Introduction

In learning how to teach or defend knife strategies and techniques, we first must understand characteristics and the demeanour of the knife user; they usually fall into one of the three prevalent profiles:
- The Novice
- The Expert
- The Master

The Novice

This is someone that has had no training in weapons or martial arts, the Novice will generally use the knife to bluff or threaten their victim by a means of projecting an artificial confidence to gain control of the situation and focus their energies into the knife to gain this needed confidence.
Reasons may vary depending on the Novice’s process of thinking; they may be in a certain level of hardship or have a need to commit a crime to gain something for their addiction. Whatever their reason they usually are not in a sound mind at the time and may be erratic in their actions.
They use the knife as a barrier to hide their weakness of insecurity and low confidence to handle a situation. The reliance on the knife is demonstrated in the way they hold the weapon, stance and use in motioning attack or defence.
The Novice will have a stance displacing the lead knife hand to the front to provide a barrier and will usually be in an open guard position demonstrating their limited knowledge in fighting and use of the weapon.
They hold the knife in a hard gripping pattern, for the one technique they may use to stab at the victim. The Novice moves the knife in a tormenting motion to vend off their defender and when they do attack it is in a blind action, focusing only on one point.
They are the easiest of the three profiles to defend from, due to the method of attack and their open stance. One point to remember is that they are erratic with thought and action and may be unpredictable due to their limited ability, but be sure not to underestimate them.
It is an important note for the Novice, without the knife they do not have the mental power to carry out their intended actions.

The Expert

This is a person that has had enough training within martial arts and has the knowledge of defence, gripping, attack, movement and the needed confidence to use the knife.
Unlike the Novice, the Expert has a more relaxed demeanour, due to the experience gained through active knowledge in training and the situations where they have used the techniques and strategies.
Like any skill learnt, the Expert has discovered what does and does not work in practise. By this the Expert has developed the needed confidence, not to have the need to use the knife as a barrier.
When the Expert is in procession of the knife, they do not use it to bluff or threaten their victim, rather use it with purpose.
Usually when the Expert has a need to use the knife, it is a calculated strategic or prearranged plan. When the Expert uses the knife in attack, they will use multiple hand gripping and multiple stabs and slashes and has the knowledge to attack vital points of the body. They are fast and more precise, unlike the clumsiness of the Novice.
Due to this, the Expert is a person that is harder to attack, or defend from and when disarmed they are still a threat due to the ability they have with their martial arts.
The Expert is someone who will carry a knife, or a amount of knifes on their person and will use it in a situation only when their martial arts ability is not at the level required.

The Master

The most dangerous of the three is the Master, a highly trained martial artist and weapons expert, that will use one knife or two knifes if they so desire. They will blind you with a faint or a strike followed with small cuts, slashes and stabs to weaken their opponent or victim. The Master will only attack vital points and have the medical knowledge to understand the effect of the injury.
The Master has made the knife an extension of their hands and when attacking their subject, will be swift and almost motionless. Their proficiency with the knife or other weapons is exceptional and has the ability to adapt to different weapons. The Master can use knifes of different weights, sizes and form at any one time, due to their timeless experience.
The Master is able to disarm another knife handler and have the precision to defend themselves by the means of attack or defence.
One such method is to enable the attacker to grab the knife hand, in doing so draws the attacker in for a set-up because it makes them focus on something else. The Master will then deflect and turn their wrist to slice the attackers arm in a vital point at the wrist.
Another such method of attack the Master will engage in is to slash at the one point to create a reaction from the victim or opponent. Used to achieve an opening to another more vital point in the chain of attacks to the victim.
The Master is very confident in their abilities and if so desired will draw you in my masking their personalities.

Training Methods and Strategies

With the knowledge of the possible knife users, we can understand our own strategy and stance to be used in the defence of the knife and the needed reality of the methods to be used in training.
In considering a stance for defence in a knife fight, we must look at the following two stances. The first is the pretence weak position and the other is a high level stance used in intensive confrontations. The High level stance is a pretence weak stance but only with the arms up similar to a boxers stance, but instead with the hands cupped palms in to each side of the neck, this is done to protect the vital points.
Some times within training we become too complacent, each technique is demonstrated and practised a number of times maybe one sided without getting a sweat up. This may be ok for beginners or when learning a technique the first time around, but it does not help develop the realism of the possible real situation.
We must ask ourselves why are we learning these skills for in the first place, they are not a fantasy to be played out on the mat. It is a time to practice, and to ask what if in the controlled situation, and the comfortable surroundings of the training hall.
Realism of training and the respect of the weapon must be developed to formulise a sound safe syllabus for knife defence. Practising with both hands, the attack and the defence, trying different grips and possible situation may safe yourself in the first time you may need these techniques. Remember, it is not our to desire to have of anyone face a knife wheeling maniac coming at you for any reason, well maybe just in class.
For this very reason we must consider studying the required areas of first aid for such wounds that can be delivered by a knife and learn how to adapt the materials to be used in administrating these techniques on the street.
It is especially noted that it is a necessity when stabbed or cut in a situation not to give up. It is better to be persistent in your defence even if you obtain injuries during your confrontation. The people that give up give up on their lives.

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