Within 20 feet a knife is as deadly as a gun for a fast mover.
Ever try to hit a moving target with a bullet? Not easy, and not as easy as slashing and stabbing up close.
I have seen training where a “shooter” will fire at a target as fast as they can at a target 20 feet away when he hears the ‘go’ signal from the instructor from a holstered gun. -The same ‘go’ signal starts a runner from the back of the shooter running in the opposite direction, dropping a flag at the gunshot sound.
-unfamiliar shooters will frequently miss the first shot, and the flag will be more than 20 feet away.
That’s the Tueller Drill. And it is for a trained LEO vs. a knife charger. Imagine the Tueller distance for a civilian *not* expecting a charge.
And no hesitation at all in drawing a knife at the first hint of possible trouble. Hiding the blade behind your forearm, it is pretty much invisible, but anybody comes in on you, and snicker-snack.
So your big emphasis is on dodging or parrying their head shot. If you can do that, you win, big time.
Preferred knife, a karambit.
>>slashing and stabbing up close.<<
Slashing and stabbing is one method to use a knife but when you want to get serious, stick it in to the hilt then twist the blade and yank it hard, up down or sideways. Do not pull it out, keep enlarging the opening. Then reach in for the lungs, liver or heart. Cut any of them deeply and the game is over. Wipe your blade off and go home.