We All Use Knives, But Can You Protect Yourself with One?

The world is not as safe as we want it to be, that’s the sad reality. Danger can wait at any corner, and you never know when you could be a victim yourself. This is why you have to take all possible measures to protect yourself. And here’s where knives come into play.

Knives are something anyone can easily get access to. Whether they’re standard knives or survival ones, it’s not that difficult to get your hands on one. But can you use them to protect yourself during a dangerous, unwanted scenario? Here’s an article that will give you some useful information to get you ready for a situation when a knife could solve the issue.

Is Carrying a Knife Legal?

Carrying a knife is quite questionable. If you’re found carrying one around, there will be someone thinking you’re up to no good. But is it illegal to have one with you?

Well, it all depends on where you live. A survival knife may be legal, but some places limit the length of the blade you’re allowed to carry around. Keep in mind that there are different laws in each and every place, so you must be aware of them before going straight to the store and buying a knife.

So, if the knife you have is not legal in your country or state, you risk getting in legal trouble.

When Can You Use a Knife for Self-Defense?

Just because a knife may be legal where you live, it doesn’t mean you’re allowed to provoke others for a fight. Provoking others or harming them is definitely not right. A knife should be used only as a last resort when your own safety is being threatened and the blade is the only thing with the power to stop it. At the same time, if a guy pickpockets you and you see him, you shouldn’t begin to flaunt a blade around aiming to slice him. Use it only when your life is on the line.

That being said, a survival knife can be used for shtf scenarios, such as a potential World War, when the population will be in complete chaos, and someone might attack you. Or, it could be used when you’re minding your business and someone comes towards you with bad intentions, like inflicting harm. For such a situation, an ESEE knife Izula-II fixed blade could come in handy. It can be used as an everyday carry knife, as it can be concealed, and it’s quite small as well.

Also, you only need to use it if the other one doesn’t back down when you let him know you have a knife. You should be a little loud and let the attacker know you’re armed, and you’ll have to resort to the knife if they don’t stop with the threats. Try to get them to back down so nobody will get hurt in that situation.

How to Use the Knife for Defending Yourself?

In order to defend yourself with a knife, you have to prepare yourself, both physically and mentally. When it comes to actually using the knife, you need to make sure you’ll succeed and the attacker won’t use certain tactics to stop your attack. You must also know a thing or 2 about anatomy if you want to defend yourself.

For instance, using a knife is different compared to using a gun. While with a gun you aim for the center and pull the trigger, a knife has to strike either an artery or a vital organ. Maybe you don’t want to go as far as to end someone’s life by hitting vital organs, so going for the arteries is your best chance. This is why knowing some human anatomy can do wonders.

If you don’t know anything about anatomy, the perpetrator might survive despite being stabbed, especially if all you did was to cause a flesh wound and not an artery one.

Another thing to keep in mind is your stance. You should immediately get into a knife-fighting stance after you pull out the item. The right position should have a hand gripping the knife, tight towards your body, while the other hand should be open to defend yourself from potential attacks. The knife should be held tightly so it can’t be knocked out of your hand. Your feet should be shoulder width apart, with the foot under your knife being one step forward, while the other should be one step back.

Why Use a Knife Instead of a Gun for Self-Defense?

If you live in the U.S. where guns are legal, you might be thinking why you should use a knife when access to a gun has been granted. Well, there are quite a few reasons.

For example, knives are not only easy to conceal and carry but also easy to find and buy. Knives are some of the most common things we see around, which is what makes them so convenient. Besides, you have fewer chances to draw attention towards yourself with a self-defense knife. This cannot be said about a gun.

Because we’re so familiar with knives, it’s much easier to get accustomed to a self-defense one. On the other hand, a gun is not something you grow up using.

Furthermore, it’s not difficult to combine knife defense with other physical defense skills – which makes this weapon even more effective.

Final Thoughts

Before you purchase a knife to have in case a threatening situation occurs, make sure to check the laws for your state/country. As laws can be different everywhere, you must be aware of the length of the blade you’re allowed to carry around, unless you want to face legal problems.

Knives can be great for self-defense if you know how to use them. Make sure you get into the right fighting stance if someone becomes a threat to your life, and don’t just carelessly flaunt the knife around.