-
Step 1
Retreat intelligently first by taking a few steps back away from your attacker, if possible, so that you're out of stabbing range. In the best case in which your attacker allows you to retreat, you should escape by running away. If, however, your attacker advances on you, use the retreat to gauge your knife attacker's seriousness, state of mind and skill level with the weapon.
-
Step 2
Try to find a weapon to compete with the knife such as a stick or even a rock. If you manage to pick up a stick use it to strike your assailant's knife hand when you have the proper opportunity. Also, slow the fight down by raising the stick in front of you since this will cause your assailant to back off, allowing you more distance to defend yourself.
-
Step 3
Set up your stance in relation to your knife attacker's stance so you get vulnerable knife targets on your body as far from the knife as possible. If you attacker holds the knife forward in his left hand, drop your right side back so there is more distance between the knife and you. Keep the outside of your forward leg facing your opponent in order to defend against attacks to arteries in your inner thigh. Also, raise your shoulder to protect the jugular and your hands to defend your face.
-
Step 4
Allow your attacker to make attempted stabs at you if you can move away from the knife hand. The more attempted stabs the attacker makes the more tired he will become. However, if you have any opportunity to grab the knife hand you should take it as controlling the knife hand is your most important method of defense, since most knife attacks stab repeatedly after the first stab.
