Article by Janer Taru
Knife fighting is not glamorous at all. There are no known knife-fighting heroes like in the movies. Knife fighting is usually reserved for either the toughest law enforcement and military personnel who don't care for fame, or sick hardened criminals.
Number one knife fighting advice is to just run away, avoid it at all costs. It can be one of the bloodiest and most traumatic experiences you can encounter, and basically, the risk of death is always involved. Make it the absolutely last resort.
Number two advice is don't go displaying your knife to people to intimidate or scare them. It can only provoke other people's aggressions, and there are serious repercussions too. The court will hold you guilty for threatening others with violence.
Third thing to know about knife fighting is that it's going to be bloody. And you need to be mentally prepared to see your own blood on the floor. Even a complete amateur with a knife will be able to cut you several times before you completely subdue him.
Number four advice is hold your knife as near to the opponent as possible. Don't bring it to the side and especially not to the rear. If you put it there then that means you have some other part of your body exposed for the opponent's own knife, which he may target first.
Number five advice is know how to use your whole body in a knife fight. That means using your other hand actively to punch, push, and grapple. Also use your elbows, knees, head, and even teeth when you have to. The sooner you end the fight the better.
Sixth thing to know is make sure you have dependable blade. Don't get a blade for the looks, but for effectiveness. It should be hard for you to lose your grip, and it should be strong and sharp enough to penetrate tough clothing like jeans and jackets.
Seventh thing to know is make sure you've mastered a grip. My advice is don't go fancy with grips. Choose one and stick with it. Ray Floro for example uses the reverse grip and sticks with that. There are others who prefer the more conventional hammer grip. See what works for you.
To end, life was never meant to be about fighting. Life is better lived to enjoy with the people you love. Hopefully you'll never have to use your knife fighting skills, except to defend those people you care about. And that's worth fighting for.