I have no idea how to knife fight.
Though, I’ve hoped that my fencing skills would help: Crouch into a defensible fencing stance, and with lightning speed, thrust blade-up under the ribcage for the heart. Parry as necessary.
Thoughts?
It helps but you have two muscle memories to overcome from fencing. The first is the turning of the knife. If the blade is thrust directly at the rib cage, there is a high probability that the knife will get stuck between the ribs. One has to train to turn the knife sideways. The second is that fencing is often thrust, retreat. Knife fighting is stab, stab, stab, (or slash slash slash) retreat.
Those trained in Saber tend to be better at the slash while Foil tends to be best at the stab. Epee tends to need the most training to overcome a host of differences.
With your plan, you might get in a shot but then they are going to bowl you over and repeatedly stab you.
So you need to shoot them before they rush or pass the rush and then shoot them.
Though, I’ve hoped that my fencing skills would help: Crouch into a defensible fencing stance, and with lightning speed, thrust blade-up under the ribcage for the heart. Parry as necessary.
Thoughts?
The heart is a vital organ. A slender, flat bladed rapier or foil can slip in and cause damage. A typical knife won’t quite “cut it.”
With a typical knife you’re better off going for somewhere with an artery somewhat close to the surface or major bundle of veins.
If you have time to continue the fight and don’t mind the noise a good strike near the groin offers plenty of targets. One effective strike and you need only block/evade while the opponent bleeds out.
If you insist on going for a heart strike you might have better luck striking under the armpit, but only if if your blade is very strong, long and flat.
http://www.pabujinkanbarndojo.com/equipment/index.asp