| Being confronted by an attacker wielding a knife | | | | count on anyone else to save you now; it is up to |
| is perhaps every woman's worst nightmare. In | | | | you. |
| fact, anyone should feel threatened by this | | | | If you are attacked, the most important thing for |
| scenario, no matter how big or strong you | | | | you to do is protect your vital areas, such as |
| consider yourself. The thought of being cut or | | | | your head and chest. Put your hands up to |
| stabbed is simply terrifying. | | | | protect yourself. Even if it means your arms end |
| Is it ever possible to defend yourself in this | | | | up cut up, that's a better fate than cuts across |
| scenario? While it is possible to escape unharmed, | | | | your face and neck, or a stab wound to the |
| you will have to act quickly, ideally even before | | | | chest. Being attacked by a knife is a case of |
| the assailant pulls out the knife. The best defense | | | | trying to avoid the worst-case scenario; it's |
| is avoiding the situation in the first place. Your | | | | unlikely at this point that you'll come out of the |
| best defense against an armed attacker is | | | | attack unscathed. You will not die from a few |
| avoidance. Pay attention to your surroundings no | | | | cuts to your arms; at this point, your priority |
| matter where you are, whether in a crowded | | | | must be avoiding serious injury. |
| shopping mall or the deserted parking lot outside. | | | | Once these vital areas are protected, you must |
| If you're not paying attention, the attacker could | | | | fight back to get away. You can't just curl up in a |
| grab you from behind and have a knife at your | | | | fetal position, or the attack will never stop. Use |
| throat before you even realize you are in danger. | | | | your TASER device, stun gun, pepper spray, or |
| If you are being attacked by someone holding a | | | | even your car keys or purse, if that's all you |
| knife, the worst thing you can do is run. If you | | | | have. This works best against an attacker who is |
| turn your back on the knife-wielding attacker, you | | | | wielding a knife but has not yet lunged forward |
| have left your whole backside completely | | | | with it, though once the attack has started, |
| unprotected. There is virtually no chance you can | | | | escaping must still be your goal. Practicing this |
| get to safety before your attacker has a chance | | | | scenario with a partner can help you develop |
| to stab you in the back. If someone is intent on | | | | strategies for using your self defense devices |
| attacking you with a knife, and you already see | | | | when being attacked with a knife. Kick, hit, and do |
| the knife, it's too late for fleeing to save you | | | | everything in your power to get the attacker |
| from the confrontation. This is especially true if | | | | down. Target key areas such as the eyes that |
| you are standing face to face with your attacker. | | | | may cause your attacker to drop the knife. |
| In a matter of two to three steps, they can be | | | | Typically, the attack will only stop once the |
| on top of you. In this scenario, your chance of | | | | attacker is incapacitated or is no longer holding |
| running to safety is essentially zero. You can't | | | | onto the knife, so this must be your goal. |