Proper Knife Cutting Techniques

The knife is one of the most versatile and effective self-defense weapons. A knife allows a person to use more degrees of force than a handgun, and knives are all around in daily life. Many common objects can even be used as a knifelike weapon in an emergency defense situation. Knowing how to effectively use a knife or edged weapon based on its size and the situation is crucial for defending yourself or your loved ones from danger.

  1. Slash the Limbs, Stab the Trunk

    • Generally speaking, for an average-sized knife, where the blade is at least as long as the width of your palm, you want to slash or cut the limbs of an attacker, and stab the body. Attempting to stab a limb can miss completely, and worse, if it penetrates the opponent's limb, he might wrench the knife away from you as he recoils in pain. It is too easy to lose your weapon if you successfully stab a limb. Conversely, it is not very effective to slash at the body. The body tends to be protected by thicker clothing, and even if the body is exposed, a slashing cut does very little damage when compared to a stab. A person cut across the chest, even if it is a wide, long and deep cut, can still fight well for several minutes; by contrast, a person who is stabbed, even with a short knife or object such as a pencil, could immediately go into shock, ending the fight.

    Let the Attacker Come to You

    • People who carry weapons are often well trained in how to use them. If a person with a knife presses you to fight, don't be drawn in. When you make your move, your attacker could stab you or cut you badly with a tricky move you won't expect. Wait for the opponent's weapon to come to you. A knife way out of range is no threat to you. When the attacker moves in with a slash or a stab, attack his knife hand with your own weapon. A slash to the hand or arm that holds the attacker's weapon will end the fight.

    Large Blade Stab, Small Blade Slash

    • If you have a large daggerlike knife such as a hunting, camping or army knife, you have an advantage. A large knife like that can cut deeply with a slash to an opponent's limb, severing tendons and stopping the fight; it can even take a finger off cleanly. Press your advantage and follow a slash with a stab to the body, which will finish your attacker. If you have a small-blade weapon such as a key-chain knife or a box cutter, you can't expect to effectively stab. The best tactic is to slash all over the attacker like a whirlwind, wherever the body is weak. Slice the wrists, neck, face, inner elbows, ankles, ears, eyes and hands of your attacker.

    Know Your Body Targets

    • The best areas for stabbing are the armpit (axillary artery), inner thigh (femoral artery), clavicle (clavian artery) and upward into the perineum (scrotal area). The best targets for slashing are the wrist, eyes, throat, ankles, forehead and inner elbow.