[Bonemaker]

For immediate openers if you can, make a slice across forehead. Gushing salty blood will blind them. If you miss you may catch an eye instead which is okay too. Just a suggestion.

[onona]

eyes and hands first. Impaired vision and slippery hands.

I have too much free time

[IronJack]

Most of the training I got was on defending against a knife attack, not attacking. But I was told that it's better to stab than to slash, because a thrusting movement is harder to deflect than a swinging or cross-body movement. Our defenses focused on neutralizing stabbing attacks, with a little slashing defense included.

We were also told that the fight isn't over just because you disarmed the assailant. You were perfectly justified in killing him, although you didn't want to take his own weapon to do it. It was too risky.

The key to the defense was to control the knife. Forget everything else; just take away his freedom to use the knife effectively. It's your only chance.