Self-defense with a knife is complicated. Simply having a knife on you — ready for use — is not enough. Using it properly takes training and knowledge. Mike Janich of Martial Blade Concepts provides some very good explanations about how and when to use your knife to defend yourself.
Stabbing your attacker is not the best action to take in the face of an assault. It is more important to stop the attacker’s ability to fight. You can do this best by taking away his ability to grab and hold weapons or move toward you. Think about cuts to large muscle groups. If you cut the inside of an attacker’s arm, he can no longer hold the weapon with which he was intending to hit you. You can then back off and reassess. A cut across the quadriceps will stop most forward motion, giving you time to escape.
One Good Knife Cut
A serious cut to a muscle group will do more to impede your attacker than will a stab to the chest or gut. Yes, stabbing may stop your attacker eventually, but you want to stop the attack instantly. To do that, cut large muscles.
