However - and this is a key point to consider - samurai were adept at disarming their opponents before drawing their blade. Consider a modern scenario in which a Royal Marine is confronted by an assailant armed with a knife in a civilain setting. Clearly, the assailant is going to be disarmed and receive a beating almost effortlessly, despite the superioirity of their weapon. By using an knights's own motion of attack against them, a samurai may well suddenly face a much reduced threat. Certainly, knights were familiar with grappling, but not to the same martial prowess as a samurai.