Control of the knife is not always gained by holding onto the knife hand. It can sometimes be dangerous to limit yourself to this approach, when manipulating another body part can achieve the same thing. Like all things experience is the best way to learn these things and I would recommend seeking a qualified instructor to train with.

Flattening stabs against the body

In any conflict situation there are times when you simply do not see it coming. However the body will often move out of the way of the attack instinctually, limiting the damage it is capable of inflicting. To learn to work when this happens it is important to practice working against stabs where they make contact with the body. The body part then moves away from the stab and flattens the blade against it while the attacker is dealt with.

Using your arms to work against stabs

In systema we try to avoid the line of attack and escape it. If this fails or is inappropriate we can redirect the attack. In some situations it is best to do both.

Having learnt to move out of the way of the knife we introduce 1 then 2 hands to assist in our defence. These can be used to redirect the thrust into our attacker or another person, to remove the knife with striking or a disarm and to maintain control during a take down. The same process is also carried out against thrusting attacks, where it is important to learn to escape the knife before introducing the use of the arms and hands.

Against a knife whilst on the ground

This is a dangerous situation to be in for both the person being attacked and the person with the knife. It is very easy in this situation for one or other of the persons involved to be over powered and fatally stabbed.

The approach to this work is similar to what is learnt standing. Firstly the attacker holds you down and places the knife against you as a threat. Take time experimenting with this situation. You will often find that the attacker is drawing several points of support from you whilst holding you down. Removing them can often cause their form to collapse and give you an opportunity to deal with the knife.