Self-Defense against a knife attack while unarmed is always a worst-case scenario, and one you really should do everything in your power to avoid. I talk and write so much about awareness and avoidance because it really is extremely important and your best bet at keeping yourself safe and unharmed. What makes self-defense against a knife attack even more arduous is that many serious assailants will not brandish the blade prior to attacking. You may not know the knife wielding attacker has a knife until after the blade has cut flesh, which could be serious even deadly.
There are basically two types of knife assaults you may encounter. The first is an impending threat, where the attacker brandishes his weapon to intimidate or threaten you to get you to comply with what he wants. This may be to give money, information, or maybe even your physical body. In this assault, the assailant will hold the blade in a threatening manner that you can see, which could be from a distance, or it could be held against your body. Regardless, he is wanting cooperation and for you to do what he wants or give him what he desires. He wants this done without resistance. Usually the blade will be static in this type of assault.
The second assault is a knife attack, where the blade is in motion. The attacker is is coming toward you with a blade and the intent of stabbing or cutting you. He’s not talking, demanding, or negotiating. The knife may be in his forward hand or his rear hand, and as I stated earlier, you may not even know he has a knife until after you have been cut or stabbed.
With an impending threat, you may be able to just run away, or you may be able to satisfy the demand and end the encounter. If he’s demanding money or material possessions, and you can’t run away and escape, you are better off turning them over if it will end the encounter with you unscathed, than attempt to fight a man with a knife unarmed. Don’t risk getting cut or stabbed if you don’t have to.
In the face of a knife attack, you have three options. These are the same three options that you find in my Active Shooter Triangle: Escape, Deny, or Attack Back. If you can escape, that is the wisest option; as I said above, don’t risk getting cut or stabbed if you don’t have to. If you can escape, do so. Unfortunately, escaping is not always a viable option, and then we must deny or attack back.
Deny the attacker access and opportunity to cut or stab you. This can be done in a number of ways. Remember, distance is your friend when facing a knife. The attacker can only cut or stab you when he is close. If you can lock him outside, you have denied him the opportunity to hurt you. The could be locking him outside of the room or office you are in, locking him out of your vehicle, keeping him on the other side of a fence, and so on. Other ways you an deny the attacker are to put something between you such as a table. Grabbing a chair or stool and holding it feet/legs toward your adversary can also be effective. In one of my only knife encounters, this was the strategy I employed and it worked. I ended up throwing the stool at him as I then escaped the bar to avoid both the guy with the knife and the Military Police that were arriving.
And finally, if you can’t escape or deny, you must attack back. Stop the attacker from hurting you by hurting him first. If you can, arm yourself. Something that gains you a distance advantage such as a cane, pool cue, fire extinguisher, etc. is preferred. Use anything that enables you to attack back more effectively. Remember, a knife disarm does not necessarily mean you have to grab and take the knife from the attacker’s hand. If you spray the guy in the face with a fire extinguisher and then smash him in the head with it, causing him to drop the knife, that is a disarm too.
There are empty handed techniques that will work against a knife wielding attacker. Some better than others. They won’t be as easy as in the training hall. Self-defense against a knife attack is never going to be easy. But the techniques can work. And no, don’t “expect to get cut.” I’ve been arguing this point with “experts” since the early 90s. I don’t believe in expecting to get cut. Why buy into a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you are expecting it to happen, there’s a greater chance that it will. You might get cut, and if you do, you have to deal with it. But don’t expect it. Since I started saying this years ago, I’ve heard other instructors that I greatly respect say the same thing. These include Kelly McCann, Bob Kasper, and Nick Hughes. That’s pretty good company to be with, so don’t expect to get cut. (And there are a lot of people who have ended knife altercations without being cut. I didn’t get cut that night I threw the stool at the guy.)
Obviously there is more to know about self-defense against a knife attack. People have written entire books, and made entire video programs, on the topic. I’ll probably write more and make some videos too. But these are a few things you should know when dealing with a knife wielding attacker. Stay sharp and alert and hopefully you’ll never have to deal with the wrong end of a blade.