Safety Tip for the Ladies of PT...

[Lady's Human]

Thanks, Cataholic, you beat me to the snopes link.

If you're in knife fighting range, (as in closer than you'd like to be), and cannot escape, use your knees. You have far more strength in your legs than you do in your arms, and your knees are close to an attacker's groin, which is almost an instantaneous disabling blow. Also, if you swing with your arms, the attacker can easily grab your arms and immobilize you. There is no such thing as a fair fight.

[smokey the elder]

Another thing I can vouch for with personal experience is that an attacker may not expect you to fight back. This will surprise them, so you can escape.