I wish I could give you certainty about how to behave if you are attacked by someone wielding a knife, but I can’t. In the end, you must decide to comply or take a stand.The best I can do for you is outline some areas that my help or assist you in formulating that decision.
1. If someone wants your purse or wallet, the first question to ask is, “Is my life worth giving up for the purse or wallet?” I believe that the correct answer is always, “No.” Therefore, let the person have the purse or wallet, then describe the thief to the authorities. You can always replace a purse or wallet but how do you replace your life?
2. If someone wants to do you physical harm and they are intent on attacking you, the first question to ask is, “Is my life worth fighting for?" I believe that in this situation the correct answer is always, “Yes.” In this situation you will have to use “extreme, rough and somewhat brutal” self defence techniques in order to escape.
Types of knife attack.
The first line of defence against an opponent armed with a knife is to avoid close contact. The different types of knife attacks are:
Thrust.The thrust is the most common and most dangerous type of knife attack. It is a strike directed straight into the target by jabbing or lunging.
Slash.The slash is a sweeping surface cut or semi-circular slash. The wound is usually a long cut, varying from a slight surface cut to a deep gash.
Tear.The tear is a cut made by dragging the tip of the blade across the body to create a ripping-type cut.
Hack.The hack is delivered by using the knife to block or chop with.
Butt.The butt is a strike with the knife handle.
There are three ways to hold a knife. How your attacker holds the knife may give you information about whether he knows what he is doing or not.
The three ways that an assailant might hold a knife are:
1.By the handle, pointy part facing up. This person probably does not have much experience wielding a knife.
In case one, the person generally doesn’t know what he or she is doing (although of course the knife is still very dangerous!). You can push the arm down or to the side – even if the person is coming right at you. If you want to take the knife away, you can turn the person’s arm out and twist it behind his back.
2.By the handle, pointy part facing down, as in the movie Psycho.
In case two, you can block the knife upwards to stop the arm from coming down, or you can block it off to the side. Then, by turning the hand out, you can peel the knife out of the hand. Or, you can bring the arm back into the attacker.
3.Blade along the length of the lower arm, facing out. This person is the most knowledgeable about knife combat.
In case three,the attacker will likely be coming back and forth with the blade across his forearm. Here, you again catch the arm. Now you can turn the arm over to cause pain and disarm the attacker. The key is: Go after the arm with the weapon and stop it!