In September I saw a karate instructor give a demonstration in which an onlooker asked what to do if the other party had a knife. The karate man said, “Get close, you want to be close,” and demonstrated an arm trap and a throat strike.

The very next day a Filipino martial arts instructor was telling me that his style focused in keeping distance from the blade and preferably directing attacks at the hand.

The conventional wisdom among actual knife fighters is you want to stay the hell away, even if you have a weapon of your own. This is based on their knowledge of the lethality and ease of use of the blade. However, the karate man, though his art is purely theoretical where the blade is concerned, did speak a truth. He was much larger than his demonstrating partner and the scenario began at knife point, putting the twerp aggressor within easy striking range if the karate man tried to retreat. In that relationship he would be best served by closing with his smaller and less skilled adversary.

1. You have to be aware of hands, particularly the hidden hand, so that you know a knife is in play before it is in you!

2. If you have not sparred full speed and full contact with blunt knives you are not in a position to assess the capacity of a competent knifer at a glance. Know that if you do not have time and measure experience in contact weaponry you are at a steep disadvantage unless the knifer is a very obvious clod.

3. Is the knifer stronger than you?

4. Is the knifer faster than you?

5. Is there a weapon at hand?

6. Is there an escape route?

7. Are you wearing clean underwear in case this goes badly?

1. You do not want to be in knife range. If he can touch you with the knife, or has touched you with the knife, you must move away or in. Do not stay in the weapon’s most effective range.

2. If you are out of range of the knife, do not close, expand that range. If he is faster than you seek a weapon. If there is no weapon at hand move in only when he moves in, closing the distance quicker than he intends and then trust to your strength.

3. If he is stronger than you run. The only real empty hand versus knife options involve close contact. If you are already in contact break contact, preferably past him, rather than in line. If you are in the knife zone break laterally, if outside, break diagonally.

4. If he is faster and stronger than you, then you are basically in an OJ Simpson situation and will be best served by the quickest action. Whatever you do just do it. Realistically a weapon is your only chance in this scenario. Without one you are probably toast. Your instinct as to whether his foot speed advantage is greater than his grappling advantage must be trusted to get the jump on him, and is hopefully correct.

If you find yourself in knife touch range against a knifer you need to go with your advantage. If you have both advantages I say run or grab a weapon if one is at hand.

If you are out of range, closing the distance to knife disarm range means you must traverse the kill zone of the weapon, and is not advisable unless you judge the knifer capable of running you down or have no avenue of escape.

Don’t punch, don’t kick, don’t panic, and don’t get stabbed—and if you do get stabbed, don’t get stabbed again.