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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.

The biggest thing to overcome is the tendency to only go for the body.

If you cut the guy's hand, wrist, or forearm, he have difficulty holding his weapon.If he kicks at you and gets a slashed calf or Achilles tendon, he will have difficulty chasing you. Etc. His extremities will tend to be what will come in reach of your knife.