civil War buff uses 400-year-old Cavalier fighting skills to disarm knife-wielding robber

A Civil War re-enactment enthusiast used the battle skills he learned playing a Cavalier to disarm a knife-wielding robber.

Alf Thompson, 60, sprang into action when the thug threatened to slash a shop assistant’s throat.

Mr Thompson, a member of the Sealed Knot, grabbed the robber’s hand and dragged him over the shop counter.

The grandfather wrenched the knife from the man’s hand and then pinned him to the counter while the shopkeeper dialled 999.

During the brawl, the masked robber drew a second knife – but Mr Thompson disarmed him again before pinning him to the floor and waiting for police.

Mr Thompson is second in command of The Earl of Northampton’s Regiment of Foote in the Sealed Knot.

The group meets regularly at weekends to re-enact Civil War battles in 17th-century costume.

Mr Thompson said he used the skills he learned with the Sealed Knot to disarm the robber.

‘If it wasn’t for the re-enactment group I couldn’t have done it,’ he said.

‘It is never real when we learn how to deal with knives and swords but the movements are for real.’

Mr Thompson, a retired psychology lecturer, played down his courage, saying: ‘I do not think bravery is premeditated.

'I think it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. In the cold light of day, I thought to myself: “What a fool.” He was 20 years younger than me. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2184465/Heroic-Civil-War-buff-uses-400-year-old-Cavalier-fighting-skills-disarm-knife-wielding-robber-attacked-shop-worker.html#ixzz22wm3O500