Knives are interesting weapons, because they are in between swords and fists. Rugged, drop-point knives work great for self defense against muggers and the like on the streets.
Step 1
Get to know your knife. Get a feel for its balance, and get accustomed to the feel and length of it. Know what it can and can't do. Find a comfortable position for your hand when holding it. Your knife should be perfect for you, and not too short.
Step 2
Learn how to throw a knife. Knives can serve as projectiles should you need it, and are pretty effective. But, just remember that you've got only one shot. And, if you throw it spinning, the conventional and easy way, you have, in theory, a 50% chance of the sharp side hitting your target. You can learn to Throw a Knife Without it Spinning if you want (see related articles).
Step 3
Learn a martial art. Knife fighting involves very close quarter combat. Never get into a wrestling match when you have a knife due to the fact that it can be used against you. Mix in punches, kicks ect with the knife attacks to keep your opponents focus off the knife.
Step 4
Be physically fit. Knife fighting involves endurance; jumping around, dodging, parrying and striking can be just as tiring as vigorous dancing, and you may also want to run away from your attacker. If you do not have bulging biceps or strong muscles, do not fear; you can compensate for that by having good tactics, knowing a martial art, and kicking more than punching; your legs are naturally more than 3 times as strong as your arms. Try to do vigorous exercise every other day, and on the other days, do a recovery exercise.
Step 5
Get faster reflexes. Reflexes - a combination of your reaction time, response time and movement time - can mean the difference between life and death in a knife fight. In other words, you will be able to see your opponent's move, process it and act on it faster. Play racing video games, run in the woods or do anything that requires fast action. Everyday activities, like driving, can also help your reflexes - think of if you have ever prevented a crash because of your reflexes.
Step 6
Become more flexible. Nothing is better than landing a kick to their upper chest when they are off guard, recovering from a blow received or given. Unfortunately, most people cannot kick at the chest level of someone their height without bending their knees, and therefore losing most of their power.
Step 7
Eat healthily. Never eat "junk food" or "empty calories" for energy; get a lot of protein, calcium (and phosphorous). Avoid simple sugars, processed foods (candy), artificial sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, sucralose) and caffeine. Caffeine and simple sugars give you a crash after the rush wears off, and caffeine raises your blood pressure. Eat a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat so that your arteries can carry blood around your body easier, possibly improving your endurance.
Step 8
Never get nervous. That is guaranteed to make your perform worse. It clouds your thinking.
Step 9
Don't get too brave, either. This contradicts the above step a bit, but if you feel invincible, you might end up making some choices you'll regret later, if there is a later.
Tips
- Keep practicing, and remember that you will never become a master overnight.
- Get professional training. There are locations around the world which specialize in "Edge Weapons" fighting.
Warnings
- You should only get into a knife fight if you are defending yourself and your attacker has a knife as well; you should not be the person on offense, and you try to run away if you can.
- Never carry or posses knives that are illegal in your jurisdiction. Switchblades (a knife which opens with a press of a button) are often illegal, as well as butterfly knives (knives where the handle is made of two parts, and the blade connects at the handle's joint). Remember to always check with your local police department before trying to carry a knife in public.
- UK residents, Remember that in the UK carrying a knife in public is an offense.
- Never throw your knife if you aren't 100% certain it will hit, or if you are fighting more than one person. if you can hit a target even 99% of the time there is still a 1% chance of Losing your knife and, chances are, you will not be able to Hit the target 99 times in 100
- You will almost certainly get cut from a knife fight.
